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- Growing Up Geek: Ben Gilbert
- Apple TV update 5.1 brings shared photo streams and iTunes account swapping, available now
- Sony Xperia Tablet S review: Sony's second-gen Android slate has a slimmer design, faster guts
- iPhone 5 camera gets tested in Iceland, panorama and low-light comparison with iPhone 4S included
- Toyota builds assistive robot to help the disabled around the home
- Toyota plans dialed-back launch of eQ and iQ EV city cars in December
- Engadget visits Nokia House, walks down memory lane (video)
- Slickdeals' best in tech for September 24th: Dell UltraSharp display, 50-inch LG HDTV and a Canon Rebel T3 bundle
- The extremes of technology customer service: how common sense and empathy create unmatched loyalty
- Engadget Live: Join us at 4AM ET for an 'ask me anything' Q&A with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop!
- Sprint brings LTE to parts of Kansas, Illinois and Massachusetts
- Engadget Giveaway: win a Nexus 7, courtesy of Amzer!
- Microsoft deliberately wasted energy at data center to avoid fine, says NY Times
- Toshiba outs Canvio Slim portable drive: 500GB, $115 and just 9mm thick
- Mophie's $40 Juice Pack Reserve Micro charges your smartphone, fits on a keychain
- TiVo settles patent lawsuit with Verizon for at least $250 million, is 'exploring' Redbox Instant support
- Netflix extends new user interface experience to Android phones
- iPhone 5 sales hit 5 million in first weekend
- Samsung rolling Jelly Bean out across most of its smartphone, tablet lineup 'soon'
- Amazon intros Device Targeting to help developers with new Kindle Fires
- Intel reveals Quad-Core, LTE-capable mobile chips are on the way
- LG Optimus Vu II specs leak out: twice the RAM of the original, few other changes
- Sound Taxi composes music from London city buzz, doesn't even take a fare
- Shocker: Nintendo Wii U said to be region-locked
- Deezmaker 3D Printer Store opens in Pasadena, will sell you a slice of the future for $600
- First official Jelly Bean OTA update for the Samsung Galaxy S III lands in Poland
- Onkyo DS-A5 grafts AirPlay on to existing home stereos, docks older iOS gear
- Samsung offers Galaxy S III in pink, but only in Korea to start
- LG's first VoLTE Bluetooth headset revealed: Tone + packs 'high-quality' audio codec
- Boxee's Early Access program is looking for a few good testers, dangles Cloudee preview
- Wahoo Fitness introduces RFLKT: an iPhone-powered bike computer that lets handsets stay in pockets
- Tarantino XX Blu-ray set brings 20 years of Quentin, eight movies and ten discs home November 20th
- How would you change the HTC One X?
- Opera Mini 7.5 update for Android adds Smart Page for social and news updates
- Globalfoundries unveils 14nm-XM chip architecture, vows up to a 60 percent jump in battery life
- Refresh Roundup: week of September 17th, 2012
- Security researchers identify transit system exploit in San Fran and New Jersey, create app to prove it
- Iran announces plans to create isolated local internet system, fate of global access unknown
- Switched On: The iPod's modern family
- Riot breaks out at Foxconn's Taiyuan plant, reportedly over guards beating up a worker
| Posted: 24 Sep 2012 11:25 AM PDT Welcome to Growing Up Geek, a feature where we take a look back at our youth, and tell stories of growing up to be the nerds that we are. This week, we have our very own Ben Gilbert! He likes ninja turtles, obviously. To me, being a "geek" about something -- anything, really -- is being super, super passionate about that subject. It's that passion that drew me to documentaries like Helvetica, or King of Kong. It's that passion, witnessed in speeches and conversations with colleagues, that renews my love of video games every year I attend GDC. It's that passion that endears me to people like Stephen King and Trent Reznor. And it's that passion -- that nerdery -- that I've brought to music, journalism, and the medium of video games. But that's always something I took for granted. My father's passion for art meant growing up in a house filled with his incredible paintings. Didn't everyone? My mother's passion for learning meant she had three degrees, including a Ph.D., despite having little financial assistance and coming from another country. Totally normal! My point isn't to brag (though, come on, my parents are basically superheroes), but to say that the concept of being a "geek" was never a foreign one to me. Being an obsessive weirdo was always pretty normal in my family. I mean that in a good way. I don't remember a time before computers. Not that I'm super young (a mature 27, thank you), but rather to state that bizarre notion aloud -- something I hadn't realized before writing this. I occasionally have conversations where someone of my generation or older asks, "Isn't it weird that there are people out there who don't remember a time before mobile phones?" I agree with them, and say that, "Yeah, that is super weird. MAN." Isn't it just as weird that I don't remember never not having a computer in the place I lived? I think so. Anyway, the result of my father's business interest in being computer literate happened to coincide with the birth of the internet. Was I the only one conducting the nightmarish computerized beeps and bloops of the 28.8 as if it were the London Philharmonic? I sure hope not, because I totally was. My brother and I tied up our parents's sole phone line for hours at a time, defining new frontiers of message board trolling. Before long, we were using it to trade bootlegs to concerts with other fans -- indulging our obsession with various musicians (a lot of Sublime; it was the '90s). Having a brother eight years my elder also meant ready access to a wide variety of video games -- he took to a bicycle to buy the Super Nintendo on the day it launched in the US. I remember being awestruck that the graphics were so much more vibrant than anything I'd seen on NES or in arcades. I had no idea what the jump from 8- to 16-bit meant in technical terms, but it'd be impossible not to have seen the difference. Little Mario's mustache was so clear! Just look at the yellow on that cape! When my father upgraded to a 56K modem, I tied up the phone line for hours longer, marathoning Starsiege: Tribes with friends (yes, I'm playing Ascend now). When I wasn't crushing my buddies in Total Annihilation or Quake, of course. It's this parallel dichotomy of video game eras -- both Nintendo's iconic franchises and the PCs genre-defining shooters -- that bookend my current taste in games. And it was the dramatic difference between the two that lead me to explore the greater game industry. It also didn't hurt that my older brother subscribed to Electronic Gaming Monthly and Next-Gen. I began turning to their digital counterparts as I was gearing up for college, working full-time and going to school full-time. GameSpot's "The Hot Spot" and EGM's "1UP Yours" podcasts were the first two to earn my loyalty, and I found myself arguing occasionally with the 'casters out loud, as if it were a two-way conversation. My subsequent matriculation at Temple University (Go Owls, I guess!) for Magazine Journalism, while the magazines of my youth were shuttering alongside the rest of the magazine industry, made it clear that online was my only path to degree salvation. Literally every journalism class I took opened with a professor warning students, "I hope you love this, 'cause there aren't any jobs out there!" With that hopeful message, I spent a year abroad in Barcelona, Spain at the Universitat de Barcelona. I traveled a bunch, I read tons, and I learned enough Spanish to not feel like the year was a really long vacation. Shortly after returning, I started a gaming news blog with a friend so we could build up clips before graduation. The blog took me to my first E3 in 2008 (its first year back in the Los Angeles Convention Center), where I immediately pounced on my favorite editors to get on their radar. It's likely that I looked like a bumbling fanboy, but they were gracious nonetheless. Here I am below with my friend Katie, both not getting attacked by a Brotherhood of Steel dude. My blog was intentionally modeled after Joystiq's writing style, as I was a regular reader and very much intended on being a writer for the site. I bugged then Editor-in-Chief Chris Grant to read my pieces and tell me what he thought, which he kindly did every now and again. Our regional proximity and shared passion for delicious craft beer meant I was able to bug him frequently. In 2009, when a spot opened up on staff (Ross Miller left to take a full-time job at Engadget -- go figure), I was offered a shot ... as Joystiq's first official intern. About a month after that, I was a staffer. And three and a half years later, here I am, pulling a Ross Miller (hi Ross!). In the past several years, I've expanded my geekery to the world of business and legal reporting, though I'm still very much ensconced in the game industry. Those who've heard me on the Joystiq Podcast or who follow me on Twitter know that I'm prone to prolonged rants on those three subjects and how they intersect. I assure you: I do so only because I'm passionate about these things. It's something I'm incapable of turning off (and I know that for sure, as I've tried for years). Two weeks ago today, I officially joined Engadget. Maybe you saw me last week on the Engadget podcast, talking about the Wii U launch price/date? Perhaps not. Shame on you! I'll be doing a lot of that here -- shaming you, that is. No, no -- I mean I'll be covering video games and the industry with the same obsessive eye I have in the past, albeit now with an Engadget angle (think: tech-focused). Please don't hesitate to give me feedback, privately or publicly! Or tips! I also like those! Oh, and for the record, I graduated with a degree in Magazine Journalism in 2009, with a job starting two days later at Joystiq/AOL. In your face, pessimistic professors! Ahem. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple TV update 5.1 brings shared photo streams and iTunes account swapping, available now Posted: 24 Sep 2012 11:12 AM PDT Apple TVs of the second and third-gen variety are getting update 5.1 today, which brings two long-awaited features. Both shared photo streaming and iTunes account switching are now part of Apple's set-top box -- the combination of those two finally freeing parents from the potential nightmare of discovering their child's "not safe for parents" photo streams, of course. The update, spotted by MacRumors, also adds some new AirPlay functionality, enabling users to "send audio content from Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers and devices (including AirPort Express and other Apple TVs)." Beyond those two biggies, however, the rest of the update is rather nuts and bolts oriented -- head below for the full list.
