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Engadget News |
- Alleged images of 7-inch iPad shell appear from the east
- Alt-week 8.4.12: buckyballs, bosons and bodily fluids
- IRL: Linksys E4200, Twelve South BookBook and Turtle Beach's XP400 headphones
- Rethinking the robot hand at Harvard (video)
- Apple exec talks about the iPhone's early days, the secrecy of 'Project Purple'
- E Ink acquires SiPix, may dominate e-paper universe
- Texas man foretells dire outcome: messages 'I need to quit texting,' before driving into ravine
- YouTube streaming Lollapalooza festival for those of us who can't be in Chicago
- IBM pushing System z, Power7+ chips as high as 5.5GHz, mainframes get mightier
- Verizon-branded Galaxy S III wireless charging kit starts showing up at retail stores
- Seagate completes purchase of LaCie in quest to become king of the hard drive hill
- Researchers develop cell spray to repair hearts, healthy dose of electricity included
- Motorola RAZR V goes on sale at Bell, gives Canadians a thin slice of Ice Cream Sandwich
- Rumored HTC One X+ with 1.7GHz Tegra 3 revealed in NenaMark report?
- FCC Fridays: August 3, 2012
- SLIPS liquid repeller is inspired by carnivorous plants, enemy to insects and graffiti artists alike
- Adafruit launches Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro, hastens our hacking
- Tweetbot for Mac's latest alpha adds experimental 'snap-together' column layout
- Klipsch quietly teases new in-ear headphone lineup: S4 (II) series, S7i set to arrive this month
- Pantech P9090 Magnus swings by FCC with AT&T LTE
- Apple SVP Eddy Cue wanted 7-inch iPad in 2011, internal email says
- Verizon survey reveals FiOS Companion Android tablet, aka the Motorola Corvair
- BLU Products intros Vivo 4.3, says it's 'world's first' dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus
- AT&T plans to shut down entire 2G network by 2017
- Kobo for Android gets updated with support for extra languages, more Facebook integration
- Poll: Is Mountain Lion devouring your Mac's battery life?
- Samsung sends invites for August 15th event, Galaxy Note 10.1 unveiling?
- TouchPad gets an early taste of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean courtesy of CyanogenMod 10 (video)
| Alleged images of 7-inch iPad shell appear from the east Posted: 04 Aug 2012 11:15 AM PDT Hey, did you hear... Apple is making a 7-inch iPad. Well, the top brass at least thought about it, this much we know. What might it look like if it ever comes to be? Well, if you're willing to be a bit skeptical, it might look like the above. These images -- claiming to be legit iPad parts -- popped up on Chinese social media site Sina Weibo. There's little other activity on the account to back up the source, and the omission of a camera hole might irk some, but if these were early parts, then that could be something that is added later. For now, we're left to fill in the gaps with out imagination, which also includes hoping other recent teases might also make the leap into reality. |
| Alt-week 8.4.12: buckyballs, bosons and bodily fluids Posted: 04 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days. Remember when we told you last week that we live in a strange world? Well, we had no idea what we were talking about. Seriously, things are about to get a whole lot weirder. High school is certainly a head-scratcher, no matter how old you are, but the mathematics of social hierarchies can't hold a candle to the mysteries of the buckyball. And, if the strange behavior of the familiar carbon molecule isn't enough for you, we've got an entirely new molecule to contend with, while the once-elusive Higgs Boson is getting us closer to unlocking the secrets of the universe. It's all pretty heady stuff, which is why we're also gonna take a quick detour to the world of human waste. This is alt-week. Buckyballs have been confounding scientists for years. While they've been a staple of labs and chemistry books the world over for the better part of three decades, we've never quite figured out how the highly symmetrical bundles of carbon atoms form. The high energies at which they're created and the speed at which they grow has protected their secrets for some time, but researchers at Florida State University and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory finally think they've got it figured out. Rather than break open in their rush to grow, it seems the carbon cages stay locked, meaning they expand seamlessly, rather than crack and grow new facets. If the idea of self-assembling carbon molecules isn't out there enough, try to wrap your head (and tongue) around cyanomethanimine. A team of undergrad students visiting the University of Virginia discovered this interstellar molecule in just three weeks of working together, shocking themselves and their professors. The discovery of a new molecule floating around space is rare enough; having it be discovered by such young researchers is just the icing on the cake. What makes this tale of amateur astral chemistry even more amazing is that cyanomethanimine is believed to be a precursor to RNA -- one of the building blocks of life on Earth. While we're busy unraveling the mysteries of carbon and RNA, the LHC team is digging deeper... much deeper. The big press event has already happened, but the hunt for the Higgs Boson is far from over. Researchers have improved on previous observations, jumping from a 4.9 to a 5.9 Sigma level of certainly -- well beyond what is generally accepted as experimental confirmation. Scientists are still hedging their bets by using the phrase "Higgs-like" in their press material, but when the chances of observing the same experimental results sans God Particle are one in 550 million, we'd say it's pretty safe to drop the pretense. If all this talk of carbon fullerenes, RNA precursors and mass-giving bosons is hurting your head, take a break, run to the bathroom and find out just how much you pee. That is the entire purpose of Flowsky, a uroflometer that is entirely contained in a toilet. While the idea of measuring the flow and volume of your urine might seem giggle-worthy at first, it does have a legitimate role in medical diagnosis. What makes this development from Toto so unique is that the requisite sensors are built right into an otherwise standard toilet. The trick is a series of sensors that monitor water levels and measure how quickly they rise. We guarantee nurses around the globe will be petitioning their urology departments to pick one up -- traditionally these measurements involve a funnel, a container and a scale. Seen any other far-out articles that you'd like considered for Alt-week? Working on a project or research that's too cool to keep to yourself? Drop us a line at alt [at] engadget [dot] com. