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- French hackers connect a shock collar to a Sega Genesis, let obscenities fly (video)
- Samsung demos its take on LTE Broadcast, edges closer to TV over 4G
- How well can the MacBook Pro with Retina display handle Windows games?
- Intel, Acer, Qualcomm join Futuremark's 3DMark for Android development program
- RIM chief: we looked 'seriously' at Android, didn't want to join the herd
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean proven carrying rough but working code for multi-user support (video)
- Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 review: an Ultrabook with discrete graphics (and an optical drive)
- Engadget Podcast 304 - 08.03.2012
- Robot stock traders lose $440,000,000 in 45 minutes, need someone to spell it out
- Distro Issue 51 arrives with an in-depth look at Apple's Mountain Lion
- MetroPCS outs Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED, LTE and Dyle Mobile TV
- Stompy gets off the ground with a Kickstarter: buy a ride on a 2-ton hexabot
- Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Sound Headset for Xbox 360 review
- Researchers use ambient WiFi radio waves to see through walls
- Aussie regulator raps TV makers for touting 'WiFi ready' products
- Sanwa's iPhone pico projector gets spec bump, trebled brightness (video)
- YouTube refines homepage feed, adds highlights option
- Boeing, SpaceX win NASA 'space taxi' funding race (updated)
- Xiaomi Phone 2 may debut on August 16th, packaging will withstand 180kg of weight
- Logitech launches TV Cam HD for living room video chats: built-in Skype, 720p, $200
- Unannounced Sony NEX-5R and NEX-6 cameras could pack wireless connectivity
- Gameloft announces its first Unreal Engine game, you figure out what it is
- Dropped calls, slow download speeds rank among top gripes of mobile users
- ASRock Vision 3D 252B reviewed: a quiet, top-shelf HTPC worthy of the premium price
- Seedio app networks iDevices into loudspeaker, blasts music far and wide
- Alvarez Electric Motors rolls out budget-friendly line of Eco vehicles
- Samsung confirms next Galaxy Note will debut at Mobile Unpacked event this month
- Matrix One tablet goes on sale for an even more frugal $90
- Chameleon Android launcher appears, pre-orderers and Kickstarter backers get beta access soon
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 available for pre-order from Negri Electronics, ship date set for tomorrow
- Honeywell next up to get a patent license from Microsoft, goes the Android handheld route
- Theory of cliodynamics uses science to predict history, sees violence erupt in cycles
- Judge rules against Apple in Kodak patent dispute, cites disruption to next week's auction
- Ting becomes first US MVNO to hop the Galaxy S III bandwagon, outlines its device roadmap
- Engadget HD Podcast 310 - 08.02.2012
- Windows 8's stock apps get pictured, tease its final build
- PSA: Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners now have direct access to Google Wallet
- Microsoft patent applications take Kinect into mobile cameras, movie-making
- Microsoft downplays Metro design name, might face a lawsuit over all that street lingo
- Rovi lands Google Fiber patent license deal, keeps program guides flowing
| French hackers connect a shock collar to a Sega Genesis, let obscenities fly (video) Posted: 03 Aug 2012 10:59 AM PDT
There are masochists, and then there are masochists. We'd have to put French hackers Dyak and Furrtek in the latter category. The two ingenious and self destructive modders tweaked the beloved Sega Genesis to send signals to a pair of controllers any time the player takes damage. That signal doesn't produce rumbles or blinking lights, however, it's passed through a port to a shock collar meant for dogs. That's right, every time you get hit, you get zapped. The jolt of electricity you receive is hardly deadly, but it's certainly not pleasant, as you can tell from the barrage of obscenities bleeped out of the above video. The hack isn't exactly easy but, if you're bold, and don't mind a bit of pain, you'll find full details of the mod at the source link. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung demos its take on LTE Broadcast, edges closer to TV over 4G Posted: 03 Aug 2012 10:35 AM PDT There must be a resurgence of mobile TV in the works at Samsung. Just hours after it brought out the TV-equipped Galaxy S Lightray 4G, the company has confirmed (through partner Anritsu) that it's successfully testing LTE Broadcast technology. As the name implies, the standard and its evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (eMBMS) pipe software-independent services like TV over a 4G network's ample bandwidth rather than requiring dedicated networks and the costs that come with them -- we all know how that last strategy panned out in the US. Unsurprisingly, Samsung isn't saying what its long-term plans might be at this early stage, although we'd note that it isn't alone. Qualcomm was showing LTE Broadcast back at Mobile World Congress, for example. While it's far too soon to tell if there will be any American revival, Samsung's help puts the writing on the wall for conventional mobile TV formats like T-DMB. Samsung Demonstrates Broadcast Services Over LTE Using Anritsu's Rapid Test Designer (RTD) and MD8430A RICHARDSON, Texas, Aug. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, has successfully demonstrated clear reception capabilities of LTE Broadcast services using evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (eMBMS) technology using Anritsu's (www.anritsu.com) Rapid Test Designer (RTD) and MD8430A to simulate the LTE network environment. eMBMS technology allows the LTE network infrastructure to be used for the delivery of broadcast services, such as TV. It enables carriers to adjust coverage and capacity as needed, allowing for more efficient use of network resources. Samsung Electronics and Anritsu (two long-time leaders in new mobile technologies) have collaborated to bring this new technology to market. Anritsu's RTD delivers a rich set of test features using its fast and flexible flowcharting user interface. The Samsung engineers were able to create the eMBMS demonstration using RTD's graphical script design to drive the execution of the test simulation on an Anritsu MD8430A LTE signaling tester. "Anritsu is delighted that Samsung, the world's largest cell phone maker, has selected the technology-leading capabilities of the RTD and MD8430A to verify the implementation of eMBMS capability in its devices," stated Kenji Tanaka, Executive Vice President at Anritsu. "Samsung's demonstration shows how Anritsu's RTD helps LTE device makers prove their leading-edge technology in an intensely competitive market where reducing the product launch cycle time is critical to success." "We have used Anritsu test equipment from the very beginning of our LTE development programs," said Inyup Kang, Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics. "Anritsu's RTD and MD8430A have made a significant contribution to our leading position in the LTE device market." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How well can the MacBook Pro with Retina display handle Windows games? Posted: 03 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT After jumping the hurdles of our review gauntlet, the MacBook Pro with Retina display proved itself as a top-notch machine for the creative professionals it's geared towards, and anyone willing to pay a premium. Save for a brief bout with Diablo III, our time spent gaming on the hardware was limited. Ever since, we've wondered how the Kepler-toting, Ivy Bridge-packing laptop would handle one of our favorite graphics-intensive pastimes. Sure, Apple machines aren't exactly en vogue when it comes to playing video games, but Cupertino's ultra-high-resolution Mac simply begs to be put to the test. We loaded up Windows 7 on a MacBook Pro carrying an NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1 GB of VRAM, the stock 2.3GHz processor and 16GB of RAM (upgraded from the vanilla 8GB configuration) and put it through its paces to see how it performs. Windows on Retina displayMaking full use of the Retina display's 2,880 x 1,880 resolution, the Windows desktop is startlingly huge with tiny text and dwarfed navigation buttons lost within it. Pegging the dpi at 200 percent, however, strikes a balance between readability and definition. System text, icons and windows are easy on the eyes, but third-party apps are hit-or-miss, as they require developer support for large, crisp and readable visuals. With a bit of tweaking, the oversized-desktop is useable, but a 1,920 x 1,080 experience is a bit easier on the eyes, and is more forgiving of apps that lack support for the extra pixels. Performance Ready to traverse the frozen fields of Tamriel? No problem, as long as you stick to the so-called standard HD resolutions. Dialed in at 1,920 x 1,080 without anti-aliasing, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim nets an average of 37 fps on ultra quality and 53 fps on high. Arkham City fares similarly, producing playable experiences at high detail, clocking framerates above 50 fps. Grand Theft Auto IV is a little tougher on the system, but averages over 30 fps at high settings. When the Retina display struts its stuff, however, things aren't as peachy. The very same games that wowed us at 1080p struggle to run smoothly under the burden of the rig's pixel-pushing native resolution. Skyrim, for example, isn't the steadiest of rides at ultra settings. In fact, it's downright choppy, squeezing out just 21 fps with anti-aliasing turned off. Shifting gears to medium ekes out more frames for Skyrim, but still makes for a rocky ride.
Running at full bore under Windows, Team Fortress 2 clocked in at an average of 62 fps when taking advantage of the Retina display. Making compromises pushes framerates further up the ladder, with very high settings at 1,920 x 1,080 pumping out 128 fps. While the Mac version performs similarly at full resolution and high detail, it doesn't do as well overall. Notched in at low settings, for example, we hovered around 70 fps -- a figure that nearly doubles in Windows. At maximum resolution, kicking up anti-aliasing to its limits proves to be an issue for both versions, with framerates chugging along at 11 fps on OS X and 20 fps on Windows. On Windows, we wandered the vast expanses of Tamriel at 1,920 x 1,080 with medium settings for an hour and 40 minutes before our battery gave way. Under our standard battery test, the laptop kept alive for three hours and 39 minutes -- a far cry from the nine hours and 22 minutes managed under OS X. While the machine's underside can cause discomfort if it sits in your lap for long enough, the real issue comes courtesy of the keyboard. The WASD chiclet keys and aluminum trenches between them get seriously hot, making an external keyboard the better option.