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| Sony Xperia Tablet S review: Sony's second-gen Android slate has a slimmer design, faster guts Posted: 24 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT More InfoFor Sony, it's all about the presentation. To be sure, since the company put all of its mobile products under one roof, it's achieved more of a balance between style and substance than it did with the original Tablet S and Tablet P -- two devices that had a lopsided emphasis on unique, proof-of-concept designs over user experience. It's fair to say those initial tablet efforts failed to resonate with consumers, leaving the company with little recourse other than an all-out do-over. Which is why the new Xperia Tablet S has a lot to prove: it can't get by based on looks alone. Running skinned Ice Cream Sandwich and packing a quad-core Tegra 3 SoC, this 9.4-incher maintains the same 1,280 x 800 IPS LCD panel used on the first-gen S, and even assumes the same folded-over magazine shape -- albeit, in thinner form. Yes, that full SD slot remains, but you might not need to rely on it now that the tablet comes with up to 64GB of built-in storage. So, will an emphasis on OS, ecosystem (Video Unlimited, Music Unlimited, Crackle, Reader, etc.) and a slimmed-down build make up for the blunders of the first-gen Tablet S? Will a $399 starting price help this WiFi-only tab stand out amongst the Android competition? Stick around as we find out whether this S is more than initially meets the eye. Hardware
For all the Xperia Tablet's quirks, it initially comes across as just another rectangular, black-bezeled slate -- when you're looking at it head-on, anyway. There's nothing conspicuously "Sony" about it at first glance: its front face is relatively plain, with no flourishes other than the front-facing camera and company logo placed neatly in the upper-left corner. Only when viewed from the sides or back is the tablet's unique shape immediately apparent. Seen from a side angle, the device appears to be floating, suspended only by that folded-over wedge. And it must be said that the device now lies flatter, as opposed to the original Tablet S, which had a more pronounced slant. Almost all of the ports and hardware keys are hidden out of sight, either within the folds (power and volume on the right edge, 3.5mm headphone jack and covered SD slot on the left) or buried behind a removable bit of plastic (e.g., the charging port at the base). It's that last bit that has us shaking our heads and fists at Sony. We're not big gamblers, but we're willing to bet users will lose that silver-colored nub within one week of use. Around back, the Tablet S is a two-tone, two-tier affair. On the original, the magazine-like fold extended nearly three-quarters of the way down, but here it occupies only about a quarter of the backside. It's nicely textured, too, but you won't notice that subtle tactility until you grip it. Smack dab in the middle is the 8-megapixel rear camera, accompanied not by a flash, but by an IR blaster. Aside from that, Sony's once again shuffled its Xperia branding off to the side, allowing the smooth aluminum construction to speak for itself. A dual speaker setup can be found below, as well as that covered charging dock. By now you're probably wondering how the slate feels in the hand and we're pleased to report that quirky back curve actually serves a functional purpose. When held in landscape, the majority of the tab's weight is distributed to the fold, freeing users from unnecessary wrist strain. This also means the device tilts forward ever so slightly, but it's not so extreme that it makes the thing unstable. What's even better, though, is how it fares when you grip it one-handed in portrait mode. Clearly, you're forced to accommodate the fold in whichever orientation you choose, but it does make for an exceptionally natural grip, and the generous bezel leaves just enough room for your thumb to comfortably rest. Display and soundWe hope you like staring into your own reflection because that's what it's like to use the Tablet S. Despite the OptiContrast technique applied to keep glare to a minimum and the display visible in bright light, it does anything but that. Indoors and out, the slate reflects even the slightest trace of surrounding light, making it more difficult to make the most out of that 9.4-inch screen. Oh, you'll still be able to read the screen in direct sunlight somewhat with brightness set to max, but even then you have to angle it just so. Complicating matters further is the low-friction coating the company has applied to the screen. In theory, this should feel nice beneath the fingers, but mostly, it lends itself to a slippery feel. We already have to contend with a software keyboard for typing, but add to that a slick screen and, well, you're in store for a load of errors. The Xperia Tablet S features a 9.4-inch (1,280 x 800) IPS panel that delivers colors and contrast typically associated with that solution. On the whole, this translates into images, icons and text that appear crisp with balanced tones that appear ever so slightly muted. For sure, though, the tab could've benefited from some of the saturation afforded by Super AMOLED displays, giving it an extra push past the glare towards better readability. Regardless, if you're planning on using this to watch HD content, you won't have much to gripe about since it handles 720p video with ease. Audio isn't the most robust -- there's a noticeably tinny quality to it -- and the dual speakers' positioning just behind the tablet's base means much of that sound ends up being misdirected. At maximum volume it's far from overpowering, which should work well when within a relatively quiet room, but not so much in a public space. SoftwareWhen Sony pulled back the curtain on the Xperia Tablet S at IFA, it drilled home the point that the Xperia brand would entail more of a unified user experience. After all, the market's now glutted with samey Android tabs, so if the Tablet S is to succeed, it needs to be different. How does it do that? Well, for starters, the primary home screen is almost completely taken up by two rows of Sony-branded "apps." We're putting that in quotes because one such application, Sony Select, is really just a web shortcut that leads to a curated"app store," which in turn redirects to Google Play. That minor niggle aside, when you power on the device you'll instantly be greeted by the company's content ecosystem: Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited, Play Memories Online, Reader by Sony, Walkman and Socialife. Whether you choose to opt-in for this suite over Google or even Amazon's more well-established offerings is purely a matter of personal choice. But we can't see many users abandoning their pre-existing libraries and accounts for yet another third-party option. Pure Google enthusiasts on the hunt for a slate with the buttery smooth performance of Jelly Bean will want to hold off on buying this, or maybe just grab a Nexus 7. That's because the Xperia Tablet S ships with a custom layer atop Android 4.0.3. Though Sony is averse to calling its UX a "skin," there's really no other name for it -- the customizations are quite obvious. For instance, the home screens are now bordered by the company's toolbars, which offer quickaccess shortcuts for the browser, camera, mail app and settings menu, along with a Google search box up top, an icon for Guest Mode (more on that shortly), and shortcuts for Sony's built-in TV Remote application. These tweaks, combined with the pre-loaded Sony apps and widgets end up giving the S a cluttered look and feel. There's something very cramped about the user experience that we found off-putting. It's busy precisely where it shouldn't be. But on the off chance you don't mind these software customizations or even find them useful and are willing to wait for that promised Android 4.1 update, then by all means, shower Sony with your dollars. (For the record, Sony has not given a precise ETA for its JB update. Makes sense; updating that skinned UI could take time.) If you do have kids or frequent visitors around your home who like to tinker with your tech toys, you'll be glad Sony included Guest Mode on the S. It's basically a form of parental control for your tablet. The setup is quite simple: after creating a user-specific profile, you can then select which apps you want to grant access to and even a password so you can exit out of this protected mode and back into the full software experience. Users operating within these walled environments won't have much ability to customize the tablet outside of setting shortcuts or swapping out the wallpaper. In keeping with the domestic theme, Sony's built-in TV Remote control app is intended to let you control your flat-screen while you casually browse the web from your couch. This, too, is pretty straightforward, though you'll need to read through a bevy of menus before you're prompted to select the proper television manufacturer from a seemingly endless drop-down list. Barring any incompatibilities, you should have full remote functionality up and running in under two minutes -- that's how long it took us to start toggling volume control on our office set. There's even the option to customize your button layout and set macro functions for things like powering on your TV or cable box. All told, it's a neat addition to the S, but not really enough of a killer feature to help this Android tab rise above the competition. So, we've already touched upon the bloat Sony's shoe-horned onto the Xperia Tablet S, but just to give you the full tally, the software load includes 27 pre-installed apps, including AccuWeather, Evernote, OfficeSuite, Hulu Plus and Zinio, among others. To be clear, you'll be able to uninstall some of these third-party applications, but not Sony's own. Performance and battery lifeThere may be a Tegra 3 heart buried within this Sony-made slate, but that quad-core performance doesn't quite shine through. Every so often, the Xperia Tablet S evinces a here-again-then-not sluggishness that just doesn't match up to its powerful CPU. Attempt to wake the tab from a sleep state and you could wind up waiting up to 10 seconds, during which time you'll likely mash the power button repeatedly. Make it through to the home screen and it's more or less a game of chance: will navigation be brisk and smooth or jittery and halting? The same goes for jumping in and out of the app drawer, a transition that either zooms without a hitch or stutters noticeably. This disconnect between raw processing power and inconsistent real-world use also extends to the browser, which routinely loaded full desktop pages quickly, but had a difficult time keeping pace with rapid scrolling and pinch-to-zoom. Other problems cropped up in our time with the S, like its occasional inability to turn on WiFi or lock onto a WLAN signal. Each time this trouble surfaced, we were able to temporarily fix it with a quick reboot. But that's just not an acceptable solution for a market-ready product. Sony has acknowledged the problem in the form of an early software update, which claims to address the issue.