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| IRL: Linksys E4200, Twelve South BookBook and Turtle Beach's XP400 headphones Posted: 04 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.  Happy Saturday, kids. This week in IRL Dana and Darren each plunk down their hard-earned cash on some new gadgets, including a dual-band router for Dana, and BookBook's iPhone case for Mr. Murph. Rounding out the trio, Dan Cooper, a casual gamer at best, offers an informal mini-review of Turtle Beach's XP400 headset following some long-term testing. Linksys E4200 V2 In a way, though, it was good timing: fresh off the holidays, I had a $100 Amazon gift certificate to spend, so money, at least, wasn't an issue. In fact, having stuck it out with the same TrendNet hotspot for five years, I didn't mind adding a little bit of my own money and springing for a top-of-the-line model. After much hemming and hawing, I chose the second-gen Linksys E4200, a dual-band router widely noted for its blistering speeds. (I also considered this model by ASUS, but ultimately had more confidence in Cisco as a router maker. I also wanted a more discreet, flat-lying model that I could place on top of my modem.) The only drawback, aside from price, seemed to be that the E4200 had weaker range, but given that I live in a small studio apartment, this seemed irrelevant. In brief, the router is easy to set up (just make sure you have a laptop with a DVD drive!). I also had no problem configuring a guest network, with a different password. As for throughput, it's definitely an improvement over my previous router (not that that's saying much), but its potential seems to be limited by Time Warner Cable, which doesn't always deliver the speeds advertised. Interestingly, that range issue I read about does, in fact, affect me, even in my cramped flat -- when I move from the living room to the kitchen, the connection is more likely to cut out. Still, something tells me that if ever I get around to switching to FiOS, I'll finally be getting the performance I paid for. -- Dana Wollman Twelve South BookBook iPhone case Switching to the BookBook immediately increased the style points surrounding my 4S, but it also introduced a few compromises. While I love having a trio of credit card / license slots (as well as a fourth joey pocket), I still have way more essential cards besides those. So, I still have to lug around my "real" wallet. For light card holders, though, this thing may indeed be your new wallet. Furthermore, there's no camera hole; I'm told that the hole would have to be enormous to completely eliminate the possibility of a flash echo, so you have to slightly push the phone out of the case to take a photo. Moreover, the leather bands across the top occasionally prevent the proximity sensor from acting right, enabling me to inadvertently activate speakerphone on a few occasions. That aside, the case itself is gorgeous. It's wonderful to hold, and it's useful on flights -- it looks like you're just penning a few notes, when in fact, you're finishing up a round of Words With Friends prior to takeoff. I will say, however, that talking on the iPhone whilst it's in the case takes a bit of getting used to. You can fold the front cover completely back, but I feel like I'm breaking the spine, so to speak. It also doesn't play too nicely with those chintzy screen protector overlays; it fits snugly, so corners of your protector may get bent. If, however, you're more into looks than anything else, you'll probably be able to forgive its oddities. -- Darren Murph Turtle Beach XP400 The only downside to these rather beautiful cans is that they're 312 grams of pure heavy -- enough to force your neck into regular "headphone breaks" between gaming sessions. Using a mini Toslink adapter (also sold separately) you can cheekily co-opt the gear for your desktop, listening to old music or giving your iTunes movies far better sound than you'll normally enjoy. You can also use the unit as a Bluetooth headset for your phone, and the people I tested it with rated it as "decent" and "seven out of ten," so while you wouldn't be replacing your Jawbone, it's certainly a nice optional extra. At $200 they aren't an impulse purchase, but if you're the sort who would upgrade your Xbox every time a new version came out, then that figure isn't likely to deter you. -- Dan Cooper |
| Rethinking the robot hand at Harvard (video) Posted: 04 Aug 2012 08:02 AM PDT Should you ever find yourself needing to discuss the state of the robotic hand in the early 21st century, Harvard professor Robert Howe seems about as good a place to start as any. The professor founded the school's BioRobotics Laboratory in 1990 and has devoted a good deal of his time to the quest for perfect robot extremities. The last few years have seen a number of breakthroughs for Howe and his team including, notably, the SDM (Shape Deposit Manufacturing) hand, an adaptable and rugged robot gripper that utilizes a single motor to manipulate its eight joints. Such machines have, in the past, often relied on precise image sensing to determine the exact size and shape of an object, in order to configure their digits perfectly before attempting to pick it up. The SDM hand is a lot more forgiving. The pulley system at play distributes equal tension to the fingers in an adaptive transmission that allows motion to continue in other fingers, should one's movement be hampered. The joints themselves are extremely compliant as well, adapting and conforming to the shape of an object, thanks in part to their ability to pivot in three dimensions. The Shape Deposit Manufacturing technology used to create the fingers, meanwhile, adds an important level of durability, letting Howe bang them against a table (a trick he happily performed for us) and expose them to water -- both features that are quite often absent in more complex (and far more expensive) models. The SDM technology, developed at Stanford, allows for the creation of fingers that are a single piece, with their parts embedded in plastic. The larger model shown off by Howe serves as great visual when describing the benefits of the single motor system, but the team has also developed a smaller version, with the requisite motors embedded in a far more compact chassis, which we also got a peek at. The hand will likely be targeted at home and office use, with some key applications for assisting the disabled. Check out a video of Howe describing the technology to us during our visit to the school and a clip of the SDM doing its thing in the labs, which should help feed your desire to watch robot hands get banged by hammers.