In terms of cold, hard numbers, the Mac garnered a PCMarkVantage score of 15,152, sliding in above the Razer Blade and MSI's GT70, but below the Maingear Pulse 11. With a 3DMark06 score of 14,426, the aluminum-cased machine comfortably slots in above Razer's offering and the Maingear, but falls short of the GT70. Wrap-up The Retina display-equipped MacBook Pro is a capable machine -- and it should be for its $2,199 starting price (or $2,399 for 16 GB of RAM in our case). NVIDIA's screaming Kepler architecture has more than enough oomph for the MacBook to handle most current games thrown at it, providing an enjoyable experience at respectable settings and resolutions. If playing video games is your prime directive, a portable rig built for gaming from the ground up should still top your list, but rest assured that Apple's "best Mac ever" can have some fun too. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intel, Acer, Qualcomm join Futuremark's 3DMark for Android development program Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:32 AM PDT Benchmarking outfit Futuremark has announced that Intel, Qualcomm, Acer and SingTel-Optus are joining the development program for the company's 3DMark for Android. The quartet is in good company, joining a list of industry heavyweights that includes AMD, Microsoft and NVIDIA, amongst others. While the Helsinki-based outfit hasn't mentioned a specific release date for its latest analysis application, it's on course to arrive "later this year." For us, that simply isn't soon enough -- but then again we don't get out much. Acer, Intel, Qualcomm and SingTel-Optus Join Futuremark to Develop 3DMark for Android HELSINKI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Futuremark is proud to announce that Acer Incorporated (TPE:2353), Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) and SingTel-Optus have joined its Benchmark Development Program to create a new 3DMark gaming benchmark for Android-based tablets and smartphones. The Futuremark Benchmark Development Program gathers input and expertise from the world's best and most technologically advanced companies to create industry standard benchmarks for performance measurement. 3DMark for Android is expected to be released later this year. http://www.3dmark.com/ Jukka Makinen, Futuremark CEO said, "For more than 10 years, we have worked with the world's leading PC hardware manufacturers to create 3DMark and PCMark. As a result, Futuremark benchmarks are the industry standard for PC performance measurement used by hundreds of press publications and millions of end-users. As we bring 3DMark to a new OS for the first time, we are excited to expand our cooperation to include Acer, Intel, Qualcomm and SingTel-Optus, technology leaders who will bring unparalleled insight, experience and vision to the development of 3DMark for Android." Launching later this year, 3DMark for Android will measure gaming performance using graphics rendering, CPU and physics tests with stunning real-time graphics that will push OpenGL ES2.0 to the limit. The results from 3DMark for Android will be comparable to the results from the new 3DMark for Windows, also to be released later this year. Wason Shyu, AVP, ADC BU, RD Center, Acer said, "As one of the top volume consumer electronics and notebook PC companies in the world, we use 3DMark to analyze performance in an objective and scientific manner. This assists in providing our customers with products of the very highest quality that are ready for the most demanding tasks, whether it is exacting physics computations or the purest video game experiences." Shervin Kheradpir, General Manager of Intel's Platform Evaluation & Analysis said, "Intel is committed to providing feedback and assistance in the development of tools that intend to evaluate user experience and performance of computing products. Whether we participate in a formal consortium or in the Futuremark Benchmark Development Program we are glad to be part of groups seeking to modernize measurement methods that can keep pace with the rapidly evolving computing industry. We are pleased to see Futuremark bring 3DMark to the Android operating system." Tim Leland, Director of Product Management at Qualcomm said, "As the leader in mobile GPU shipments last year with its Snapdragon™ processors, Qualcomm values impartial measurement of graphics performance. By joining the 3DMark for Android Benchmark Development Program, we're glad to be working with Futuremark and the other members of the Program to help ensure that the resulting benchmarks are representative of future, real-world 3D graphics content for Android smartphones and tablets." Futuremark's Benchmark Development Program is an initiative for building partnerships with leading hardware and technology manufacturers. Members include AMD, Imagination Technologies, Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Samsung and many other world class companies. An open process of close co-operation helps Futuremark create high-quality, impartial benchmarks that set the industry standard for performance measurement. Find out more at http://www.futuremark.com/bdp/. 3DMark for Android is currently in development and is expected to be released later this year. Follow Futuremark on Facebook for the latest 3DMark news http://www.facebook.com/Futuremark or visit http://www.futuremark.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RIM chief: we looked 'seriously' at Android, didn't want to join the herd Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:07 AM PDT RIM's current CEO Thorsten Heins has been very candid about his company's plans and past, but he has usually given the impression that the company wouldn't even consider deviating from its one true vision of a BlackBerry OS future. Although BlackBerry 10 is very much the center of RIM's universe today, Heins has revealed to The Telegraph that his firm's eyes did stray briefly -- at one point, it "seriously" investigated Android as a platform. The company ended up backing away after deciding a "me-too" strategy didn't fit the productivity-obsessed BlackBerry crowd, the executive says. RIM decided, like Nokia, that it couldn't differentiate enough in Google's ecosystem. There's still some time to go before we learn whether or not the gamble on the in-house OS pays off. If Heins' comments still leave you dreaming of what might have been, though, don't worry: at least a few companies are providing their own visions in a slightly more tangible form. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Android 4.1 Jelly Bean proven carrying rough but working code for multi-user support (video) Posted: 03 Aug 2012 08:47 AM PDT If there's ever been a persistent gripe among families sharing mobile devices, it's been the absence of multiple user profiles -- hand that iPad or Nexus 7 to Junior and you may have to play a spot-the-differences game when it comes back. Some long overdue testing of previously found code references in Jelly Bean shows that Google, at least, has explored ending that anxiety over who uses the family gadgets. Command-line code in AOSP-based versions of Android 4.1 will let you create a separate guest profile, complete with its own lock screen security, home screen layout and limited settings. To say that the code is unpolished would be an understatement, however. Apps and even some notifications cross over from the main account, which could prove more than a little embarrassing if the hardware is left in the wrong hands. At least it's easy to revert back, as the instructions (and video after the break) show. The real challenge will be waiting to see when -- or really, if -- Google gets to finishing multi-user code and turns that Nexus 7 into the communal tablet we want it to be. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 review: an Ultrabook with discrete graphics (and an optical drive) Posted: 03 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT More InfoThe PC industry might have 100-some-odd Ultrabooks up its sleeve, but fortunately for restless tech reviewers like yours truly, they're not all cast from the same mold. As the year wears on, we'll see prices dip as low as $700, and a few will be offered with discrete graphics -- a nice respite from games handicapped at 30 fps. And, in some rare cases, you'll find machines that manage to achieve both. Enter the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 series, a pair of 14- and 15-inch laptops that start at $680, and, for an added premium, can be had with NVIDIA Kepler graphics. What's more, the 14-inch model we tested has a DVD burner, making it as much a full-fledged laptop as an Intel-approved Ultrabook. Accordingly, then, we'll be comparing it not just to other low-priced ultraportables, but to some budget mainstream notebooks on offer this back-to-school season. So how does it stack up? Let's see. Look and feel While it would be inaccurate to say we've reviewed this exact laptop before, we've certainly tested something very similar. If you recall, we had a chance to try out Acer's Aspire Timeline Ultra M3, a 14-inch Ultrabook also packing NVIDIA Kepler graphics. If you think you're in for an encore of that same review, well, keep these two things in mind: for starters, the M3 Ultrabook is not for sale here in the US. Secondly, while the M5 doesn't offer any improvements under the hood, the design is decidedly more premium, with a metal keyboard deck and lid. (The bottom side is still made of rough plastic -- this is a $680 laptop we're talking about, after all.) Additionally, Acer went with an LG Shuriken panel for some narrower bezels. Lastly, the keys are backlit here -- always a welcome touch. The lid on this guy wobbles less than on more expensive machines we've tested, an impressive feat, though pick up the notebook by the palm rest and you'll hear some creaking coming from the left side. All told, it's an adequate design, though we can think of similarly priced machines, like the Sony VAIO T13 and Lenovo IdeaPad U310, which feel a bit more solid. When Acer first announced the Timeline Ultra laptops back at CES, the company didn't explicitly describe them as Ultrabooks -- in fact, we thought of them more as mainstream notebooks, successors to last year's TimelineX series. In the intervening seven months, though, we've seen enough larger-screened Ultrabooks that we now realize the M5 fits right in with other 14-inch thin-and-lights. Both this and the 15-inch version measure 0.81 inches thick, which is on par with Dell's XPS 14 and the 0.82-inch-thick Samsung Series 5, which also makes room for a DVD burner. In terms of heft, the M5 is a good deal heavier than the Series 5 (4.3 pounds versus 3.94), but it's still lighter than the XPS 14, which weighs 4.6 pounds and doesn't even have an optical drive. What we mean to say is, this is hardly the lightest Ultrabook you'll find, but it's easy enough to tote around, and it's definitely lighter than all those 14-inch non-Ultrabooks