Pitted against other Tegra 3-toting rivals, all clocked at 1.3GHz and packing 1GB RAM, the Xperia Tablet S generally notched top marks, with an impressive SunSpider result and smooth frame rates. As you can see in the table above, however, we weren't able to get definitive scores across every benchmark for the Transformer Pad TF300 and Excite 10, so we can't solidly call this one for Sony. Where performance was quantifiable, however, the S is clearly the undisputed champ. Which is why it's such a shame that the tab falls prey to performance hiccups in real-world usage.
Sony's tablet fares respectably on the power management front, with an additional settings option to automatically scale down backlight levels. With light to moderate use, you can expect a few day's worth of juice out of the 6,000mAh battery. Put it through our formal rundown test, however, and that longevity takes a hit, eking out eight hours and 31 minutes -- a result that puts the S fairly far down on the tablet totem pole, particularly compared to other 9- and 10-inch tablets. Camera We'll state this as plainly as possible: tablets are terrible for photography. If you need to snap quick shots on the go, please default to your smartphone -- that's why they're called mobiles. Tablets, on the other hand, are awkward and unwieldy and the S is no exception. Add to that the slickness of the S' screen and its inability to adjust zoom with the volume rocker and you have a pretty good excuse to never use the camera app. Pictures taken with the rear 8-megapixel camera are actually pretty decent -- when you can get the slate to properly focus. On the whole, images are clear with a considerable depth of field, while color is accurate though dull. The zoom function should mostly be avoided as it requires using the onscreen slider and the resulting shots are so blurry as to be unusable. The camera app offers the usual array of selectable scene modes, in addition to the ability to scale down the resolution / aspect ratio and toggle geotagging.
Video recorded in 1080p is clean and distinct, but as you'll see in our sample, the autofocus constantly readjusts (a setting we pre-selected). It doesn't render playback unwatchable, but you definitely shouldn't rely on the S to digitally immortalize those precious moments either. At the time we shot this brief clip, there was noisy construction in the background, drumming from nearby performance art and the surrounding sounds of traffic, none of which had a negative impact on the recorded audio. To our surprise, the tab managed to mute most environmental noises without dampening the overall sound. The competitionThe Xperia Tablet S starts at $399 for a 16GB WiFi-only model -- you'll have to cross the pond for a 3G option -- and tops out at $599 for the full 64GB enchilada. But there are other Android tabs with ICS and Tegra 3 internals that could potentially sway your purchasing hand. ASUS' Transformer Pad TF300 offers the same 1,280 x 800 resolution and base configuration at a cheaper cost ($380, keyboard dock not included). True, it's somewhat older, having debuted in the spring, but at least you're getting vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich. Then there's Acer's Iconia Tab A700 at $450 which steps up to a 1,920 x 1,200 display and a standard 32GB of storage, but offers less impressive battery life. For the record, the iPad 2 also costs $399, though you're getting a slightly lower-res screen. (Battery life, at least, is excellent.) The biggest selling point, of course, might be Apple's walled-in ecosystem, which you may or may not have invested in (or be willing to invest in). Wrap-up The Xperia Tablet S was Sony's second chance at getting the Android tablet space right. It also represented an opportunity for the company to extend the esteemed Xperia brand to another product category. If we were to judge it based solely on its ergonomic build, then yes, the S wins high marks for comfort. We're not entirely sold on this folded-over magazine shape as a standard for the line going forward, but for now it works, and we're eager to see how it evolves over time. Unfortunately, the S also misses the mark in everyday performance, doling out an uneven software experience that stumbles more than it pleases. Granted, most tablets we've tested hiccup at least a little, but for $399 you might be better off low-balling it for the same specs. While the Xperia Tablet S does feel like an improvement over its predecessor, it ultimately leans too much on the crutch of signature design while skimping on a polished user experience. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iPhone 5 camera gets tested in Iceland, panorama and low-light comparison with iPhone 4S included Posted: 24 Sep 2012 10:44 AM PDT Sure, we tested the iPhone 5's camera in the well-lit streets of New York City, but if you're wondering how Apple's latest functions when used primarily as a shooter, TREK has a pretty remarkable look. Photog Austin Mann and a few of his closest pals took a pair of iPhone 5s to Iceland following launch weekend in a bid to test the unit's durability, capability and image quality next to the 4S. After two days of geyser spray and admitted "drops in mud," the uncovered 5 seemed to be a-okay, and when it comes to output from the sensor, that's worthy of praise as well. The low-light capabilities of the 5 are perhaps the most impressive upgrade compared to the 4S, with much less noise seen in shots from the former. He also gushed over the panorama mode, which admittedly churned out some pretty seamless results of the Icelandic countryside. As for shutter speed? That too has been "significantly" improved over the 4S. He interestingly noted that Snapseed was acting a bit wonky with iOS 6, but one has to wonder how much smoothing will be done by the Nik team now that Google's calling the shots. Hit the source link below for the full rundown, comparisons included, and a video that shows how the iPhone 5 reacts after sunset. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toyota builds assistive robot to help the disabled around the home Posted: 24 Sep 2012 10:33 AM PDT Toyota has built the Human Support Robot, a 70 pound 'droid designed to help the elderly and less-able around the home. The tablet-and-voice-controlled unit can open your curtains, fetch items and even pick up after you, thanks to its single telescopic arm that stretches up to 2.5 feet. A tablet slot on top of its head lets you use the hardware as a telepresence device, although we're more interested in teaching it some attitude so we can live out our "sassy housekeeper" sitcom fantasies in peace. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toyota plans dialed-back launch of eQ and iQ EV city cars in December Posted: 24 Sep 2012 10:17 AM PDT Toyota's just-arrived RAV4 EV will soon get a much smaller cousin -- albeit a very elusive one. An electric version of the iQ city car will arrive in Japan (as the eQ) and the US (as the iQ EV) this December, but the automaker is significantly scaling back its 2010 promises of several thousand cars sold per year to just 100 fleet-oriented vehicles. The charging times, costs and range of EVs "do not meet society's needs," vice chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada says to explain the smaller ambitions. It's easy to understand the cautious approach after seeing the car's final details. While they're not out of line with the specs of other EVs, the eQ's 3-hour fast charge, 62-mile range and ¥3.6 million ($46,130) price wouldn't have regular customers flocking to dealerships. Most of Toyota's energy is instead being funneled into its tried-and-true hybrids, with 21 due on the market by 2015, as well as plans to deliver the company's first hydrogen fuel cell car by the same year. Eco-conscious drivers may be disappointed that Toyota isn't moving as aggressively into a pure electric realm as some of its rivals, but we'd rather see smartly planned baby steps than an overly risky plunge. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget visits Nokia House, walks down memory lane (video) Posted: 24 Sep 2012 10:00 AM PDT It's not the first time Engadget editors have stepped foot at Nokia House -- the company's HQ in Espoo, Finland -- but it's always a treat, and our visit this week is no exception. Today we took a walk down memory lane, and spent some time with several Nokia handsets -- from one of the very first mobile phones to the Lumia 920. We played with some of the more iconic models and designs, such as the 1011 (first GSM handset), 7700 / 7710 (S90), 7280 (lipstick phone), 770 tablet, N-Gage / QD, 8800, 8110 (from the Matrix movie), N93 / N93i, N91, N92, N76, N95 and finally the 7650 (the first handset running Symbian). In addition, we also got to handle some of the Lumia 820 and 920 accessories, including the Fatboy wireless charging pillow and JBL-branded Power Up speakers. Check out the gallery below then hit the break for our hands-on video. Oh, and don't forget to tune in tomorrow for our live Q&A with Nokia's CEO Stephen Elop. Update: That music-centric handset which uses an IBM Microdrive is the N91 (not N90) and was announced in 2005 (not 1995), and that flip-phone wa steh N76 (not the N75) -- sorry for the slip in the video. Zach Honig contributed to this report.
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| Posted: 24 Sep 2012 09:45 AM PDT Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. Sometimes your gadget needs are a bit more diverse. For those who are in need of devices that do more than enhance your current computer, this round of links may be just what you're looking for. From living room speakers to a 50-inch plasma HDTV, there's a duo that could make football season more enjoyable. If you're home entertainment setup is already covered, perhaps a new 24-inch display or a digital SLR kit could get some use in your arsenal. Enough with the chatter, though, head on past the break to take a look -- but keep a careful eye on those discount codes and rebates. Snag this offer from Dell. This deal is available over at Dell. Head over to Amazon for this offer. Grab this bundle from aSavings.com. Use the form found here for a $400 American Express reward card. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The extremes of technology customer service: how common sense and empathy create unmatched loyalty Posted: 24 Sep 2012 09:20 AM PDT Allow me to explain how two discussions started off in very similar ways, and ended... shall we say, differently. This is me, attempting to muster any sort of pleasantness in my voice at some ungodly hour of the morning on a Google Voice connection from Dubai back to the US: "Hey! I'm having to cut a trip short due to an emergency back home. I actually purchased a trip protection plan when I checked out online -- would it be possible to provide a refund for this flight now that I need to cancel it?" From here, I was told that this was too vague. That I would need medical proof of an injury or illness, and that if it were a pre-existing condition -- something like reoccurring cancer -- that simply wouldn't do. Oh, and if it's a home emergency, you'll need proof from your home insurance company that your abode is "uninhabitable." "So... I'm basically hosed here? This trip protection plan doesn't really protect very much, does it?" "... Do you want to file the claim?" "No. That's okay. Thanks for your time." It doesn't have to be this way.