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| Apple exec talks about the iPhone's early days, the secrecy of 'Project Purple' Posted: 04 Aug 2012 07:22 AM PDT The back and forth of Apple and Samsung's spat can be tiring, it's true, but the legal debacle has its moments. Cupertino's Scott Forstall, for instance, took the stand on Friday to give some insights on the beginnings of what Apple called "Project Purple," and the secrecy that surrounded the first iPhone's development. "We're starting another project," Forstall would tell potential recruits to the project, "It's so secret I cannot tell you what the project is. You are going to have to give up nights and weekends for a couple years." These were the words that conscripted much of the team that would eventually build Apple's first phone. Forstall said that the engineers he recruited weren't told anything about the project or even who they would report to -- eventually, Apple locked down one of its Cupertino buildings, affectionately calling it the "purple dorm" for its vague pizza-like aroma. When Apple's attorney questioned the senior vice president of iOS software about how the Project Purple team drove innovation, Forstall went on to describe the challenge of building a touch-centric OS. "Everything we dealt with before was based on mouse and keyboard, and here we were changing the entire user interface to be based around touch. We had to rethink everything about what big controls would be knowing where you are in the document, knowing when you reach the list... Every single part of every device had to be rethought for doing touch." Samsung's legal team was more concerned with how Project Purple was inspired by competitor devices; Forstall responded by saying that Apple simply tested Purple's call performance against other devices, noting that "it's fine to benchmark for performance reasons, it's not OK to copy and rip something off." The comments are interesting, but they probably won't weight too heavily on the jury's final decision. Still, the stories are entertaining, and worth a read for those interested in the iPhone's origins. Even so, we'll be glad when the patent wars are finally over. |
| E Ink acquires SiPix, may dominate e-paper universe Posted: 04 Aug 2012 05:39 AM PDT If challenging E Ink's supremacy in the e-paper market was hard before, it just became Sisyphean. The company is acquiring e-paper module maker SiPix through a share buyout worth about NT$1.5 billion ($50.1 million) if all goes smoothly. What goals E Ink has with the merger aren't as apparent, although the company wants to go beyond just supplying the parts for another Kindle Touch or Nook Simple Touch -- the aim is to "diversify into newer applications" even as the company corners those markets it already leads. The deal should close in the fall if regulators sign off on the deal, although we wouldn't be too quick to assume clearance is a sure thing. As NPD DisplaySearch warns, the deal would give E Ink complete control of the electrophoretic display technology that dictates the e-paper field. That doesn't allow for a lot of variety in the space when alternatives like Qualcomm's Mirasol are being scaled back. E INK AGREES TO BUY SIPIX SHARES Complementary ePaper technology adds to E Ink's portfolio of offerings Hsinchu, Taiwan - August 3, 2012 – E Ink® Holdings, "E Ink" (8069.TW), the global leader in electronic paper and LCD technologies, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to buy shares of SiPix Technology, Inc. (STI) and its wholly owned subsidiary SiPix Imaging, Inc. (SII), the maker of electronic paper displays. Established in 1999, SiPix, based in California and Taiwan, makes micro‐cup technology based electrophoretic displays. The combined company will offer a vast portfolio of ePaper products that will allow it to expand its existing markets and diversify into newer applications. E Ink's ePaper offers the best digital reading experience. It is easier on the eyes, consumes a fraction of the power compared to traditional displays. It is readable in sunlight, lightweight, rugged and field proven with over 50 million ePaper displays being used worldwide. "E Ink is committed to growing the ePaper market and the purchase of SiPix shares is part of our long term growth strategy," said Scott Liu, Chairman of E Ink Holdings. "Our goal is 'E Ink On Every Smart Surface' and we are continuing to make investments in technologies that will open new markets for our ePaper displays." "In the recent past, we enabled an entire eReader market with our electronic paper," said Felix Ho, Vice Chairman of E Ink Holdings. "Today, E Ink's products are finding homes in a number of new applications which can be better served with the inclusion of SiPix's products, technologies and intellectual property to our portfolio." This purchase shows E Ink's strong commitment to electronic paper displays. In the past 15 years, E Ink has made substantial investments in inventing, designing, manufacturing and marketing ePaper displays to create new markets. E Ink and SiPix's customers will now have a wider portfolio of products and technologies to choose from with a larger global network of offices to support customers in different geographies. With this purchase, E Ink will have the widest offerings of ePaper technologies, a larger set of products and a stronger patent portfolio. E Ink currently enjoys over 90%+ share in the eReader market with customers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookeen, Ectaco, Hanvon, iRiver, Kobo, Sony, Wexler and others. E Ink also makes ePaper displays for Signage, Electronic Shelf Labels, Battery and Memory Indicators, Wrist Watches, Credit Cards, Mobile Phones and a variety of other applications. Its customers include Epson, Pervasive Displays, Motorola, Lexar, Citizen, Seiko, Toppan, Invue, Eton, Motion Display, Neolux and many others. E Ink has reached an agreement to buy 82.7% of SiPix's (STI) shares and is seeking to buy up to 100%, which is valued at approximately NT$1.5 billion. After customary regulatory approvals, the final closing is likely to be during Q4, 2012. |