you could be buying. In addition to that DVD burner, the M5 sports two USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet jack, a Kensington lock slot and an HDMI socket -- all inconveniently located on the notebook's back edge. (And here we thought that was just a conceit of the Aspire S5!) Though we're never fans of having to reach around to access ports, that arrangement seems especially odd here since the right side has barely any openings, save for a 3.5mm headphone jack and a 2-in-1 memory card reader. There's no reason not to put a USB socket there, unless you truly think people would prefer to have it tucked out of sight on that rear edge. Keyboard and trackpad Acer doesn't seem to have re-invented its keyboard design since releasing the TimelineX series last year: the island-style arrangement is similar, as are the keys' shallow pitch. Though we had to get used to the lack of travel, we appreciated the buttons' smooth finish, as well as the sturdy underlying panel -- say what you will about that hollow palm rest, but we didn't notice any flex or give while typing. If anything, we would have expected some slightly larger arrow keys, just because the M5 has a wider footprint than other Ultrabooks and there would appear to be more room to widen those auxiliary keys. The large, Synaptics-powered trackpad responds well to various multi-touch gestures, including two-finger scrolls and pinch-to-zoom. The palm rejection can sometimes be a problem, though, meaning you might accidentally highlight text you weren't trying to select. Also, the built-in touch button is on the stiff side. Between that and the palm rejection, this reviewer got into the habit of using one-finger taps instead of doing the equivalent of a left click. It's an adaptive technique that works, though only you can decide if you'd be willing to work that way (or, at the very least, invest in a standalone mouse). Display and sound No surprises here: both the 14- and 15-inch M5 laptops have 1,366 x 768 resolution, which is typical for a machine in this price range. For what it's worth, the glossy finish didn't get in the way while yours truly wrote this review in a harshly lit office. As a garden-variety TN display, you'll find it washes out pretty easily if you dip the lid forward, but we don't think you and your friends will have a problem crowding around to watch a movie -- even the people sitting off to the side should have a decent seat. And, of course, that Shuriken display is nice to have, especially on a machine as relatively inexpensive as this. The best thing about the M5's Dolby-enhanced speakers is that they get loud -- loud enough for a small, impromptu dance party, say. But, as is the case with so many notebook speakers, the audio quality here is tinny, and it only gets more metallic-sounding as you crank the volume. Performance
If you were to buy our test model, it would cost $780, and come with a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U CPU and 4GB of RAM. There's also a 500GB hard drive on board, paired with a 20GB solid-state drive for faster boot-ups. And man, does it boot quickly: we recorded a fast 17-second startup. Obviously, having a hybrid hard drive is no substitute for an SSD as far as disk speeds go, but it at least fares well in its class. In the benchmark ATTO, read speeds topped out at 133 MB/s, on average, with writes consistently maxing out at 108 MB/s. That's not bad compared to the Sony VAIO T13, which managed 131 MB/s reads and 92.5 MB/s writes. Still, in synthetic benchmarks it trails the T13, as well as the Lenovo IdeaPad U310, both of which fall in the same price range and offer similar specs. (Actually, both of these machines lack the advantage of discrete graphics, which the M5 has.) Thanks to that 1GB GeForce GT640M LE GPU, the M5's 3DMark06 score is roughly double what you'd get from a typical Ivy Bridge-based Ultrabook with integrated HD 4000 graphics. In real-world use, that naturally means much higher frame rates. In Call of Duty 4, for example, we enjoyed smooth gameplay at about 80 fps, and that was at the max resolution, mind you. Even when you crank the settings, there's really no overlap with the best-case frame rates on a lesser-specced Ultrabook (in past tests, these machines have hovered around 30 fps, even at default settings). Battery life
Acer rates the M5's non-user-replaceable battery for up to eight hours of runtime and about 1,000 charge cycles. In a video rundown test, though, Acer's own testing team got closer to six hours. That dovetails fairly nicely with our own results: in our standard battery test, it lasted a little over five hours with WiFi on, the brightness fixed at 65 percent and a video looping off the hard drive. That's on par with the 14-inch Samsung Series 5 Ultrabook, but that's not necessarily a good thing: considering how these laptops are bigger and heavier than most ultraportables we test, we'd at least expect them to make up for that heft with longer runtime. Software and warrantyLike the higher-end S5 Ultrabook we just reviewed, you'll find a good deal of bloatware pre-installed, with third-party programs that include: CyberLink's MediaEspresso decoder, an eBay shortcut, Evernote, the Fooz Kids gaming platform, a trial of McAfee Internet Security Suite, Nook for PC, Norton Online Backup and Skype 5.5. Additionally, Acer bundled a handful of its own apps, including Backup Manager, ePower Management, a gaming hub, Instant Update Service, Theft Shield, Updater and clear.fi, for streaming media over WiFi. The M5 comes with a one-year warranty, which is par for the course among consumer laptops, especially lower-priced ones like this. Configuration options Though the particular configuration we tested costs $780, the M5 starts at $680, with prices topping out at $830, meaning even the top-of-the-line models here are still going to be lesser-specced and more affordably priced than most other Ultrabooks out there. At the entry level, the M5 comes with a second-generation (read: Sandy Bridge) Core i3 processor, along with 6GB of RAM and that same 500GB hard drive paired with a 20GB SSD. It's important to note, too, that this base model also does not include discrete graphics -- for one of those Kepler GPUs you'll need to pay $780 and higher. If all you want is Ivy Bridge, but you're willing to settle for integrated HD 4000 graphics, you can get away with spending as little as $730. The competition
Forget for a minute that this is an Ultrabook: for all intents and purposes, it would be smarter to compare this mainly to mainstream laptops, models with optical drives and maybe even discrete graphics. One that comes to mind is the recently refreshed Dell XPS 15z, a 15-inch laptop that's available with discrete graphics and known for its relatively slim design. At $1,300 and up, it's hardly in the same price category, but it starts with an Ivy Bridge processor, NVIDIA GT630M GPU and a much-higher-res 1080p display. It's worth considering if you've taken a look at what the M5 series has to offer, and feel like you're willing to spend more for better performance. In HP's camp, there's the Pavilion dv4, a 14-inch laptop that starts at $650 (not counting any promotions on HP's site). Like the M5, that sub-$700 base price includes a Sandy Bridge Core i3 processor and a 500GB hard drive. The difference is that the dv4, like most of HP's machines, is fairly customizable with options for an Ivy Bridge Core i7 processor, two kinds of NVIDIA GPUs, a Blu-ray player and up to 16GB of RAM. And while you won't find any SSDs offered here, the storage space maxes out at a roomy 1TB. Just keep in mind that, as with the M5, regardless of how much money you spend, there's only one display option: a TN panel with 1,366 x 768 resolution. As for Sony, your best bet might be the E series, which is similarly offered in 14- and 15-inch sizes. (There's an 11-inch version, too, but that's not really relevant here.) With starting prices hovering around $570 for each, they, too, come with a Sandy Bridge Core i3 processor at the base level, along with 6GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive. The difference here is that you can step up to an Ivy Bridge Core i7 CPU and a 1,600 x 900 display. Things you won't find: a Blu-ray option, SSDs or discrete graphics. For those features, you'll need to move on up to the higher-end S series, which starts at $800. Wrap-up For the money, the Acer Aspire M5 is a fantastic deal. At $780, it delivers some of the best graphics performance you'll find in this price range, or among Ultrabooks, in general. It's thinner than many mainstream 14-inch laptops, even though it still makes room for an optical drive. Unlike other ultraportables, too, you'll find a generous selection of ports (Ethernet, HDMI, USB 3.0), and the keyboard and trackpad are fairly comfortable. And because the price is so tempting, we suspect the people considering this (students, etc.) will be willing to forgive its minor flaws, like its mediocre screen and scratchy, plastic bottom. If you've been looking for a solid, all-purpose machine and either can't afford a $1,100 Ultrabook or need something with more horsepower, you won't do much better than this. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget Podcast 304 - 08.03.2012 Posted: 03 Aug 2012 07:30 AM PDT  Another week sails by on the good ship The Engadget Podcast -- come aboard. We can print you a margarita. Hosts: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater 01:15 - Google postponing Nexus Q launch to 'make it better,' sending a free device to those who pre-ordered