The company I was referring to is Allianz Global Assistance. It's the outfit that Orbitz partners with to provide a sham known as "Trip Protection." The person on the other end of the line recited the absurd list of acceptable excuses without missing a beat, with nary a hint of empathy or any sign that they were - in fact - not a robot. Admittedly, the CSR was in a bad spot. Their job is essentially to answer pleas all day with "No." I wonder how often they're actually able to help someone. Judging by these numbers, not often - Allianz's quarterly operating was 2.4 billion euros in Q2 2012. Think about that. This company raked in 2.4 billion euros. In three months. One has to wonder how much smaller that number would be if it spent more time saying "yes" to those who come calling in their time of need. Allianz's homepage on the web looks a lot like most other insurance websites, and it doesn't take much scanning to find this: "We're here to help. In fact we've been helping people for nearly 60 years." Something tells me the definition of "help" isn't exactly set in stone. You may wonder what this has to do with consumer technology, and moreover, you're probably wondering why a dead horse is being beaten. After all, hasn't insurance always been in the business of figuring out ways to sidestep their promises? Allow my second conversation to explain. "Hey! I'm having to cut a trip short due to an emergency back home. I know I paid for 32 days of service up front, but is there any way you could deactivate the service 10 days early and provide a refund for the prorated amount?" This time, it was via email - on a Saturday. Within two hours, I was staring at the following email reply: "Thank you for contacting iPhoneTrip's Customer Care Center. Please be informed that your SIM card will be deactivated on (redacted). Your invoice was recalculated and your credit card was refunded for the (prorated amount). If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us." I was shocked. I literally sat and stared at my Gmail inbox and attempted to wrap my brain around the incredulously different handlings of two very similar situations. I, of course, wrote back and thanked the company for its graciousness and assured the support team that I'd be using them for all future travel overseas.
The real kicker is this: iPhoneTrip had no idea that I had purchased this SIM through the same channel as everyone else. This wasn't an arranged "media review unit." There was no special treatment, assumed or otherwise. This is simply how iPhoneTrip's support team is taught to react to unfortunate requests such as mine. To reframe this, I effectively emailed this company and asked them for money back - money that I didn't deserve, and money that it had every right to keep. But it chose to react with a level of mercy, dignity and courteousness that has become increasingly hard to find in companies of all stripes. And yes, even technology companies. The status quo doesn't have to be the way it is. The art of customer service is dying such a spectacular death that it takes only a slight bit of rule bending to lock a customer in for life. The point came up once more in a wide-ranging interview I had with Ahmad Zahran, the founder of Infinitec. During the talk, I asked him what his forthcoming $99 Pocket TV offered over $55 alternatives that are widely available in Shenzhen, China (and by extension, the world). He made a point to emphasize the importance of customer service that you don't get when you just buy a slab of components from a cardboard box. "Email us and see how quickly we respond," he said. Continuing, in no uncertain terms: "Right now, it's incredibly frustrating that we've hit this unexplained wall with PayPal and we're unable to accept new pre-orders through it. The fact that this is causing a customer service issue on our end is a huge deal for us. But the difference is that PayPal could not care less about servicing us. We care about servicing our customers who are attempting to purchase through PayPal."
In fact, my recent experiences with customer service in the technology realm have reaffirmed one thing in particular: PayPal is perhaps the model for disservice in the space that I cover. I can only hope that those reading these words never have any run-ins with PayPal - even if you know you're right, and you've got the documentation to prove it, chances are you'll lose. It's a troubling, troubling thing. It extends beyond the realm of usability and consumer technology, hammering away at the fabric of humanity that is so often thrown aside when service issues arise. For those unaware, Infinitec - a Dubai-based technology startup that recently raised half a million dollars on Kickstarter to fund its Pocket TV - was accepting pre-orders through PayPal. As $30,000 or so poured in, there was no sign of trouble anywhere. PayPal was more than happy to have the funds flowing in, enabling it to earn interest on every last penny as they sat idle in the account. Then, after a request for a partial withdrawal, the account flipped into a "limited" access mode; shortly thereafter, it was frozen entirely. No payments were being allowed in or out, and somehow - astonishingly - PayPal has the authority to do this. It's not only sickening; it should concern you greatly. PayPal, for all intents and purposes, has an internet-wide monopoly on digital fund exchanging. There really aren't any globally accepted alternatives at the moment. And in March of 2012, according to CNET, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said "it does not consider the company to be a bank or savings association because it does not accept deposits as defined by federal law, which requires institutions to have a banking charter."
In other words, the world's largest online bank is allowed to parade around on its own terms, making up its own rules and freezing accounts for reasons it doesn't have to disclose to anyone. Infinitec is still waiting for answers on why it cannot accept or remove funds, and has even gone so far as to inform PayPal that it would happily allow it to hold funds until it's able to ship the Pocket TV - after all, one would think that this gesture would eliminate the assumed risk that PayPal is guarding itself against. Infinitec isn't alone. I myself am still owed $1,500 from PayPal due to an eBay auction that went tragically wrong a few years back. A bidder paid via PayPal using fictitious digits, and rather than PayPal actually noticing, it happily added the funds to my account and assured me that I was cleared to ship the product. Upon trying to withdraw the funds, my account was frozen until PayPal could deduct the amount paid. I was left up a highly populated, oftentimes stank, creek sans a paddle, and judging by the myriad forums and websites littered across the web, folks like myself and Infinitec are swimming in the same muck. But it's not just atrociously obvious customer service failures that are killing spirits in the technology world -- it's the pervasiveness of nonchalance. On May 18th, my wife applied to become a member of Nikon Professional Services. It's something of an underground organization crafted by Nikon, enabling those who shoot for a living to be in elite company when needing rushed repairs and loaner items. It's a brilliant thing, really. Best of all, it's totally free to join - provided you own the necessary amount of kit, are a full-time photographer, and you know an existing NPS member that can vouch for you.
It is currently September of 2012, and she's still not a member of NPS. In what can only be described as one of the world's easiest processes to complete, Nikon has somehow bungled this to the point of hilarity. Four months later, and this company cannot adequately serve its most loyal customers. I've heard a smattering of excuses -- mostly ones surrounding promises that it has sent an application to a sponsor that he has yet to receive. But at what point do the excuses become more than excuses? At what point is it just obvious that a company couldn't care less about its customers? Or, perhaps, that it simply has not devoted the resources to establishing a service department to accomplish some of its most important goals. I've lost all faith in Nikon as a service-oriented company. The only reason I can muster for continuing to stick with it is that my existing investments in equipment are too deep to abandon. Perhaps my story is an isolated one, but it's one too many. What good is a gadget without support? What good is technology without people to back it? My advice to both startups and monoliths alike is simple: never lose focus on service in the race to win hearts and minds with raw horsepower. Don't brush empathy aside for the sake of crafting a superior user interface. Don't breed a culture of indifference -- one that throws out "no" more frequently than "yes," simply because it's expensive and mentally taxing to truly solve the problems of those who pay for your wares. PayPal is living proof that no amount of bad publicity from years of customer service atrocities can put a strong monopoly out of business, but companies like iPhoneTrip and Zappos -- an online shoe company that offers gratis returns both ways, exceedingly friendly CSRs and routine shipping upgrades -- are proof that service can encourage loyalty, too.