| Texas man foretells dire outcome: messages 'I need to quit texting,' before driving into ravine Posted: 04 Aug 2012 03:45 AM PDT Despite our love of gadgets, we're not willing to give any slack to people that text while driving, and for one good reason: it's freaking dangerous. You've heard the grim stories before, but few incidents resonate to the heart of the matter like that of Chance Bothe from Texas. Despite his better judgment, the young man was texting a childhood friend while trying to bring the conversation to a close by saying, "I need to quit texting, because I could die in a car accident." That message was followed by one more, an unfortunate, "b right there." Regrettably, that final text caused him to miss a slight curve in the road and careen into a ravine. Chance is alive today -- thanks in large part to the fact that the accident was witnessed -- but the recovery hasn't been easy. In addition to a broken neck, a number of fractures and severe head trauma, he's already undergone two facial reconstructions. In the wake of the accident, Chance's friends and family have founded UnSend, an organization that dedicates itself to raising awareness about the dangers of texting and driving. Chance, too, is using his experience to educate others: "They just need to understand, don't do it. Don't do it. It's not worth losing your life." |
| YouTube streaming Lollapalooza festival for those of us who can't be in Chicago Posted: 04 Aug 2012 01:28 AM PDT YouTube is plenty busy with a livestream of the Olympics in HD for Asian and African audiences, but it's keeping tabs on the scene in the states, too. The service is running a free, two-channel webcast of Chicago's Lollapalooza music festival this weekend, which features big-name acts such as Jack White, The Black Keys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. As you may recall, YouTube also offered a live broadcast of the event last year. Click through to the source link to see who's on stage. Hey, it's not the same as being at Grant Park, but it's probably a lot less sweaty. |
| IBM pushing System z, Power7+ chips as high as 5.5GHz, mainframes get mightier Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:17 PM PDT Ten-core, 2.4GHz Xeons? Pshaw. IBM is used to the kind of clock speeds and brute force power that lead to Europe-dominating supercomputers. Big Blue has no intentions of letting its guard down when it unveils its next generation processors at the upcoming Hot Chips conference: the company is teasing that the "zNext" chip at the heart of a future System z mainframe will ramp up to 5.5GHz -- that's faster than the still-speedy 5.2GHz z196 that has led IBM's pack since 2010. For those who don't need quite that big a sledgehammer, the technology veteran is hinting that its upcoming Power7+ processors will be up to 20 percent faster than the long-serving Power7, whose current 4.14GHz peak clock rate may seem quaint. We'll know just how much those extra cycles mean when IBM takes to the conference podium on August 29th, but it's safe to say that our databases and large-scale simulations won't know what hit them. |
| Verizon-branded Galaxy S III wireless charging kit starts showing up at retail stores Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:43 PM PDT Back when we met the Galaxy S III for the very first time, Samsung promised a wireless charging solution would be coming soon to its sleek and potent slab. Unfortunately, Sammy's power-boosting companion's been hit by hapless delays that have prevented it from seeing the light of day. Now, thanks to a few recent shots from Phone Arena, it looks like at least some S3 owners could see a bundle in the near future, albeit not the official one from the Korean outfit. According to the site's kind tipster, Verizon's allegedly pricing the charging station at $50, while the rear case is expected to be around $40 -- making it about $90 for the entire kit. Naturally, this could change at any given moment, but hey, at least we know it's out there. |
| Seagate completes purchase of LaCie in quest to become king of the hard drive hill Posted: 03 Aug 2012 08:27 PM PDT The final price may end up being more than the initially proposed $186 million, but Seagate has successfully acquired a controlling share of LaCie stocks. The provisional price of €4.05 per share could increase to €4.17 if Seagate manages to accumulate 95 percent of the company's stocks in the next six months. As of now, however, it hold just shy of 65 percent, enough to take control of the French manufacturer. With LaCie and its valuable consumer business under its belt and Samsung's SSD expertise, the move to reject a Western Digital take over is looking better and better. After all, consumer choice is the engine of capitalism and now Seagate has more than enough ammunition to take on WD and its Hitachi properties. Check out the PR after the break. Seagate and LaCie Announce Completion of the Acquisition of a Controlling Interest in LaCie CUPERTINO, Calif. & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following their press releases issued on May 23, 2012 and June 14, 2012, Seagate Technology plc (NASDAQ:STX) and LaCie S.A. (Euronext:LAC) announced today the completion of the purchase by Seagate of all of the shares of Philippe Spruch and his affiliate, representing 64.5% of the outstanding shares