Subscribe to the podcast Download the podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robot stock traders lose $440,000,000 in 45 minutes, need someone to spell it out Posted: 03 Aug 2012 07:02 AM PDT Humans never learn and apparently neither do robots. Autonomous trading AIs went on a spending spree at Knight Capital Group in New Jersey this week, buying up shares in everything from RadioShack to Ford and American Airlines (ouch) in a 45-minute frenzy of disobedience. The company tried to offload the unwanted stock, but discovered it was already nearly half a billion dollars in the red -- enough to wipe out its entire profit from 2011 and "severely impact" its ability to conduct business. If only it had protected itself with one of these. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distro Issue 51 arrives with an in-depth look at Apple's Mountain Lion Posted: 03 Aug 2012 06:30 AM PDT In case you hadn't heard, Apple released the latest version of OS X recently. As expected, the newfangled Mountain Lion operating system touts a number of added features -- some of which bring it even closer in sync with iOS. In this week's issue of our e-magazine, the beast steps out into the spotlight and we offer a word or two (a few thousand, to be exact) in our full-length review of the software. If the work of the folks in Cupertino isn't exactly your cup of tea, we also give the new Outlook.com and T-Mo's version of the Galaxy Note a close examination with the Engadget fine-toothed comb. HTC's Eric Lin takes a shot at the Q&A, "This is the Modem World" discusses gadget smells, "Reaction Time" chats about blockbuster releases and "IRL" exposes more of the devices that we use on the regular. Trust us, you'll want to get comfortable this time around. Kick your shoes off and head to your download link of choice to get started. Distro Issue 51 PDF This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MetroPCS outs Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED, LTE and Dyle Mobile TV Posted: 03 Aug 2012 06:16 AM PDT Well, that didn't take long. Shortly after showing up in some leaked shots, Samsung's Galaxy S Lightray 4G is with us yet again, save for this time around it's an official appearance courtesy of MetroPCS. The underdog carrier's announced the Lightray 4G will be the latest addition to its lineup of LTE-equipped handsets, with this new Galaxy also said to be the first one to offer speedy hotspot capabilities within the network. Additionally, Sammy's Lightray features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen, an undisclosed 1GHz processor and access to Dyle Mobile TV's on-the-go entertainment service -- that said, don't expect an Ice Cream Sandwich here (better yet Jelly Beans), as all you'll be getting is a taste of Mountain View's popular Gingerbread. MetroPCS has the Lightray 4G up for grabs now on its site at $460, and for those interested, there's a photo gallery down below as well as the official presser from the carrier. MetroPCS Dials In Unique Entertainment Experience with the Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G Smartphone DALLAS (August 3, 2012) – MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S® LightrayTM 4G*. The latest in MetroPCS' expanding 4G LTE Android™ smartphone lineup – and the first Samsung Galaxy S device for MetroPCS – allows consumers to browse the web and applications, download exciting content plus stream videos and music in a flash. Available today, this powerful smartphone offers 4G LTE service with no annual contract and tax-and-regulatory-fee-inclusive service plans starting at just $40 per month. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stompy gets off the ground with a Kickstarter: buy a ride on a 2-ton hexabot Posted: 03 Aug 2012 06:02 AM PDT In June we were promised a Kickstarter for Project Hexapod's 10-foot tall, two-ton Stompy. We're happy to report that Gui Cavalcanti and his cohorts (James Whong and Dan Cody) at the Artisan's Asylum weren't kidding. This morning the page went live and you can officially pledge your support for rideable six-legged robots. Now that the chassis is 80 percent through the design phase, the half-scale prototype leg (Gimpy) has proven its mettle, and the full-size prototype leg has been designed and the necessary parts ordered, it's time to start lining up funding for the final project. You know how it works: you pledge a certain amount of money and in return you receive a particular level of reward. Don't have much to offer? For just $5 the team will scale the White Mountains and shout your name from the top, while $10 will get you get you something a bit more tangible -- a bumper sticker that reads "my other car has six legs." Sure, stickers, photos and T-shirts are nice, but the real fun comes when you pledge something substantial, like $200. At that level Stompy will live up to his name and crush any inanimate, non-volatile object of your choosing. Project Hexapod will even post a video of the destruction on YouTube for the world to enjoy. But, wait, it gets better. Cough up $300, and you'll get to ride the 18-foot wide steel beast. Jump to a cool grand and they'll let you man the controls. There's a few more levels above that, but get this, if you contribute $300,000, they'll build you your own Stompy (we've already started emptying our retirement accounts and pooling our funds). The goal is a perfectly reasonable $65,000 -- especially when you consider each leg is roughly $6,000 in raw materials. But, at $95K, the team will add a "performance upgrade" package that'll allow it to move faster, smoother and over more rugged terrain. If you're at all concerned at all about where your money is going, we'll leave you with these parting pieces of information to consider. One: When the project is complete, everything from the CAD designs to the lesson plans used in the associated class will be posted online for anyone to download. Two: In the course of designing Stompy, the Project Hexapod crew developed a position-controlled hydraulic actuator capable of generating 18,000 pounds of force with a two-foot stroke that's two orders of magnitude cheaper that comparable hardware. And, three: If the team reaches $300,000 in funding, they will buy a waterjet cutter and install it at the Artisan's Asylum for public use. It will also be used to build a "zoo's worth of rideable robots." Neither we, nor they are kidding. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Sound Headset for Xbox 360 review Posted: 03 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT This is for sure: if you're a gamer seeking a primo wireless surround sound headset, now is a very good time to buy. It's been less than two weeks since Astro Gaming's A50 wireless surround headset impressively traversed the Engadget review gauntlet, and now the crazy kitties that are Mad Catz and Tritton are up for a turn. It's taken the duo well over a year and a half to get its full range of Microsoft-licensed Xbox 360 headsets off the ground, with the flagship Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Sound Headset set to hit shelves in just a few days. Aside from packing some innovative and exclusive features for Xbox 360 users, it stands as the only totally integrated wireless headset for the system -- for the first time you won't need a pesky controller-to-headset cable or a controller-mounted Bluetooth dongle for voice chat. We've been fortunate enough to get an early look at this $300 Dolby Headphone-enabled headset, so join us past the break and we'll let you know whether it's been worth the wait -- or whether it's too much, too late. Hardware In case it wasn't clear, Tritton has gone out of its way to ensure that the headset matches the Xbox 360 -- from two years ago. One of our biggest pet peeves is dealing with overly glossy gadgets, and the Warhead takes the cake in this area. From the second we pulled the cellophane off the headset and transmitter base, they immediately started picking up fingerprints and dust. Worse yet, this is the first time in memory that we've ever been able to scratch a gadget by trying to wipe it clean with a microfiber cloth. So while the gloss is certainly showy, we wish Tritton would've stuck with the matte finish used on the rest of the headsets in its lineup.
Make no mistake, though: we're otherwise really digging the design. Tritton has always had a way of making its headsets look like they're straight out of some sci-fi flick, and the Warhead is no different. All around the headset you'll find exaggerated angles reminiscent of some sports cars. Then there's the base, which could honestly pass for a scale model of a futuristic missile launcher. We're especially glad that Tritton's usual orange accents have been kept to a minimum; you'll only find them on the driver filters inside of the earcups. Instead, there's a variety of silver detailing, which looks great alongside the black finish. Still, the faux-metal bits on the headband and buttons do feel kind of cheap. Speaking of the sort, the headset doesn't nearly feel like a $300 offering, especially compared to its competitors. That's not to say that we had issues with the build quality during testing, and this is indeed an improvement over the older AX Series. Even so, it's telling when the $70 AX180 from years past feels more robust than the Warhead. Basically, we hoped for a bit more of a premium feel. A little off topic, but interesting nonetheless: the top of the headset is embossed with the Tritton logo and not the Xbox 360 logo as has been shown off since the headset was first revealed. It's a bit surprising considering this is an official Xbox 360 headset, but according to Tritton it was merely a minor design decision by it and Microsoft. What's in a name, anyway? Setup and layout Grabbing everything out of the box (styled like that of the Xbox's packaging), we were mainly left with some instruction manuals, the headset itself and its combo base / transmitter, a battery charger and a headset stand. In addition to that, you'll get more than enough cables for hookup: a TOSlink optical cable, a TOSlink adapter for older Xbox systems, stereo RCA cables for older TVs and an AC adapter with a trio of international connectors. Setting up the Warhead with our matte Xbox 360 Slim was a pleasingly simple task. Connect and plug in the power adapter and then hook up the optical cable, and it's pretty much ready to go -- save for some pairing woes that required us to unplug everything. Now that we've discussed getting the base plugged in, let's take a tour of the layout there and on the headset. Starting with the base, the back side features inputs for power, a 3.5mm line-in jack (sadly, you can't bleed in your PMP with the TOSlink feed), an optical input and a sync button. On the sides, it has wings to support the headset. These work decently, but it usually takes some finessing to get the Warhead to fit inside -- we'd have preferred a solution that supports the headband instead. Moving to the front, you'll notice several lights. Up top, you'll find indicators for Dolby Headphone, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx and Dolby Digital -- these let you know which surround sound simulation, if any, is currently being pushed to the headset. Below that, you'll find lights for three of the headset's four EQs consisting of none, music, game and movie. Naturally, we'll detail all of this further in the sound section. Continuing down is the familiar Xbox 360 quadrant, which lets you know which controller the base is currently paired to for voice chat (it supports up to four Warheads), as well as if the battery is low or if it's searching for a headset. This leads us to why the base doesn't conveniently plug into the Xbox 360 for power like the A50 -- that's because it serves as a charger for the Warhead's two 3.7V 1,800mAh batteries. You read that right, two high-capacity batteries. Tritton rates them for about 12 hours each, but we managed a whopping 17 hours of use on one battery playing music with voice monitoring enabled. This is hands-down the best battery life we've seen in a gaming headset, and we hope the competition is taking notice. Best of all, because the headset is an official accessory of the Xbox 360, you'll get a battery readout in the Live dashboard just like you would with its Bluetooth headset.