It's also important to note that I'm not writing this after just a rough 2012. I've been making a point to perceive customer service interactions for years, and it's finally to the point where I simply cannot stand around and write nothing. The way I see it, customer service is falling by the wayside. You can look at research surveys all you want, but largely, they're impossible to trust. Who says they're surveying 1,000 people who've been wronged? Do people really tell the truth when asked to say something negative about someone? The answer can't always be "yes." And I'm not arguing that fine print isn't technically the final word. But hawking technology to the masses with a frail support system is a highly toxic thing, and in a world where far too many curveballs are thrown, we should at least expect our consumer-focused companies to care about us beyond the initial purchase. This article originally appeared in Distro Issue #58. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget Live: Join us at 4AM ET for an 'ask me anything' Q&A with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop! Posted: 24 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT You may have since forgotten, but today was the original kick-off day for Nokia World 2012. With the big show canceled and the devices already launched, we instead opted to drop by the smartphone maker's headquarters just outside Helsinki. We're spending three days here in Finland, meeting with executives to get an inside look at the company's next-generation smartphone lineup. Our first face-to-face is with Nokia's chief executive himself, Stephen Elop, who has generously offered up 30 minutes to answer your questions. Because of the time constraints, we won't be able to accommodate every request, but we'll certainly do our best. There are two ways to submit your questions: leave a comment below, or you can send us a tweet @EngadgetLive -- once the session begins, we'll only be able to accept messages through Twitter, and you're welcome to ask questions before we start and as a follow-up to Stephen's responses, as well. In order to accommodate the largest possible audience, we'll be using our liveblog tool to post both questions and answers, so bookmark this page and hop on over there at 4AM Eastern tomorrow. As always, you'll also find the local time just below. Now about those questions... September 25, 2012 4:00 AM EDT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sprint brings LTE to parts of Kansas, Illinois and Massachusetts Posted: 24 Sep 2012 08:33 AM PDT Has anyone else noticed a surge in locations getting newly-minted LTE of late? Sprint has, and it's joining the bandwagon with a further five areas from today. Users in Lawrence, Topeka and Wichita in Kansas, Waukegan-Lake in Illinois and Barnstable-Hyannis in Massachusetts will be able to slurp down Big Yellow's new service soon, if they can't already. The company has also revealed that Chicagoans, Angelenos and New Yorkers will be getting 3G service thanks to the company's Network Vision program, as it continues to swap out its aging Nextel hardware for something a little more futuristic. Truly Unlimited Sprint 4G LTE Blazes into More Cities - Brings Power, Simplicity and Value Customers in parts of Kansas, Illinois and Massachusetts to benefit from Sprint's all-new 4G LTE network OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), September 24, 2012 - Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced availability of 4G LTE to customers in Lawrence, Kan.; Topeka, Kan.; Wichita, Kan.; Waukegan-Lake County, Ill.; and Barnstable-Hyannis/Mid-Cape, Mass. Sprint's wireless customers in these metro areas will benefit from the speed, value and simplicity of the Sprint 4G LTE experience. Through its exceptional selection of smartphones and a Truly UnlimitedSM data plan, Sprint offers an unbeatable package for wireless users. "In addition to the 19 cities we have already launched, we recently announced that Sprint 4G LTE will be available in more than 100 cities in the coming months," said Bob Azzi, senior vice president-Network, Sprint. "Today's news moves us even further toward achieving that goal. We strive to deliver a top-notch network experience combined with winning devices and unlimited nationwide data plans – all of which are designed to support the ways our customers use their mobile devices today and tomorrow." A strong, robust wireless network is increasingly important as wireless users want to access emails quickly, upload photos/videos to friends and family, and routinely check in with social networks – all on their smartphone. Keeping up with current wireless data usage and looking into the future, Sprint is building an all-new 3G and 4G LTE network as part of a strategy known as Network Vision. This network build-out is expected to improve all aspects of the wireless experience for customers. Today, some customers in parts of Chicago, Los Angeles and New York are experiencing better 3G service thanks to the start of the Network Vision program in those areas. Additionally, customers in areas of Baltimore, Boston and Washington, D.C., have been enjoying enhanced 3G performance. As Network Vision continues to rollout across the country, Sprint customers will see significant improvement in their 3G network experience, including expanded coverage, improved network reliability, better voice quality, and faster 3G data speeds. Sprint understands the value of a Truly Unlimited experience. Sprint offers a portfolio of 4G LTE-capable devices, which includes powerhouse smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy S® III, Motorola PHOTON™ Q™ 4G LTE and the new iPhone™ 5. Customers can sign up for an Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM, which includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones – a savings of $20 per month versus Verizon's comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web (excludes taxes and surcharges). Customers value Truly Unlimited data, because it's simple and straightforward – no metering, no throttling or overages, and no need to share minutes or data, all while on the Sprint network. Additionally, the 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. With today's announcement, Sprint 4G LTE is available in 24 citiesi and is expected to be in more than 100 additional cities in coming months. Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and expects to have largely completed the nationwide build-out by the end of 2013. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint's 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget Giveaway: win a Nexus 7, courtesy of Amzer! Posted: 24 Sep 2012 08:01 AM PDT We can't get enough of the Nexus 7, and we'll wager that you feel the same way. That's why we're teaming up with Amzer to hook you up with another chance to win one of Google's signature tablets. If the name doesn't ring a bell, Amzer sells cases for nearly every phone and tablet available on the market, but today it's promoting ShatterProof, a screen protector that's certified to be resistant to scratches, stress and drops. So feel free to leave a comment below to enter and then head over to the company's Twitter or Facebook accounts (linked below) to express your undying gratitude for the opportunity.
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| Microsoft deliberately wasted energy at data center to avoid fine, says NY Times Posted: 24 Sep 2012 07:44 AM PDT Microsoft's desire to avoid a fine combined with a power company's strict electricity usage rules resulted in the software giant deliberately wasting millions of watts of power, according to the New York Times. Redmond's Quincy data center, which houses Bing, Hotmail and other cloud-based servers, had an agreement in place with a Washington state utility containing clauses which imposed penalties for under-consumption of electricity. A $210,000 fine was levied last year, since the facility was well below its power-use target, which prompted Microsoft to deliberately burn $70,000 worth of electricity in three days "in a commercially unproductive manner" to avoid it, according to its own documents. The utility board capitulated and reduced the amend to $60k, but the messy situation seems a far cry from Redmond's pledge to become carbon neutral by this summer. [Image credit: New York Times] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toshiba outs Canvio Slim portable drive: 500GB, $115 and just 9mm thick Posted: 24 Sep 2012 07:22 AM PDT It turns out that if you take an Ultrabook-style 7mm hard drive and put it in a sleek enclosure, you end up with a portable HDD that's barely any bigger, thicker or heavier than a smartphone. Toshiba guessed this might happen, and so it came up with a new addition to its Canvio range: the Canvio Slim, which sports 500GB of PC- and Mac-compatible luggage room, uses a single USB 3.0 connection for data and power, and is encased in either "graphite-black" or silver brushed aluminum. Look for it in stores from October priced around $115, including a three-year warranty. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mophie's $40 Juice Pack Reserve Micro charges your smartphone, fits on a keychain Posted: 24 Sep 2012 06:51 AM PDT Last we heard from Mophie, it revealed its upcoming Juice Pack case for Samsung's Galaxy S III. While there's still no further info for that model, the company recently took to its Facebook and Twitter accounts to announce it's new $40 Juice Pack Reserve Micro. The palmable battery pack is nearly identical to the 30-pin friendly Juice Pack Reserve, but, as the Micro in its name implies, this one charges Micro-USB devices. The unit features a key chain loop and stores a total load of 1,000mAh, which gets re-filled via its secondary USB 2.0 plug. There's more info at the source links below -- here's to hoping for a Lightning variant soon. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 24 Sep 2012 06:19 AM PDT While some patent lawsuits continue to drag on, the battle between TiVo and Verizon over DVR technology has come to a resolution. In exchange for cross licensing their patents and dismissing all pending litigation, the two parties have agreed Verizon will pay TiVo $100 million up front followed by recurring quarterly payments totaling $150.4 million through July 2018, as well as monthly license fees for each FiOS DVR user above certain levels. Now that they're no longer at war the two companies may find a few things to work together on, and there is a provision for "certain commercial initiatives" which, if pursued this year, could count as credits toward the amount Verizon has agreed to pay. Additionally, the press release indicates they are exploring support for the upcoming Redbox Instant service (which Verizon is a partner in) on TiVo's DVRs. This all follows TiVo's $215 million settlement with AT&T earlier this year and last year's $500 million agreement with Dish Network. Meanwhile, lawsuits are still pending against Cisco, Time Warner Cable and Motorola. The press release is after the break and associated filings are linked below, with any luck this infusion of cash will help TiVo on new projects like dropping the price of the Stream. [Thanks, Dave Zatz] TiVo Announces Settlement of Patent Litigation With Verizon TiVo and Verizon Enter Into a Patent Licensing and Commercial Arrangement ALVISO, CA--(Marketwire - Sep 24, 2012) - TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) announced today that it has settled its pending patent litigation with Verizon Communications Inc. and that the companies have entered into a mutual patent licensing arrangement. Under the terms of the settlement, Verizon will provide TiVo total compensation worth at least $250.4 million. The payments from Verizon to TiVo shall be comprised of a $100 million initial cash payment followed by recurring quarterly payments totaling an additional $150.4 million through July 2018. If the companies pursue certain commercial initiatives prior to December 21, 2012, up to $29.4 million of the payments made by Verizon would be subject to a credit of an equal amount. In addition to the guaranteed compensation, Verizon will also pay monthly license fees through July 2018 for each Verizon DVR subscriber in excess of certain pre-determined levels. In addition to the cash payments described above, Verizon and TiVo are exploring, among other things, future distribution of Internet video services developed through Verizon's joint venture with Redbox by making content distributed via that service part of the diverse selection of linear and broadband-delivered content accessible to users of TiVo's retail DVR products. As part of the settlement, TiVo and Verizon agreed to dismiss all pending litigation between the companies with prejudice. The parties also entered into a cross license of their respective patent portfolios in the advanced television field. "We are pleased to reach an agreement with Verizon which underscores the significant value our distribution partners derive from TiVo's technological innovations and our shareholders derive from our investments in protecting TiVo's intellectual property," said Tom Rogers, CEO and President of TiVo. "We also look forward to working together on a variety of future opportunities as we continue to expand the content choices available to TiVo subscribers. As with prior settlements, we also benefit by being able to operate our business under license from Verizon and by avoiding future legal expenses that we would have incurred during and after trial. Furthermore, we believe this settlement positions us well with respect to future enforceability of our patents." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netflix extends new user interface experience to Android phones Posted: 24 Sep 2012 05:54 AM PDT Netflix's new user interface experience popped up on Android tablets last year before progressing to the iPad and finally iPhones just last week, but now the company officially announced it's completing the circle by pushing it to Android phones. As seen on other devices, it's focused on larger artwork, and offers the ability to scroll through many more titles, as well as search its streaming library from anywhere within the app. Users can tap once on a title to see more info about it or double tap to start playing immediately. The new UI is available on hardware running Gingerbread and above. It may already be appearing on your device but if not, check out the video preview embedded after the break. Update: We downloaded the app and started poking around and have discovered a rather unfortunate detail left out by Netflix -- the new UI is not optimized for high-res displays. Icons, thumbnail images and even the company's logo are noticeably pixelated on our Galaxy Nexus. Even on the qHD panel of our Droid RAZR M things are pretty fuzzy looking. Hopefully Netflix will address the issue soon and maybe, just maybe, make it look like an Android app instead of an iOS one.. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iPhone 5 sales hit 5 million in first weekend Posted: 24 Sep 2012 05:34 AM PDT So, how's that new iPhone doing? Not too shabby -- looks like Apple's moved more than 5 million in three days, according to a press release the company just dropped. Cupertino is also reporting that iOS 6 has been installed on more than 100 million devices since the operating system was unleashed on the world. At present, the iPhone is available in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Australia, with 22 more countries being added to the list before the end of the week. By the end of the year, the number is expected to top 100. Check out the obligatory back-patting by Tim Cook and pals in the presser after the break.