of LaCie for a provisional price of €4.05 per share. The price payable to Philippe Spruch and his affiliate may be increased by 3%, to €4.17 per share, in the event that within six months following today's date, Seagate holds at least 95% of the share capital and voting rights of LaCie. The completion of the transaction follows the required clearances from the French Ministry of Finance and the US and German Antitrust Authorities. As a result of the completion of the transaction, Seagate intends to file in the coming weeks with the French Autorité des marches financiers an all-cash simplified tender offer on the remaining LaCie shares. As previously announced, Ricol Lasteyrie & Associés has been appointed as independent expert by the Board of Directors of LaCie on May 23, 2012. Following discussions with the Board of Directors of LaCie, in particular with the independent members, Seagate has increased the proposed offer price at which it will file its tender offer to €4.50 per LaCie share (without an additional 3% price supplement in the event that a squeeze-out procedure is implemented). Seagate may carry out a squeeze-out procedure at the same price of €4.50 per LaCie share if it were to hold at least 95% of the shares and voting rights of LaCie. The Board of Directors welcomes the revised offer price and intends to support the revised offer as long as the final report of the independent expert affirms the valuation. About Seagate Seagate is a world leader in hard disk drives and storage solutions. Learn more at www.seagate.com. About LaCie With operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, LaCie is the leading manufacturer of storage devices for PC, Apple, and Linux. LaCie has differentiated itself through sleek design and remarkable technical performance. Find out more about our products at www.lacie.com. |
| Researchers develop cell spray to repair hearts, healthy dose of electricity included Posted: 03 Aug 2012 07:53 PM PDT Spray-on solutions have found a place in green technology and even in transmitting radio waves, and they're no strangers to medical research, either. Researchers at the British Heart Foundation are working on a bioelectric spray composed of heart cells to help mend that most vital of organs. Because the cells need to be extremely thin to form a sheet of heart tissue, they are passed through a conductive needle that charges them with up to 30,000 volts. Exposing the cells to an electric field turns the solution into small droplets, which in turn form the cardiac sheet. The scientists can also add other types of cells to create "three-dimensional" tissue, which can be grafted onto injured hearts or sprayed onto scar tissue to help patients' tickers pump more strongly. As is so often the case, the next step will be testing the technology on animals, and the project's ultimate goal is to use this spray-on solution rather than making patients wait for donor hearts. |
| Motorola RAZR V goes on sale at Bell, gives Canadians a thin slice of Ice Cream Sandwich Posted: 03 Aug 2012 07:10 PM PDT Bell's version of the Motorola RAZR V might not be the media darling that is the Atrix HD, but that shouldn't dampen the interest for Canadians that can at last buy what's potentially a slick deal for an Android 4.0 phone. For $30 on a 3-year contract, or $400 contract-free, the carrier is offering an arguably improved version of the late 2011 RAZR (Droid RAZR for Yankees). Although it bulks up slightly to a third of an inch thick, it's still a skinny, Kevlar-clad wedge. The primary upgrade outside of the OS is a swap-out of that frankly mediocre Super AMOLED screen of the original RAZR smartphone for a much nicer ColorBoost LCD -- sorry, ColourBoost. Otherwise, you're getting the familiar 1.2GHz processor, 14.4Mbps HSPA+ data and 8-megapixel rear camera, although Motorola has shaved the built-in storage to 4GB to keep the costs down. We'd still be tempted to snag the Galaxy Nexus across the aisle to get us a taste of Jelly Bean for the same money, but Canucks with a penchant for Smart Actions now have an option outside of Rogers to get their fix. |
| Rumored HTC One X+ with 1.7GHz Tegra 3 revealed in NenaMark report? Posted: 03 Aug 2012 06:27 PM PDT We've heard murmurings of it before, but they've been just that. Now we've got the first shred of hard evidence that the fabled HTC One X+ is actually real. Rumored to be heading to T-Mobile (or AT&T, depending on who you ask), this 1.7GHz super phone popped up over at NenaMark's site, bearing the model number PM63100. Sadly, that internal moniker doesn't really reveal much, but between that and the fact that it's running Jelly Bean 4.1.1 we're confident this isn't something already on the market. And the reported resolution of 1280 x 720 combined with its high-speed Tegra 3 innards puts this squarely in flagship territory. What else do we know? Not a whole heck of a lot. But, as always, the truth will be revealed in time. |
| Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:48 PM PDT We here at Engadget tend to spend Phones
Tablets and peripherals