Getting back on topic, pulling off a magnetic cover on the front of the base reveals a slot that can charge one battery at a time. Sliding in the cell locks it in place, where a swipe of the lock lets it pop out so that you can grasp it with your fingers -- it's usually an easy task, but sometimes the battery doesn't pop out enough to get a grip on it. The convenience here is something we wish other headsets offered. Think about it, you never have to stop playing for more than a few seconds! Our main complaint is that the magnetic cover completely detaches from the base and is small enough that we could see it eventually getting lost. Lastly, below the battery slot is an indicator light for wireless connectivity, while another on the right lets you know when the battery is charging. All of this information provided on the base is greatly appreciated, and we admire how the lights on the base match those on the Xbox 360. And now, at last: the headset itself. On the outside of the left earcup you'll find an input for the unit's detachable microphone. The feature is nice to have, especially if you somehow manage to bust the boom mic somewhere along the line. The mic is similar to the one used on the AX series, but thankfully it offers more flexibility to ensure the exact placement you want. The boom also features a convenient mute switch near where it connects to the headset, while the mic portion has a light that illuminates red to remind you when it's indeed muting your vocals. The right earcup features an easily removable magnetic cover that houses a single battery pack, making it a breeze for quick swaps. On the inside of the left earcup you'll find another Xbox sync button, and on the inside of the right one you'll find a power button. That leads us to the main buttons you'll be using, which are conveniently planted where your index fingers and thumbs would naturally land on the earcups. Specifically, you'll find a resistive volume switch for voice chat on the back of the left cup which can be pushed in to turn Selective Voice Monitoring on and off, while the same button on the right earcup controls the game volume or mutes it. Moving to the front, the left earcup has a click button that allows you to switch from the optical input or the stereo input on the base, while the right cup controls the four EQ options that are available. All in all, we're fairly satisfied with the clicky feel of the buttons. If we have one niggle, it's that the main volume switches remind us of the cheap volume dials found on lower-end headsets. Fit Aside being quite attractive, the Warhead's aggressive style ethic makes for a much more comfortable fit than Tritton's earlier helmet-like headsets, such as the AX720. All of the expected features are here: the headband easily adjusts for larger and smaller heads, and the earcups articulate vertically and horizontally for contoured fit –- not to mention that they fold flat (ear pads facing down), so you can rest the headset against your collar for nomming breaks. The circumaural earcups are large enough that we never felt like our ears were being pushed down like with Turtle Beach's headsets, but it's not the same free-floating feeling offered by the even larger cups on the Astro A50 and Sennheiser PC 360 -- it sits at crossroad, if you will. Those with larger ears should take note, however, that there is no padding in front of the earcups, which could case cartilage cramping depending on your anatomy. The Warhead is the least flexible of the bunch, due to its build materials, but it still had enough flex to contour with this editor's noggin. Some may take issue with its clamping force, but we merely found it to be snug rather than tight –- much like the PC 360.
Thankfully, the earpads are removable, but they are of the faux leather variety which is a bummer if you prefer velour. Unlike previous headsets from the company, these types of pads aren't included as a secondary option. That said, we're happy to report that the earcups never made our ears too sweaty, as the pads did seem to breathe better than most faux leather variants we've used in the past. You won't find memory foam inside of them either, but rather surprisingly comfortable plush padding. The headband pad is a bit odd, as it's a piece of loose rubber skin with a pad behind it, but it worked well at keeping the headset from sliding at all. Overall, the Warhead is very comfortable for long gaming sessions, but it still lags behind the competition. The Warhead is just comfortable enough so that it won't cause any irritation, but it still feels a bit heavier on the head than we'd like. To be matter-of-fact about it, it falls slightly short of crossing the line between something we don't mind wearing on our head versus being so comfortable that we want to. Sound and wireless connectivity Alright, the section you've been waiting for: audio quality and wireless connectivity. Starting with the latter, a key feature found on the Warhead is its 5.8GHz radio chipset -- like Astro's wireless offerings. In case you don't know, the Xbox 360 uses the more common 2.4GHz frequency for its radios which handle the likes of WiFi and the console's controllers. Unsurprisingly, it's not uncommon to see reports of many 2.4GHz wireless headsets having audio hiccups when placed near an Xbox 360. As we anticipated, placing the unit near our Xbox didn't give us any noticeable connectivity issues. Naturally, moving a decent distance from the base caused some audio to drop -- just like every wireless headset we've tested. As long as we were using the base in the same room with our headset, we didn't have any issues with the connection.
As is usually the case, the Warhead is merely a stereo headset that uses a mixture of Dolby surround sound technologies for a Dolby Headphone-enabled 7.1 surround sound simulation. If you're curious about how this works, hit up the more coverage link below, as this review mainly focuses on how the simulation sounds. Notably, the Warhead is the only headset in Tritton's lineup to use 50mm drivers. Tritton is very proud of this, but big numbers don't always translate into great sound. To throw it out there from the start, the Warhead 7.1 sounds very good, but it's no match for what Turtle Beach and Astro Gaming are offering. Compared to the A50 we have on hand, the Warhead lacks the crisp fidelity one might expect in this price range -- and it's especially noticeable during music playback. There was also a bit more signal noise with the Warhead, but nothing that wasn't drowned out by in-game audio. It's not to say that it sounds terrible in comparison, but as with the fit, the audio quality falls short of the competition. With the EQ set to "none" (stereo without surround sound simulation), the sound is a bit sloppy, light on tightness and punch -- fortunately, enabling any of the other three settings (which all enable virtual surround sound as well) mostly fixes this. The music setting allows for deeper bass, while the game option drops the bass down so that the highs and mids are a bit more noticeable, and it seems to compress the signal a bit more for some extra punch. The movie setting seems to drop out a bit of the midrange to let the highs breathe easier, making for a slightly wider sound. We'd say in general, the highs on the Warhead seem a bit veiled, but this is apparently Tritton's preferred tuning so that effects like gun shots sound fuller. Overall, we can't help but make the common note that it almost feels as there was a dampener between our ears and the headset, making for muddiness instead of crispness. This is mostly noticeable with music and movies; in gaming, not so much. Notably, the headphones have a fairly wide soundstage reminiscent of the AX720, so with Dolby Headphone enabled, the directionality offered by the Warhead in games like Modern Warfare 3 is top-notch. Still, every time we moved up to the A50, we felt closer to using a proper speaker system than having headphones on. You're likely wondering about the microphone at this point. What enables the Warhead to provide completely wireless chat with the Xbox 360 is a special security chip that can only be offered by Microsoft -- notably, this means you won't be able to use the microphone outside of your Xbox 360. Tritton also notes that this should provide better audio quality for chat than anything else on the market. In game, we never had any issues with people being able to hear us. The microphone does sound pretty good, although if there is any difference in audio quality compared to other headsets, it's marginal, a bit less staticky at best. There's one last notable point about the mic, and that's what Tritton calls Selective Voice Monitoring. This isn't the only headset in its lineup to offer the functionality, but it is something that only Tritton currently offers. Basically, if you don't want to hear yourself in the headset you don't have to, whereas other headsets from the competition don't give you the option. We very much enjoy voice monitoring when it's included in headsets, and the implementation here is very good -- in fact, we think it's actually a bit too sensitive. When using SVM, a lot of background noise is also fed into the earpieces, which can make for some muddiness in the audio. In the future, we'd hope that the volume can be adjusted, but overall it works well. It saved us from ever feeling a sore throat from shouting. Wrap-up More InfoSince we were never without battery power while using the Warhead, we basically had to force ourselves to stop playing MW3 long enough to write this review. The Warhead is a solid offering from Tritton, proving the company has finally caught up to the latest generation of gaming headsets. The sound it produces is respectable, the fit is fairly comfortable and all of its features prove to be extremely useful and enjoyable. What's more, the Microsoft collaboration has paid off handsomely: the on-dashboard battery readout is welcome and the exclusive integrated wireless chat functionality makes the Warhead the most convenient headset available for the Xbox 360. If there's one downside to the chat functionality, it's that the feature missed its chance to be a complete game changer, since Turtle Beach's has offered its wireless chat puck even before Microsoft and Mad Catz inked this exclusive deal.
So here's where that leaves us. If audio quality / personalization and cross compatibility are your foremost considerations, we'd still recommend headsets like Astro's A50 or Turtle Beach's XP500. But if you're willing to let go of a little fidelity and EQ customizability, the Warhead 7.1 offers the best overall user experience we've seen in an Xbox 360 headset. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Researchers use ambient WiFi radio waves to see through walls Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:24 AM PDT Seeing through walls hasn't been a super hero-exclusive activity for a while now. According to Popular Science, however, University College London researchers Karl Woodbridge and Kevin Chetty have created the first device that can detect movement through walls using existing WiFi signals. While similar tech has required a bevy of wireless nodes, the duo has pulled off the feat with a contraption roughly the size of a suit case. Much like radar, the device relies on the Doppler effect -- radio waves changing frequencies as they reflect off of moving objects -- to identify motion. Using a radio receiver with two antennas and a signal-processing unit, the system monitors the baseline WiFi frequency in an area for changes that would indicate movement. In tests, the gadget was able to determine a person's location, speed and direction through a foot-thick brick wall. The technology's potential applications range from domestic uses to scanning buildings during combat. Best of all, since the university's hardware doesn't emit any radio waves, it can't be detected. How's that for stealthy? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aussie regulator raps TV makers for touting 'WiFi ready' products Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT Sony, LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sharp will no longer be marketing their TVs and Blu-Ray players as "WiFi ready" in Australia unless they're actually ready to connect to a WiFi network. Many products labeled as such often require the additional purchase of a $100-$120 AUD ($80-$100) dongle, and the ACCC, the country's US FTC doppelgänger, has ordered the makers to stop the practice. It all started when a customer complained to the watchdog after feeling burned when his "WiFi ready" TV... wasn't. The fact that similar terms were being used on products that actually have built-in adapters was another strike against the practice, according to the regulator from down under. However, if you happen to reside somewhere else in the world, it's caveat emptor, as usual. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sanwa's iPhone pico projector gets spec bump, trebled brightness (video) Posted: 03 Aug 2012 04:26 AM PDT Sanwa has revamped the PRJ011 iPhone charging sleeve-cum-pico-projector we saw back in January. The new PRJ016 packs a 1,850mAh battery that can recharge your handset up to 80 percent and also power the projection mode if you want to enjoy a movie, or a spreadsheet, blown onto your wall. The 35 lumens DLP device has three times the brightness of its predecessor, can project for 120 minutes on a full tank and has a maximum display size of 60-inches, focusing from a distance of up to six feet. It's available in Japan from tomorrow, setting you back ¥23,800 ($305), and in the meantime there's a Chiaroscuro video waiting after the break if you'd like to know more. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| YouTube refines homepage feed, adds highlights option Posted: 03 Aug 2012 03:46 AM PDT If your channel subscriptions were starting to get a little unwieldy, you might want to tinker with several new feed options rolling out to the site now. Accompanying bigger thumbnails with more detail, users can now hide individual updates, limit them to new uploads or just unsubscribe directly from their feed. Anything that you've already watched on YouTube is grayed out to avoid unnecessary replays, while a new highlight view should ensure over-zealous videomakers don't squeeze out less prolific contributors -- and make some room for the next wave of (heavily-marketed) YouTube channels. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeing, SpaceX win NASA 'space taxi' funding race (updated) Posted: 03 Aug 2012 03:01 AM PDT NASA has Update: NASA's confirmed its picks, with back-up choice Sierra Nevada picking up $212.5 million, while Space X and Boeing got $440 million and $460 million, respectively. To celebrate, SpaceX's crafted another stargazing video -- it's right after the break.
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| Xiaomi Phone 2 may debut on August 16th, packaging will withstand 180kg of weight Posted: 03 Aug 2012 02:40 AM PDT Amid rumors that Chinese startup Xiaomi will soon be bringing out its next-gen Android smartphone, various spy shots have been circulating around the web. However, a company representative has already shot them down by claiming they were all rejected designs, though the same person told CNMO that the so-called "Xiaomi Phone 2" will feature a larger display as well as Qualcomm's quad-core chip clocked at 1.5GHz. If true, this would make the new Xiaomi Phone officially the first smartphone to pack the beefy APQ8064 silicon, which should be no surprise given the tight partnership between Xiaomi and Qualcomm -- not to mention that the latter is also a notable investor of the phone maker. As to when we'll know the truth, Sina Tech is reporting that according to an insider, Xiaomi will be hosting the launch event on August 16th and will, oddly enough, offer tickets to non-media attendees for ¥199 (about $30) per head. On the contrary, fans were able to just walk into the unveiling of the original Xiaomi Phone -- three million of which have been sold as of June. Meanwhile, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun and his colleagues have been showing off the minimalistic, eco-friendly packaging of their upcoming second-gen smartphone -- more pics after the break. And as before, the company pulled the standing-on-box stunt again, only this time they bumped the weight from 85kg to 180kg which obviously required an extra fellow, as you can see in the intimate photo above. Looks like the new MIUI flagship device is all set for a safe delivery -- all we need now is a price. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Logitech launches TV Cam HD for living room video chats: built-in Skype, 720p, $200 Posted: 03 Aug 2012 01:51 AM PDT If Cisco's ill-fated Umi video conferencing system had been more like this, would it have survived? Logitech is about to find out, one way or the other, once its TV Cam HD -- recently spotted at the FCC -- arrives in the US this month. The $199.99 device hooks up to your TV and contains all the processing power needed to run Skype and transmit wide-angle, 720p footage of your couch over WiFi or Ethernet. Unlike the previous TV Cam, there's no need for a Viera Connect HDTV -- anything with HDMI-in will do. The company is banking on the notion that families will forgo the use of their existing mobile devices and laptops in favour of an always-on dedicated system with incoming call alerts, four noise-cancelling mics and a Carl Zeiss lens that "gets the whole family in the video call, so everyone from grandparents to grandchildren can move around naturally." If you're tempted, the publicity video after the break gives a decent overview of the product in action.
Logitech TV Cam HD Brings Skype Video Calling to Your HDTV NEWARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Logitech (SIX: LOGN)(NASDAQ: LOGI) and Skype announced the new Logitech® TV Cam HD, a high-definition TV camera with built in Skype™ capability that operates on any HDTV with HDMI® input, making it easier than ever to share everyday moments through HD Skype video calls from the comfort of your own living room. With Skype built in and using Wi-Fi® or Ethernet connectivity with your HDTV, there is no additional software or computer required, making installation and use quick and easy. Using a simple, bundled remote controller, the Logitech TV Cam HD lets you call anyone using Skype on any platform, whether they are on their smartphone, tablet, HDTV or computer. Simply sign into Skype with your existing Skype Name, or create a new account on your HDTV, and you are a few clicks away from making a Skype video call from the comfort of your couch. You can also use Skype on the Logitech TV Cam HD to call landline or mobile numbers using your account's Skype Credit or calling subscription. Plus, the Logitech TV Cam HD is Skype Certified™, ensuring you will have the best-possible Skype calling experience. "Amazing connections happen when the video calling experience moves to the TV in the living room: the most popular and comfortable place in the house," said Joerg Tewes, vice president of Logitech's digital home business group. "Because of the size of the TV screen and the quality of the video, the new Logitech TV Cam HD with Skype brings a whole new social element to the living room, helping you feel like your family and friends are right there with you. It's a transformative experience." "Our mission is to make Skype calling part of consumers' everyday routine by ensuring it is accessible to everyone at any time and from anywhere," said Bob Rosin, head of business development for Skype. "The affordable and simple-to-use Logitech TV Cam HD is a great way for the whole family to share everyday moments through Skype with others near and far – right from their living room." The Logitech TV Cam HD is easy to set up and works with any HDTV with an available HDMI input. The camera also offers a wide-angle lens developed in conjunction with the German optics specialist Carl Zeiss that gets the whole family in the video call, so everyone from grandparents to grandchildren can move around naturally, compared to a regular computer webcam experience. Thanks to Logitech Fluid CrystalTM Technology and Carl Zeiss® optics, you'll experience crystal clear sound and sharp, rich video images – even in low light. The Logitech TV Cam HD features a built-in ringer, so you'll know when someone is calling – whether your TV is on or off – and the dedicated power supply helps ensure the camera is ready for a call. The Logitech TV Cam HD provides four microphones to help reduce noise and echoes for enhanced audio quality. Pricing and Availability The Logitech TV Cam HD is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in August and September 2012, respectively, for a suggested retail price of $199.99. For more information please visit www.logitech.com or visit Logitech's blog. About Skype Skype is communications software whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they're apart. Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg, Skype is a division of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com. You can get news and updates from Skype on its Blog: http://blogs.skype.com, Twitter: twitter.com/skype or Facebook: www.facebook.com/skype. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unannounced Sony NEX-5R and NEX-6 cameras could pack wireless connectivity Posted: 03 Aug 2012 01:29 AM PDT Sony's NEX camera series hasn't made much noise so far this year, aside from its new entry-level F3 model. But that's likely to change soon, with a pair of new mirrorless model numbers appearing in Indonesian POSTEL listings. They've since been nixed, but not before the eagle eyes at Sony Alpha Rumors plucked this screen grab of the NEX-5R and NEX-6. It's the Wireless LAN part (which resulted in this listing) that's piqued our interested, suggesting that Sony's next generation of ILCs will also board the wireless connectivity train. There's no more detail to glean from the listing, although rumors (and hopeful prayers) point to an announcement ahead of premier camera show, Photokina, which kicks off next month. [Thanks Andrea] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gameloft announces its first Unreal Engine game, you figure out what it is Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:59 AM PDT Parisian gaming company Gameloft has pulled the wraps off its first Unreal Engine Update: Some sources have reported the platform as Android, but that has not been officially announced. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dropped calls, slow download speeds rank among top gripes of mobile users Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:04 AM PDT Everyone has an opinion, and if they all stink, then Pew must have one hell of a tolerance for foul odors. The research group recently surveyed a number of mobile phone owners to determine their primary complaints, and while it's not much of a surprise, slow network performance stole the show. In all, 77 percent aired at least some dissatisfaction with download speeds, and nearly half of all respondents cited frequent frustration. The story is similar for dropped calls, as 72 percent of those surveyed claim to experience the annoyance at least occasionally. While less widespread, the distribution of those who receive unwanted marketing attempts via either telephone calls or text messages is roughly equal -- it seems reasonable to assume that many respondents are harassed by both means. For more surveys*, just text #eng-123 to 9999. *Outrageous fees will apply.