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| SLIPS liquid repeller is inspired by carnivorous plants, enemy to insects and graffiti artists alike Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:12 PM PDT When a team of Harvard researchers wanted to create the ultimate liquid- and solid-repelling surface, they looked toward the Nepenthes pitcher plant, where curious insects check in and never check out, thanks to slippery walls that lead to their tiny, horrific fate. The tropical plant inspired the creation of SLIPS (Self-healing, Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surface), a synthetic material that utilizes nano/ microstructured substrates, capable of repelling just about anything you can throw at it. During a visit to the hallowed Crimson halls, the team was kindly enough to show off the material through a series of messy, messy demos, dropping water, motor oil, liquid asphalt and newly-mixed concrete on aluminum and glass. The team even went crazy with a can of black spray paint, comparing the results to a Teflon surface. The outcome was the same in all case -- an amazingly repellent material. The team has published a number of papers on the stuff, including ones that demonstrate its ice- and bacteria-repelling properties. Oh, and like its natural inspiration, SLIPS does a great jobs keeping bugs off its surface. You can check out our demos and one unhappy ant filmed by the SLIPS team. No insects were harmed in the making of our video, at least -- and the lab assures us that ant had a good life before learning the hard way why it shouldn't mess with Harvard scientists.
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| Adafruit launches Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro, hastens our hacking Posted: 03 Aug 2012 04:38 PM PDT The Raspberry Pi is already considered a hacker's paradise. However, that assumes that owners have all the software they need to start in the first place. Adafruit wants to give the process a little nudge through its Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro. The software includes a customized distribution of Raspbian, Occidentalis, that either turns on or optimizes SSHD access, Bonjour networking, WiFi adapter support and other hack-friendly tools. The build further rolls in Hexxeh's firmware and a big, pre-built 4GB SD card image. Before you start frantically clicking the download link, be aware that the "educational" title doesn't refer to a neophyte's playground -- Adafruit still assumes you know enough about Linux and Raspberry Pi units to be productive (or dangerous). Anyone who was already intrigued by the Raspberry Pi by itself, though, might appreciate what happens when it's tossed into a fruit salad. |
| Tweetbot for Mac's latest alpha adds experimental 'snap-together' column layout Posted: 03 Aug 2012 04:07 PM PDT Tweetbot's been offering a rough-around-the-edges alpha version on its upcoming refresh for a few weeks now, but it's the latest update that's caught our attention -- again. There's several substantial changes that could tempt you away from other desktop Twitter clients. These include a new multiple account view, with separate columns that can either be docked to your main feed or left in their own window. You can spin out mentions and search results into their own space, and even adjust each column's height and width -- if you're looking to squeeze even more Twitter content into a single screen. A new menu bar icon offers access to your multiple accounts, new tweets, direct messages and mentions, while the latest build also improves support for media upload and Mountain Lion's notification bar. Tweetbot's alpha is still free to try for now, but once the kinks are eventually worked out, expect to pay for the finished article. |
| Klipsch quietly teases new in-ear headphone lineup: S4 (II) series, S7i set to arrive this month Posted: 03 Aug 2012 03:19 PM PDT Leave it to Klipsch to surprise us with new gear for our ears when we least expect it. Within the last day or so, the company quietly pushed a "coming soon" page live on its website chock full of new in-ear headphones. To start, the S4 series is getting a complete refresh across the lineup and taking up the (II) moniker -- namely, the $80 S4 (II), and the $100 S4i (II) and S4a (II), which respectively feature an inline remote / mic for iOS and Android devices. While the trio of intra-aurals look largely similar to their ear-pleasing predecessors, Klipsch has graced them with flat cables to kill the tangled-cord issues we've experienced. Better yet, it's also showcasing the $200 S7i (seen middle), a curvaceous set of balanced armature-loaded ceramic 'bubs, equipped with an iOS-compatible remote / mic. The S7i essentially fills the "mid-range" gap in price from the S4i to the $350 X10i. Detailed specs for all the sets aren't anywhere to be seen currently, but we'll likely find out more at Klipsch's NYC event next week. For now, you can rest assured knowing that you'll have a choice of black or white for everything except the S4a (II) -- and that it's all already up for pre-order at the source link below. |
| Pantech P9090 Magnus swings by FCC with AT&T LTE Posted: 03 Aug 2012 02:48 PM PDT Despite cranking out plenty of high-end devices in Asia, Pantech has built itself a reputation in the US as a budget OEM -- but continues to improve its products regardless. Having already proven its ability to crank out LTE phones on the cheap with the Burst, it appears ready to follow up with another phone on AT&T's next-gen network, as evidenced by documents released by the FCC this afternoon. This particular handset, dubbed the Magnus on its WiFi certification paperwork, sports quad-band LTE (700 / 850 / 1700 / 1900), a radio combo that's starting to be quite the trend for AT&T-bound phones recently -- likely done to ensure the GSM carrier's refarming efforts go as smoothly as possible. The federal docs also reveal the presence of NFC (suggesting this will come with Android 4.x included), and Bluetooth certification tells us we can also expect it to offer the 4.0 standard. The paperwork is fuzzy on more details, but we hope its arrival is just around the corner. |
| Apple SVP Eddy Cue wanted 7-inch iPad in 2011, internal email says Posted: 03 Aug 2012 02:25 PM PDT During today's proceedings at the Apple vs. Samsung patent infringement trial in Northern California, an internal Apple email came to light, where Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue suggested that the company manufacture a 7-inch tablet, anticipating a market for a smaller slate. The email reportedly dates back to January of 2011, and was sent to Scott Forstall, Tim Cook and Phil Schiller, according to The Next Web. AllThingsD added that the topic originated with an email from a reporter, who shared that they had switched to a 7-inch Samsung tablet from the iPad, because they found the smaller size of the Tab more appealing. Cue reportedly agreed with the findings, and made his own suggestion. That email hasn't led to a smaller form-factor iPad to date, but with rumors heating up around an upcoming "iPad Mini," it's possible that Apple's compact tablet could one day arrive. And Cue was right -- there's clearly demand for a 7-inch tablet. Update: Read the email for yourself after the break. |
| Verizon survey reveals FiOS Companion Android tablet, aka the Motorola Corvair Posted: 03 Aug 2012 01:56 PM PDT While it hasn't actually started to roll out yet, one of our readers sent in pics of a Verizon FiOS survey gauging reactions to a new device that "may be available in the future" as the FiOS Companion tablet. As described in the survey, it's a WiFi-connected Android slate that not only runs the usual apps, but also works as universal remote control and streams "select" TV channels (probably the same ones as the Xbox 360 app) directly to its screen. The sole picture included confirms we're looking at the Motorola Corvair 6-inch Android 2.3 tablet that surfaced late last year with all of those features, home automation tie-ins and a 4000mAh battery. The survey questions don't reveal much else about its capabilities or potential pricing other than asking users if they would be interested in customizing their own home screen, and how. We'd hope the software has seen some updates since its original leak, but knowing this market that seems unlikely. All we can do now is help Verizon / Motorola with that customer research they were hoping to perform so let them know -- is this something you'd be interested in? |
| BLU Products intros Vivo 4.3, says it's 'world's first' dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus Posted: 03 Aug 2012 01:19 PM PDT It feels like it was only yesterday that BLU was keeping us slightly occupied with its Studio 5.3 and TouchBook 7.3 devices, which, as you may or may not know, left us with somewhat of a bittersweet taste in our mouths. Still, the past is the past, and now the company's back for more with the recent revelation of its Vivo 4.3 handset; one the company's loudly dubbing as the "world's first dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus." Regardless of any global, self-induced titles, the 4.3-inch Vivo appears to offer some interesting features of its own, including that aforementioned Super AMOLED Plus screen, a 1GHz, dual-core Cortex A9 CPU, dual-SIM capabilities and a tweaked flavor of Android 4.0. What's best, however, is BLU plans on selling the Vivo 4.3 unlocked in the US next month for $250, while additional availability is "soon to follow" through Latin America and some parts of Asia. BLU Products announces the VIVO 4.3 - World's First Dual SIM smartphone device to feature Super AMOLED Plus Technology and Dual Core CPU New device meant to capitalize on the explosive growth and demand of Dual SIM smartphone devices in emerging markets as well as increased demand for unlocked smartphone devices in US MVNO Channels MIAMI, Aug. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BLU Products, one of the fastest growing mobile phone manufacturers in the world, announced the new Vivo 4.3, becoming the first manufacturer to produce a Dual SIM device to include either a Super AMOLED Plus LCD, or Dual Core Processor - realizing increased performance, user experience and capabilities for consumers in emerging markets, as well as non-contract unlocked devices in the United States. "We are extremely excited as we continue to pioneer the growing demand of Dual SIM handsets in emerging markets by offering the most outstanding Dual SIM smartphone available anywhere in the world today." said Samuel-Ohev-Zion, CEO of BLU Products. "Additionally, this is the first in a series of exciting new Android devices we will be announcing, as we are actively and aggressively moving towards providing high performance, affordable smartphones to the ever growing unlocked no-contract segment in the United States." The Vivo 4.3 features no physical hardware buttons on the front to ensure a seamless elegant design, and is run by a MediaTek MT6577 dual core 1GHz Cortex™-A9 CPU with 3G/HSPA connectivity, running the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Operating System. Additionally, the Vivo is designed to deliver high-end multimedia capability, with an 8MP camera, plus HD video recording and playback. The highlights of the phone include the rich viewing experience of the brilliant Super AMOLED Plus 4.3" Display, along with true dual SIM capability allowing both SIMs to be active and receive calls simultaneously. The unlocked VIVO 4.3 will begin shipping to major US Retailers in September 2012 with an MSRP of $249.99 and will soon follow through Latin America, and parts of Asia. About BLU Products