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| ASRock Vision 3D 252B reviewed: a quiet, top-shelf HTPC worthy of the premium price Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:05 PM PDT Sure, we know there's great temptation to go the DIY route when considering your next HTPC, but if you're looking for a small form factor solution, there are legitimate advantages inherent to prebuilt systems. HotHardware just put the ASRock Vision 3D 252B through a rigorous review, and while it isn't the newest rig on the block, it's said to be worthy of your consideration just the same. At the system's heart, you'll find a Core i5 2520M -- which is from the Sandy Bridge era -- but the diminutive computer is said to provide flawless playback of all media types. Other high points include the system's quiet operation and low power consumption, and in summation, "The component choices, connectivity options, and form factor all hit the sweet spot." While the roughly $900 price may deter some, HotHardware recommends the Vision 3D 252B as a worthwhile HTPC that provides better connectivity options and a smaller size than the DIY alternative. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seedio app networks iDevices into loudspeaker, blasts music far and wide Posted: 02 Aug 2012 10:23 PM PDT Yearning to break free from earbud-induced isolation and spring towards a music listening experience with a social slant? Seedio for iOS can help. Built by a team of six developers, the app networks local iDevices over WiFi and allows one user to stream music to others. Audio from iTunes or YouTube is queued up by the designated disc jockey, or "seeder," and plays through each device's speakers in unison to create a distributed, makeshift loudspeaker. If the situation calls for a quieter jam session, however, you can forgo the speakers and listen in with headphones instead. Up to 150 devices can connect through a single router, but four is the current limit when relying on an ad hoc network created by an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Seedio isn't the first of its kind to roam the wilds of the App Store, but its creators claim to have nailed syncing audio across gadgets. The app is free for a limited time, but will soon pick up a $2.99 price tag. For those content with merely tuning in and leaving the playlist duty to others, the app will remain free. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alvarez Electric Motors rolls out budget-friendly line of Eco vehicles Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:49 PM PDT Sure, there's already a ton of electric rides out there, but some folks might not be interested in all those bells and whistles found in something like, say, that precious Tesla Model S or the upcoming Audi A3 e-tron. Luckily for them, there are indie companies like Alvarez Electric Motors trying to stir things up a bit in the EV market. The California company (with the help of Chinese OEM Liuzhou Wuling) has just announced three eco-friendly vehicles, starting with its Eco-E Commuter Car and followed by two larger ones, the EcoTruck and EcoVan -- all of which are priced at around $10,000, $17,000 and $18,000, respectively, though this isn't taking into consideration the tax credits and rebates that come with going the green route. Naturally, saving cash also means taking a couple of hits in key departments, and thus it shouldn't come as a surprise the EV trio is only expected to have a mild range of 30-40 miles, while top speeds are said to clock in at a mere 25 mph. You'll find more info on these at the source below, along with extra pictures for your kind viewing pleasure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung confirms next Galaxy Note will debut at Mobile Unpacked event this month Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:06 PM PDT Not that there was much doubt, but Reuters reports an unnamed Samsung spokesperson has revealed that yes, the next Galaxy Note will be unveiled at its Mobile Unpacked event in Berlin on August 29th, a year after the original. Other than the existing speculation about a bigger screen, and the faster processor possibly revealed by benchmarks there's not much else to say, yet, although with IFA kicking off two days later we're sure the electronics giant will have more than one trick up its sleeve. So, any ideas on what the next generation phablet needs (NFC and a headset?) to keep its king-sized place atop the competition? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matrix One tablet goes on sale for an even more frugal $90 Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:53 PM PDT Direct Merchandise Marketing might not have the most alluring name as a tablet maker, but it still raised a few eyebrows with its Matrix One in June: it hoped to crack the $100 barrier while still producing a device you'd still be proud to take home to Mother. The 7-inch slate is going on sale ever so slightly past its late July target, but with a surprise price drop to $90 -- more or less, considering that shipping costs a minimum $10. Whether or not that extra Hamilton bill's difference is an illusion, you're still getting a surprisingly competent device for the money, with a 1.5GHz ARM Cortex-A8 chip, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of built-in storage moving Android 4.0 along at a decent clip. The 2-megapixel front camera, full-size USB and HDMI also help reinforce that it's more than just a no-frills slab. Having said this, we'd be brave enough to crack the triple-digit barrier and spring for the considerably more future-proof $130 edition with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of space. The feature gap is still wide enough that Nexus 7 owners won't experience buyer's remorse; at this price, however, it's not hard to imagine handing out Matrix Ones to family members like so much candy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chameleon Android launcher appears, pre-orderers and Kickstarter backers get beta access soon Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:16 PM PDT After a false start to its Kickstarter funding, the Chameleon launcher project for Android is finally arriving -- at least in beta form. It's currently ready for install from Google Play by anyone with an Android tablet running 3.2 or higher, however to actually unlock the software you'll need to have your account authorized on its servers . For the moment that's restricted to a VIP list of early testers to bash on its core systems as well as the included HTML5 widgets. The beta for Kickstarter backers and pre-orderers will be staggered to let the company test its activation system, so if you haven't been switched on yet it shouldn't be too long of a wait. If you've hopped over the velvet rope, let us know how the new experience is running on your slate, those stuck on the outside looking in can catch a quick demo video embedded after the break, as well as hit the company's website to register for access and progress updates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 available for pre-order from Negri Electronics, ship date set for tomorrow Posted: 02 Aug 2012 07:26 PM PDT Negri Electronics, the apparent one stop shop for hard-to-find tablets, is now offering pre-orders for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note 10.1. The listing -- which carries a heavy $750 price tag -- outfits Sammy's new slate with a familiar 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos processor, 16 GB of internal storage, and a requisite 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800 resolution touchscreen. Negri also states the slab will rock a quadband 21Mbps HSPA 1900/1800/900/850 radio, which would come as a nice surprise if true. Saltier still, is the firm's proposed ship date -- August 3rd, which is tomorrow. If you don't mind shelling out for the privilege of being an early adopter, feel free to empty your wallet at the source link below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Honeywell next up to get a patent license from Microsoft, goes the Android handheld route Posted: 02 Aug 2012 06:32 PM PDT Stop us if you've heard this one before: a company that wants to start using (or keep using) a Google OS strikes a patent licensing deal with Microsoft to avoid the legal barrage that will invariably follow if it says no. It's Honeywell singing the tune this time, and the company has reached an agreement that will let it use Android or Chrome OS on devices like a new edition of the Dolphin 7800 rugged handheld (shown here) without perpetually looking over its shoulder. Neither side is going into the specifics, although Microsoft has steered Honeywell into using its boilerplate copy about royalties trading hands. The truce won't help the prices of Honeywell devices; even so, it's good news for developers and customers who've been part of the company's official Android feedback program. We're still yearning for the day when we can get root access on a Honeywell thermostat. Honeywell Device Will be the First EDA Covered Under Microsoft's Patent Portfolio to Run Android and Chrome OS FORT MILL, S.C., Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today unveiled its first enterprise digital assistant with an Android operating system (OS), offering mobile workers a device with the same platform that many use in their personal lives. The Dolphin 7800 Android is a rugged handheld computer with fast and accurate data capture and navigation capabilities, making it ideal for a delivery driver or sales representative whose work day involves multiple customer stops. Honeywell Scanning & Mobility and Microsoft Corp. also signed a patent agreement that provides broad coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for Honeywell's products running on the Android or Chrome OS platforms. Although specific terms of the agreement are confidential, Microsoft will receive royalties from Honeywell under the agreement. "Our core business strategy is to offer solutions to meet the needs of the software development community," said John Waldron, president of Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. "To provide our customers with the best range of tools for success, we signed a license agreement with Microsoft that will allow Honeywell to offer the Android-based Dolphin 7800 to our network of partners around the world." "We are pleased to have reached a patent agreement with Honeywell covering its Android devices under Microsoft's worldwide patent portfolio," said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. "Through this agreement Honeywell joins Microsoft's Android patent licensing program and demonstrates its responsible approach to the management of intellectual property." What sets the Dolphin 7800 Android apart from other products are security features to give businesses peace of mind. Companies who issue the device to their employees have the ability to remotely secure a lost device. With Honeywell's Remote MasterMind™ 3.0 device management software, businesses also can enroll and configure devices, track company assets and enforce strong password protection. "Many of our customers want to enjoy using their work devices as much as their personal mobile phones and tablets," said Taylor Smith, director of product management, Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. "With the Android-based Dolphin 7800 we are able to offer that same user experience with the enterprise security that our customers expect from Honeywell." To support the software community, Honeywell launched a Developer Program for Android™ OS compatible devices, giving independent software vendors (ISVs) and end-users a voice in the development of Honeywell products that will use the Android OS. Program participants had the opportunity to develop and test Android-specific applications on Honeywell's newest mobile device, prior to launch. "We see demand for enterprise level, integrated GPS software solutions, like our CoPilot Live Professional, based on the Android platform. The Dolphin 7800 puts Honeywell in a strong position to capitalize on Android deployments within the enterprise," said Dan Popkin, vice president of business development of enterprise solutions at ALK Technologies. "Our retail customers are closely aligned with the trends in the consumer device market, and at the same time, need performance and durability. These factors were drivers for us to participate in the Honeywell Developer Program for Android," said Gene Cornell, president, Cornell-Mayo Associates. "Our ServiceACE application supports the Dolphin 7800 Android, with our TransportACE and RouteACE apps soon to follow, providing service, transportation, and consumer goods companies with a solution for streamlining their mobile operations," said Don Grust, CEO of Apacheta. Honeywell will continue to offer and support the Dolphin 7800 with the Microsoft® Windows® Embedded Handheld 6.5 OS, and provide two options for end-users to support either Microsoft or Android deployments. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Theory of cliodynamics uses science to predict history, sees violence erupt in cycles Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:55 PM PDT Ever get the feeling that you've seen it all before? University of Connecticut researcher Peter Turchin has, and he (along with Russian partners Sergey Nefedov and Andrey Korotayev) has even crafted an entire scientific theory around the idea. Cliodynamics, as it's called, works on the view that broad trends of history occur in predictable patterns based on common factors like government strength, population size and social inequality. The surprise to Turchin is that violence outside of wars, at least in the US, triggers roughly every 50 years like clockwork: people rebel against a social crisis, but their children stay out of the fray and lead to the conditions that ultimately trigger another outbreak, like the 1970s civil rights and peace movements. Don't set your watch to cliodynamics just yet. Many historians are still skeptical, and even supporters note that one-off events or major wars fall through the cracks. If the theory pans out, however, science could be used to help governments do the right thing before they're made to do it at gunpoint. [Image credit: Steve Wilson, Flickr] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judge rules against Apple in Kodak patent dispute, cites disruption to next week's auction Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:02 PM PDT Is this Kodak's moment? It's sure shaping up to be, as Bloomberg reports the once prominent imaging company has just earned a slight, though significant courtroom victory against Apple. At stake is the ownership of ten patents related to digital imaging, two of which have been deemed incontestable by a Manhattan bankruptcy judge due to Cupertino's late stage ownership filing. Citing potential disruptions to next Wednesday's auction, Judge Gropper ruled against Apple's claims, while also striking down Kodak's request for a summary judgment on the eight remaining IPs and leaving the door open for further dispute. So, though it may seem like the Rochester-based company is finally out of the woods, this certainly isn't the end of its woes -- Apple has now filed counterclaims and is seeking a transfer of the case to district court. And if the House that Steve built's legal track record is any indication, it's not going down without an interminable fight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ting becomes first US MVNO to hop the Galaxy S III bandwagon, outlines its device roadmap Posted: 02 Aug 2012 04:34 PM PDT Ting has drawn a lot of attention among MVNOs for its unique mix-and-match approach to contract-free plans, but it's had to contend with some rather middling phones inherited from its network partner Sprint. That gap in high-end phones will narrow before the summer's up: Ting plans to carry the Galaxy S III within three to six weeks, becoming the first virtual carrier in the US to tout Samsung's flagship. Its version is identical to the Sprint model and will even cost $20 less when you skip Sprint's two-year term, at $529 for a 16GB edition and $579 for its 32GB cousin. If that doesn't satisfy the appetite, Ting is also giving a peek at its menu for the months ahead. Along with adopting LTE this year to make that Galaxy S III hum, the carrier expects to bring in a more moderately-priced LTE phone, a hotspot, an accessible phone and a budget slider. We wouldn't base any carrier switches around an iPhone or Windows Phone option, though. There's only "some progress" coaxing a deal out of Apple, and a Windows Phone is most likely to wait until the first quarter of 2013. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget HD Podcast 310 - 08.02.2012 Posted: 02 Aug 2012 04:11 PM PDT Get the podcast 00:08:24 - Must See HDTV (July 31st - August 5th) Hear the podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Windows 8's stock apps get pictured, tease its final build Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:44 PM PDT Microsoft might be wavering on the well established Metro moniker that it ascribes to its flat, live tile design aesthetic, but that doesn't make it any less pervasive in Windows 8's final build. Care to see? Impatient Windows fans have pilfered a handful of screenshots from Google and Windows Store previews, revealing what appears to be the final look for several of Windows 8's apps. Gumshoes at the Neowin forums uncovered fresh previews of the Photos, Mail, Messaging, People, Calendar Xbox music, Xbox video and Xbox SmartGlass applications. Liveside followed up on the forum's findings with a peek at the OS' baked in Bing integration. The camera interface's crop and video playback features make an appearance too, as do the operating system's legacy time wasters: Solitaire, Minesweeper and Mahjong -- slacking off never looked so good. Check them out for yourself in the gallery below, and agonize over how far away October 26th suddenly seems.
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| PSA: Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners now have direct access to Google Wallet Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:29 PM PDT Nobody puts Google Wallet in the corner for long, not even Big Red. Though the carrier courted controversy late last year by withholding support for the burgeoning NFC-based platform amidst security concerns, it appears to have finally changed tack. Owners of that LTE Galaxy Nexus variant are now reporting the ability to access the app from the Play store, no workarounds necessary. Though we weren't able to verify the success of that particular method -- no results surfaced during a quick store search -- we did have success downloading the application to our stock, unrooted device using a direct market link. We've since reached out to Verizon for official comment on the matter, but have yet to hear back. In the meantime, if you've been itching to give Mountain View's brand of mobile payment a go, hit up the source link below and let us know how you fare in the comments. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft patent applications take Kinect into mobile cameras, movie-making Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:04 PM PDT Microsoft has never been shy about its ambitions for Kinect's depth sensing abilities. A pair of patent applications, however, show that its hopes and dreams are taking a more Hollywood turn. One patent has the depth camera going portable: a "mobile environment sensor" determines its trajectory through a room and generates a depth map as it goes, whether it's using a Kinect-style infrared sensor or stereoscopic cameras. If the visual mapping isn't enough, the would-be camera relies on a motion sensor like an accelerometer to better judge its position as it's jostled around. Microsoft doesn't want to suggest what kind of device (if any) might use the patent for its camera, but it's not ruling out anything from smartphones through to traditional PCs. The second patent filing uses the Kinect already in the house for that directorial debut you've always been putting off. Hand gestures control the movie editing, but the depth camera both generates a model of the environment and creates 3D props out of real objects. Motion capture, naturally, lets the humans in the scene pursue their own short-lived acting careers. We haven't seen any immediate signs that Microsoft is planning to use this or the mobile sensor patent filing in the real world, although both are closer to reality than some of the flights of fancy that pass by the USPTO -- the movie editor has all the hallmarks of a potential Dashboard update or Kinect Fun Labs project. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft downplays Metro design name, might face a lawsuit over all that street lingo Posted: 02 Aug 2012 02:53 PM PDT If you've seen most of Microsoft's design language for nearly three years, there's only one word that sums it up: Metro. In spite of that urban look being the underpinning of Windows Phone, Windows 8 and even the Zune HD, Microsoft now claims to ZDNet and others that it's no longer fond of the Metro badge. Instead, it's supposedly phasing out the name as part of a "transition from industry dialog to a broad consumer dialog" while it starts shipping related products -- a funny statement for a company that's been shipping some of those products for quite awhile. Digging a little deeper, there's murmurs that the shift might not be voluntary. Both Ars Technica and The Verge hear from unverified sources that German retailer Metro AG might waving its legal guns and forcing Microsoft to quiet down over a potential (if questionable) trademark dispute. Metro AG itself won't comment other than to say that these are "market rumors," which doesn't exactly calm any frayed nerves over in Redmond. Should there be any truth to the story, we hope Microsoft chooses an equally catchy name for those tiles later on; | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rovi lands Google Fiber patent license deal, keeps program guides flowing Posted: 02 Aug 2012 02:40 PM PDT Rovi considers itself the master of TV program guides everywhere -- even if some disagree -- so it's almost inevitable that the company would negotiate a new patent license with Google. The deal puts all of Google Fiber's TV interfaces in the clear, whether it's the set-top box near the TV or the less traditional interfaces found on the web and the Nexus 7 remote. Considering Rovi's existing connection to Google TV, the new pact may cement the company and its partner in Mountain View as surprisingly close friends. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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