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| AT&T plans to shut down entire 2G network by 2017 Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:42 PM PDT AT&T has only just begun the transition away from 2G services with its spectrum refarming in New York City, but it now has a target end date to mark on the calendar: January 1st, 2017. Courtesy of an SEC filing, we know that the carrier hopes that both its GSM voice and EDGE data networks will have gone to the great cell tower in the sky before we're popping the champagne corks about four and a half years from now. The Big Blue Ball expects the transition to be a smooth one, as only 12 percent of its regular subscribers are using 2G-only phones today; if it ever gets bumpy, the company promises to "proactively" steer the holdouts towards 3G and 4G. Don't get too misty-eyed. While the transition will mark the end to what's arguably one of the most definitive chapters in US cellular history, that far-flung date will likely come well after most of us have moved on -- much like the AMPS shutdown, it could be less of a bang and more of a whimper. |
| Kobo for Android gets updated with support for extra languages, more Facebook integration Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:12 PM PDT App updates are always nice, right? Well, if you're an avid user of Kobo's intellectual offerings on Android handsets and slates, you'll be happy to know the all-things-eReader service has rolled out a fresh update to its eBooks application. Most notably, this new version brings support for an array of new languages within the app, such as French, Italian, Dutch, German and Spanish. That's not it, however, and in addition to gaining a "multi-language experience," Kobo's eBooks application now also offers an in-book progress indicator, a two-page landscape view for folks using tablets and the ability to share current readings with friends on Facebook or Kobo Pulse. As usual, you'll find the refreshed goods inside Google's Play store, link for that is down below. Kobo's Android App goes global! With more than 9-million users around the world, Kobo is committed to delivering the best eReading experience to its users – and doing it on virtually any device. As the only pure-play eReading company, Kobo continues to deliver on its promise to get more people reading – anytime, any place! Now, with its new Android app for smartphones and tablets, people now get a multi-language experience in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German or Dutch! We're truly international! Additional features included in this fab update now give users in France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany: Facebook Timeline integration – as the only official eReading partner of Facebook, Kobo users can share what they're reading with friends and family. |
| Poll: Is Mountain Lion devouring your Mac's battery life? Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:49 AM PDT We've seen plenty of users report that Apple's latest OS, Mountain Lion, has caused a massive drop in battery life. While we haven't been able to confirm any decrease in longevity with our own OS 10.8 machines, which include previous generation MacBook Pros and the company's latest Retina model, it's clear that some of you who were able to get the operating system downloaded and installed have experienced some not-so-favorable side effects with your Pros and MacBook Airs. While there are plenty of theories, there has yet to be a fix, though Apple is reportedly investigating the issue. This isn't the first time users have reported decreased battery life after an OS update, with a lengthy support thread popping up after Lion's release last year. So, how has the upgrade affected you? Sound off in the poll below to let us know. |
| Samsung sends invites for August 15th event, Galaxy Note 10.1 unveiling? Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:37 AM PDT Well, well, look what we have here -- an invite to a Samsung event on August 15th. Naturally, Samsung's not telling exactly what it'll be showing off, but given the drawing above, it seems certain we'll see something stylus-related. All will be revealed in a couple weeks, and rest assured we'll be on hand to tell you all about it. |
| TouchPad gets an early taste of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean courtesy of CyanogenMod 10 (video) Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:20 AM PDT Want the latest version of Android on your device? Sure, we all do, and despite HP having put the TouchPad out to pasture long ago, the modder community isn't giving up hope. One brave soul over at Xda Developers who goes by the handle Jscullins can (and should) be thanked for bringing bargain tablet lovers a dose of CyanogenMod 10. It's still a preview build lacking, among other things, sound and video acceleration, but if you absolutely have to get a buttery smooth UI on your tablet right now hit up the source link for the download. Or, you could just check out the video of it in action after the break courtesy of Liliputing. It's probably safer.
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Last CES ended in a whimper for me. I arrived home jetlagged, sniffly and deliriously sleep deprived, only to find that my router was dead. Passed on. No more. Ceased to be. Expired and gone to meet its maker. A stiff. Bereft of life. Off the twig. Kicked the bucket. This was an ex-router.
Twelve South's BookBook iPhone case may be the classiest around, but is it really as functional as it is seductive? Yes, but there are a few caveats. I've generally been a fan of the "bulkier is better" mindset when it comes to cases. I had an Otterbox on my Nexus One, and two of Case-Mate's most rugged options on my Galaxy S II and iPhone 4S. Yes, they're ugly, but that's beside the point. When I invest upwards of $600 in a fragile piece of technology, I intend to shield it from as many drops, kicks and chips as possible. I realize some will disagree, but that's my mindset.
I'm hardly a hardcore gamer, so I was a little daunted when I was offered the chance to test 
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