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| Samsung rolling Jelly Bean out across most of its smartphone, tablet lineup 'soon' Posted: 24 Sep 2012 05:28 AM PDT Now that Samsung has commenced beaming Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean OTA toward deserving Galaxy S III customers, it's announced a raft of other devices set to receive the buttery OS in the near future. On the list are the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and 10.1, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Galaxy S Advance, Galaxy S II LTE, Galaxy Music, Galaxy Chat, Galaxy Ace 2, Galaxy Beam, Galaxy Ace Plus, Galaxy mini II and Galaxy S Duos. That should bring a bit of extra speed and smoothness to those devices, along with Google Now for search and Samsung's own flourishes from the latest TouchWiz UX. As for the rest of us, there's more than one way to skin a Smartphone -- or avoid skinning one, as the case may be. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amazon intros Device Targeting to help developers with new Kindle Fires Posted: 24 Sep 2012 05:18 AM PDT Amazon's celebrating its new line of Kindle Fires with the announcement of Device Targeting, a feature aimed at helping developers create apps across its tablet line. Using the new program, app makers can offers up APKs for specific devices like the old Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD (different screen sizes included), without displaying "confusing" multiple versions of the app for consumers. The new feature ensures that customers who download an app get the proper version delivered to the right devices. More info on the program -- including an FAQ for curious parties -- can be found in the source link below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intel reveals Quad-Core, LTE-capable mobile chips are on the way Posted: 24 Sep 2012 04:50 AM PDT Intel's curious decision to shun the US and release Medfield-powered smartphones in India, China, Russia and the UK might be because of those countries' underdeveloped levels of LTE. Marketing chief Sumeet Syal told TechCrunch that its current-generation x86 system-on-chip won't support the standard, but a modem solution will arrive at the end of the year -- with production ramping up in 2013. He also let slip to the site that a replacement dual-core platform will arrive shortly, claiming they'll benefit from Intel's hyper threading know-how. Syal said that Santa Clara is "comfortable" with its progress just months after entering the smartphone space but declined to discuss numbers -- for which we'll have to wait for the Q3 earnings call in October to find out how well (or not) Intel's mobile ambitions are going. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LG Optimus Vu II specs leak out: twice the RAM of the original, few other changes Posted: 24 Sep 2012 04:28 AM PDT Having put the phat back in phablet with its original 4:3 aspect ratio, 5-inch Optimus Vu, LG seems bent on releasing a successor already, the Optimus Vu II, according to a leak from Korean blog Bad IT Tong. The new Galaxy Note II challenger would carry the same form factor and 1,024 x 768 IPS screen as the current Vu model, while doubling the RAM to 2GB, bumping the Qualcomm processor to an 8960 1.5GHz dual-core model (not the international quad-core version) and keeping the LTE radio from its US Intuition variant. It would come out of the box with Android 4.0, an 8-megapixel rear shooter, up to 32GB of microSD storage and a 2,150 mAh battery, judging by the leaked image above -- all specs we've seen before. There's no word yet on US pricing, availability, a stylus or an intriguing universal remote app teased by LG, but recent purchasers of the original Optimus Vu might be feeling left in a technology wake. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sound Taxi composes music from London city buzz, doesn't even take a fare Posted: 24 Sep 2012 04:01 AM PDT What you see above isn't just another shameless car stereo project, but a black cab that turns the hustle and bustle of city noise into music. The Sound Taxi toured London last week collecting ambient sound pollution with a roof-mounted mic, recycling it through production software and then pumping out real-time mixes on its army of speakers and horns. The mobile disco was a collaboration between headphone company AiAiAi and Yuri Suzuki, with Mark McKeague providing the back-end wizardry which turned clamor into samples into tracks. If you'd like to hear the fruits of their labor, then head over to the Make The City Sound Better website (sourced below) for some uploaded examples of London street beats. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shocker: Nintendo Wii U said to be region-locked Posted: 24 Sep 2012 03:24 AM PDT The forthcoming Wii U console from Nintendo will be region-locked, just like the original Wii and the 3DS, Nintendo UK told Eurogamer. That means you won't be able to play obscure (or early) Japanese imports on it, and customs officials won't get anything to break up the monotony of seized cigars and bushmeat. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deezmaker 3D Printer Store opens in Pasadena, will sell you a slice of the future for $600 Posted: 24 Sep 2012 02:55 AM PDT If the MakerBot store in Manhattan is the East coast's vanguard for 3D printer stores, Deezmaker's just-opened store in Pasadena, California is the equivalent pioneer for the West coast crew. As of now, you can walk through the doors at 290 North Hill Avenue and at least see the store's own Bukobot printer in action, even if high demand through Kickstarter pre-orders precludes walk-in sales for the next few weeks. When you can make that impulse purchase, however, you'll find the Bukobot at a relatively cheap $600 and may see some alternatives during your visit. Store owner and Bukobot creator Diego Porqueras stresses to Ars Technica that he wants Deezmaker lasting for the long haul, and he may have chosen just the right area to make that happen -- the shop is a stone's throw from the experimenters (and simply curious) at CalTech, NASA's JPL and Pasadena City College. No matter how it all shakes out, we're hoping that the two near-simultaneous store openings are the start of a larger trend that takes 3D printing into the mainstream. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First official Jelly Bean OTA update for the Samsung Galaxy S III lands in Poland Posted: 24 Sep 2012 01:33 AM PDT The long-awaited roll-out appears to have commenced, with lucky GS III owners in Poland being among the first to get an early official taste of Android 4.1.1. If you hadn't heard, the update will bring a host of subtle yet powerful improvements, including Google Now for anticipating search queries, smooth UI improvements from Project Butter, as well as some Samsung extras already seen on the Galaxy Note II, such as a resizable Pop-up play screen. Hopefully this means the update will soon be sent on its merry way to GS IIIs in other parts of the Old World, and maybe at some point -- dare we suggest it -- those in the US too. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Onkyo DS-A5 grafts AirPlay on to existing home stereos, docks older iOS gear Posted: 24 Sep 2012 01:13 AM PDT Embracing AirPlay has usually involved a wholesale switch in hardware: years of speaker investment go out the window for the sake of skipping a wire. Onkyo doesn't have a problem if you bring your own equipment to the fray. Its new DS-A5 docking station brings Apple's WiFi media streaming to many home stereos, including those of rivals, as long as there's a wired or 802.11g-capable wireless router to feed the connection. Naturally, there's perks if you do live in an Onkyo universe -- any link using its Remote Interactive cable can both wake the stereo through AirPlay as well as control the dock from a traditional remote. About the only oddities are the vintage composite video output and a 30-pin dock for charging iPads, iPhones and iPods, neither of which will be much help if you live on the cutting edge. Onkyo brings the DS-A5 to American shores in October for $199; that's a lot to pay for playing songs from the couch, but it's a sight more affordable than replacing home audio equipment costing multiple times that amount. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung offers Galaxy S III in pink, but only in Korea to start Posted: 24 Sep 2012 01:10 AM PDT In the last round of color additions to its flagship Galaxy S III smartphone, Samsung took a decidedly sombre tone, with new hues like Titanium Gray and Amber Brown. But, according to GSM Arena, the smartphone maker decided to lighten things up this time, going with a pale pink to round out its color selection for the model to a lucky seven -- but the new shade will only roll out to Korea, for now. It will go along with the original Marble White and Pebble Blue, plus the aforementioned dark colors which were accompanied by Garnet Red and Sapphire Black. There's no mention of availability stateside, but if you've been thinking of settling for a less capable model to matchy-match with Fifi, now you can go with power and panache. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LG's first VoLTE Bluetooth headset revealed: Tone + packs 'high-quality' audio codec Posted: 24 Sep 2012 12:27 AM PDT LG isn't short of a few Voice over LTE handsets, but this neck-hugging Bluetooth handset promises to offer similarly crisp voice calls, if the feature's available, without the need to fumble around in your pockets . The Tone + headset totes a pair of in-ear buds, is available in both white and black and will even vibrate in Battle Royale LG TONE+™ DELIVERS SUPERB CALL LG's New Bluetooth Stereo Headset with Upgraded Features Lets Users Enjoy "LG was the world's first company to demonstrate VoLTE technology and announce a VoLTE smartphone," said Paul Bae, Vice President of Marketing Center of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "And today, we are still at the forefront of efforts to advance the commercialization of VoLTE as a follow up to the global expansion of LTE. In order to provide our customers with a superior user experience over 4G networks, LG will continue to raise the bar on all its mobile products, including accessories that support LTE and VoLTE." The LG TONE+™ offers enhanced audio quality with a number of improvements over its predecessor. The extended bass register of the LG TONE+™ effectively increases the available sound range, providing a perceptibly improved audio experience that will please even the most demanding audiophile. The LG TONE+ also adopts a professional grade audio codec, the aptX which is used by discerning music studios, broadcasters and manufactures around the world and is favored for its ability to deliver CD-quality sound by automatically fitting high capacity audio data to the available bandwidth while transmitting. Improving value to the consumer, the LG Tone+™ is equipped with an array of handy features. Thanks to a clever Bluetooth Multi-connection function, the LG Tone+™ can be instantly connected to two smartphones or to smartphone and other multimedia device. The Audible Pairing Assistance feature reveals the connection status when another device is connected, while Vibrating Call Alert notifies the user of incoming calls. Two other features, the Audible Battery Status Alert and Mic Mute, have also been included to maximize convenience. Finally, BT Reader, one of LG's own Android applications, monitors incoming SMS and reads them out to the headset, meaning users can stay informed without taking their smartphone out of their pocket. The talk and standby times of the LG TONE+™ have been extended to 15 and 500 hours, respectively. Its sleek, behind-the-neck design ensures user comfort and fashion credentials at the same time. The LG TONE+™ will be available in Korea, the United States and China by the end of this month in blue-black and white-pearl color options. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxee's Early Access program is looking for a few good testers, dangles Cloudee preview Posted: 23 Sep 2012 11:14 PM PDT While Boxee's oddly shaped set-top box is still its main claim to fame, it's been testing a cloud-based video hosting / sharing service for several months in closed beta. We got a peek at Cloudee, which could evolve into additional features for the Boxee Box some day, back then but you could get your own peek as Boxee is recruiting new (US-based only, for now) blood for its Early Access program. According to the Facebook posting you could get to test some new things for the Boxee and Cloudee projects, so if you're a fan in need of storage and like living on the cutting edge, hit the source link for a shot at joining in. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wahoo Fitness introduces RFLKT: an iPhone-powered bike computer that lets handsets stay in pockets Posted: 23 Sep 2012 09:52 PM PDT Sure, you can turn your smartphone into a bike computer, but if you'd rather not put your pricey piece of tech anywhere near harm's way, Wahoo Fitness' RFLKT Bike Computer offers an alternative. Instead of packing all the brains, the device sits atop a bicycle's handlebar and displays data it's fed via Bluetooth 4.0 from cycling apps running on an iPhone 4S or 5. At launch, the hardware will support the firm's own Cyclemeter application and Wahoo Fitness App which can monitor ride information ranging from location to speed, in addition to heart rate with additional accoutrement. Aspiring Alberto Contadors can page through data and even sift through tunes on their playlist with the help of buttons on the device's side. Gently tipping the scales at 2 ounces, the RFLKT measures up at 2.4- x 1.6 x 0.5-inches and boats a one-year battery life on a single coin cell. Wahoo's gadget is slated for a December launch, but there's still no word on pricing. For more specifics, take a gander at the full press release below. Wahoo Fitness Debuts the RFLKT Bike Computer, the World's first iPhone Powered Cycling Computer Using Bluetooth 4.0 cyclists can wirelessly send cycling App data, images and workout info from their iPhone 4S and new iPhone 5 to the handlebar mounted RFLKT Bike Computer Atlanta, Ga. – September 20, 2012 – Wahoo Fitness debuts the world's first iPhone powered cycling computer, the RFLKT Bike Computer. Using Bluetooth 4.0 cyclist can now transmit data from their iPhone 4S and new iPhone 5 wirelessly to the handlebar mounted RFLKT. Wahoo Fitness' RFLKT is being demoed for the first time today at Interbike 2012 in Las Vegas, NV and will be available in the U.S this December. Wahoo Fitness' RFLKT Bike Computer reflects all the fitness monitoring data and social media capabilities of the iPhone's top cycling Apps, making it available in a sleek, lightweight designated cycling computer. Cyclists routinely carry their iPhone in their back jersey pocket for safety, as well as fitness App and GPS purposes. The handlebar mounted RFLKT, wirelessly receives all App data, images, and ride info from the iPhone 4S and new iPhone 5 via Bluetooth 4.0. Equipped with control buttons, cyclists can operate their favorite cycling App, toggle between screens, start/stop timer and even control iPhone functionality such as music playback, all from the RFLKT while the iPhone remains safely in a jersey pocket or bike mounted compartment. "Cyclists told us that they wanted their iPhone and cycling Apps at the center of their cycling experience, while still having a dedicated bike computer that could remain on the bike at all times. The RFLKT gives cyclists the best of both worlds," says Mike Stashak, head of marketing and sales for Wahoo Fitness. "Cyclists are carrying their iPhone in their back jersey pocket for safety and tracking their ride using their favorite App anyway, why not use the iPhone to monitor the workout in real-time as well? The RFLKT harnesses the iPhone's powerful GPS, App data and social networking, transferring it wirelessly to a classic handlebar mounted bike computer consistent with today's high-end road and mountain bikes." Wahoo Fitness has fully integrated the iPhone into all aspects of cycling fitness. With Wahoo's speed & cadence sensor for iPhone, heart rate monitor for iPhone, the recently unveiled KICKR Power Trainer and now the RFLKT iPhone Bike Computer, Wahoo users can track and power their cycling with their iPhone on the road, the trail and the trainer. Wahoo Fitness' iPhone cycling system allows users to monitor all the vitals including power, speed, cadence, heart rate, pace, distance, location, course and more. RFLKT iPhone Bike Computer features include:
The Wahoo Fitness RFLKT iPhone Bike Computer will be available in December 2012 at a price TBD. Cycling App Compatibility: At launch, RFLKT will be compatible with top rated cycling App, Cyclemeter, as well as the Wahoo Fitness App, with more scheduled to roll out in the future. The RFLKT provides an always-on display and buttons that are intelligently integrated with Cyclemeter's features. RFLKT's pages can be configured to display more than 150 statistics that Cyclemeter captures in real-time, such as current heart rate, remaining interval time, or previous split average cadence. For more information on Cyclemeter visit www.Abvio.com/Cyclemeter. To request additional information on the RFLKT, please contact PR Representative Brad Hobbs at (305) 374-4404 x119 or by email at bradhobbs@maxborgesagency.com. For more information on Wahoo Fitness, please visit www.WahooFitness.com and for a complete list of compatible Apps, please visit www.WahooFitness.com/Apps. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tarantino XX Blu-ray set brings 20 years of Quentin, eight movies and ten discs home November 20th Posted: 23 Sep 2012 08:22 PM PDT If you dig Quentin Tarantino flicks, an eight movie, 10-disc Blu-ray boxed set is on the way that will probably pique your interest. Lionsgate and Miramax are collaborating on the Tarantino XX set, which captures 20 years of the filmmaker's career and includes Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds. Additionally, there's special collectible packaging and artwork (shown after the break, along with the press release and full list of specs) and the two extra discs are filled with five hours of all new bonus interviews, retrospectives and the like. It seems unlikely to answer the mystery of what was in Marcellus Wallace's briefcase, but it will be available November 20th with an MSRP of $119.99, although Amazon is currently listing it at $83.97. TARANTINO XX Includes 8 Groundbreaking Films – From Tarantino's Debut in RESERVOIR DOGS to His Most Recent Academy Award® Nominated Film, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS -- Arriving on November 20th SANTA MONICA, CA (September 17, 2012) – Celebrating Quentin Tarantino's legendary filmmaking, Lionsgate and Miramax are proud to present the Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection, arriving on Blu-ray Disc November 20th. Tarantino XX contains eight films chosen by Tarantino to illustrate the first 20 years of his career, featuring the films that helped define his early success, including Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds. To complete the stunning high definition 10-disc set, the Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection also features two discs with five hours of all-new bonus material, highlighted by a critics' retrospective on Tarantino's groundbreaking catalog of films and "20 Years of Filmmaking" that contains interviews with critics, stars and other masters of cinema. Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection showcases one of the most innovative filmmakers of our time and is a must-have for serious film fans, as Tarantino's highly-anticipated new film, Django Unchained, prepares to hit theaters. Honoring the 20th anniversary of Reservoir Dogs – the cultural milestone that brought Tarantino to the forefront as a cinematic legend – the collection is highlighted by recurring appearances from celebrated actors including Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill), Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) and Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction), and also includes starring performances from iconic actors such as Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds), Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) and Robert Forster (Jackie Brown). Tarantino XX on Blu-ray also features striking, original artwork designed and illustrated by MONDO (www.mondotees.com). Housed in collectible packaging, the Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection will be available for the suggested retail price of $119.99. CONTENTS SUMMARY BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES – 2 Discs* RESERVOIR DOGS Quentin Tarantino's directorial debut, nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival (1992) and awarded the International Critics Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (1992), is raw, violent and unforgettable. Four perfect strangers are assembled to pull off the perfect crime, but when a botched robbery reveals a police informant among them, their simple robbery explodes into a bloody ambush. Blu-ray Special Features* TRUE ROMANCE - DIRECTOR'S CUT Runaway lovers Clarence and Alabama (Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette) play a dangerous game with a stolen suitcase containing $5 million worth of cocaine. They head for Los Angeles, where they'll sell the goods and begin a new life, but both sides of the law have other ideas. This dark comic web of crime, murder and mayhem from writer Quentin Tarantino and director Tony Scott (Top Gun, Spy Game), features an ensemble cast including Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini and Christopher Walken. Blu-ray Special Features* PULP FICTION Pulp Fiction has been hailed by critics and audiences worldwide as a film that redefined cinema. A burger-loving hit man (John Travolta), his philosophical partner (Samuel L. Jackson), a drug-addled gangster's moll (Uma Thurman) and a washed-up boxer (Bruce Willis) converge in four tales of violence and redemption. The film was honored with an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay (1994) and earned seven total nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. It has also been listed as one of the best films of all-time by Time and Entertainment Weekly. Blu-ray Special Features* JACKIE BROWN Quentin Tarantino's acclaimed adaptation of Elmore Leonard's Rum Punch follows a cash-smuggling flight attendant (Pam Grier) who is busted by an ATF agent (Michael Keaton) and a cop (Michael Bowen). When pressured to help with their investigation, she agrees to do one last run for a ruthless arms dealer (Samuel L. Jackson). Mistrust and suspicions arise when Jackie plays the opposing forces against each other in an effort to walk away with the dough. Robert Forster earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar® nomination for his role as Max Cherry, a bail bondsman who falls for Jackie and becomes embroiled in the scheme. Blu-ray Special Features* KILL BILL VOL. 1 In the first volume of this gritty revenge saga, an assassin (Uma Thurman) is shot at the altar by her ruthless employer, Bill (David Carradine), and other members of his Deadly Vipers Assassination Squad. In this epic tale of survival The Bride sets out to bring justice to all those who wronged her, including a reformed suburban mother (Vivica A. Fox) and the Japanese Yakuza crime-lord (Lucy Liu). Blu-ray Special Features* KILL BILL VOL. 2 The murderous Bride (Uma Thurman) mercilessly continues her vengeance quest against her ex-boss, Bill (David Carradine), and his two remaining associates: Bill's degenerate younger brother (Michael Madsen) and a vicious one-eyed swordswoman (Daryl Hannah). Blu-ray Special Features* DEATH PROOF Kurt Russell stars as a tough-talking, psychotic serial murderer who transforms his stunt car into an indestructible killing machine, then climbs behind the wheel to stalk and terrorize a group of women on the road. What he doesn't realize is that he's picked the wrong babes to mess with. Blu-ray Special Features* INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS A Jewish cinema owner in Nazi-occupied Paris is forced to host a movie premiere for the Third Reich, where a radical group of American soldiers, The Basterds, led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), plan to roll out a score-settling scheme. The film was honored with an Academy Award® for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (2009, Christoph Waltz) and earned seven total nominations, including Best Motion Picture of the Year for Lawrence Bender and Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino. Blu-ray Special Features* *** For artwork, please visit www.lionsgatepublicity.com *** PROGRAM INFORMATION Years of Production: 1992-2009 Reservoir Dogs: 1992 True Romance - Director's Cut: 1993 Pulp Fiction: 1994 Jackie Brown: 1997 Kill Bill Vol. 1: 2003 Kill Bill Vol. 2:2004 Death Proof: 2007 Inglourious Basterds: 2009 Title Copyrights: Pulp Fiction/Jackie Brown/Kill Bill Vol. 1/Kill Bill Vol. 2: © Miramax Reservoir Dogs: © 1991 Dog Eat Dog Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Inglourious Basterds: © 2009 Visiona Romantica. All Rights Reserved. Death Proof: © 2007 The Weinstein Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. True Romance - Director's Cut: © 1993, Supplementary Material Compilation © 2009 Morgan Creek Productions, Inc. Type: Blu-ray Disc Special Edition Set Rating: Blu-ray Closed Captioned: English SDH Subtitles: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof: English and Spanish True Romance -Director's Cut, Inglourious Basterds: English, Spanish and French Blu-ray Format: Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Death Proof: 1080P High Definition 16x9 Widescreen (2.35:1) Jackie Brown: 1080P High Definition 16x9 Widescreen (1.85:1) Inglourious Basterds, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, True Romance: 1080P High Definition 16x9 Widescreen (2.40:1) Feature Running Time: Reservoir Dogs: 100 minutes True Romance -Director's Cut: 121 minutes Pulp Fiction: 154 minutes Jackie Brown: 154 minutes Kill Bill Vol. 1: 111 minutes Kill Bill Vol. 2: 136 minutes Death Proof: 113 minutes Inglourious Basterds: 153 minutes Blu-ray Audio Status: Reservoir Dogs: DTS-HD Master Audio and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX True Romance -Director's Cut: English, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2: English 5.1 Uncompressed, English and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Death Proof: 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, English, French, Spanish, Italian Dolby 5.1 Dolby Digital Inglourious Basterds: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and English 5.1 Dolby Digital * Subject to change ABOUT LIONSGATE Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company has built a significant television presence in production of primetime cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 23 shows on 16 networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including the multiple Emmy Award-winning "Mad Men" and the critically-acclaimed series "Weeds," "Nurse Jackie" and "Boss," the new network series "Nashville" and "Next Caller," the Charlie Sheen sitcom "Anger Management," the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," its spinoff "Meet the Browns," "The Wendy Williams Show" and "Are We There Yet?" and the upcoming "Orange Is The New Black," an original series for Netflix. Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first installment of "The Hunger Games" franchise, which has grossed nearly $700 million at the worldwide box office, "Cabin In The Woods," "Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection" and "Margin Call." With the January 2012 acquisition of Summit Entertainment, the Company added the blockbuster "The Twilight Saga," which has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the worldwide box office, to a slate that already included its "The Hunger Games" franchise and now has the two premier young adult franchises in the world. Recent Summit hits include "Red," "Letters to Juliet," "Knowing," and the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, "The Hurt Locker." Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 15,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How would you change the HTC One X? Posted: 23 Sep 2012 07:37 PM PDT Flagship phones are tricky customers when it comes to How Would You Change. Often, they're handsets that have every feature thrown against the wall as companies see what sticks with customers. Hovering on the blistering edge of technology, it would seem there's very few things wrong with (staff favorite) the HTC One X -- although perhaps that makes any glaring that more notable. What we'd like you to do is place yourself in the position of HTC's design mavens and work out what omission they could or should address when it comes time for a sequel. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opera Mini 7.5 update for Android adds Smart Page for social and news updates Posted: 23 Sep 2012 07:04 PM PDT Opera Mini for Android has been upgraded to version 7.5, bringing with it a new "Smart Page'" feature that aggregates social media updates and news from your most frequently visited websites. Smart Page works by creating feeds for your favorite web destinations and suggesting other sources based on your surfing habits. So far, Opera Mini 7.5 with the Smart Page is only available on Android -- you can download it via the browser's site or through Google Play. Check out a demo of the new feature in action below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Globalfoundries unveils 14nm-XM chip architecture, vows up to a 60 percent jump in battery life Posted: 23 Sep 2012 06:29 PM PDT Globalfoundries wants to show that it can play the 3D transistor game as well as Intel. Its newly unveiled 14nm-XM (Extreme Mobility) modular architecture uses the inherently low-voltage, low-leak nature of the foundry's FinFET layout, along with a few traces of its still-in-development 20nm process, to build a 14-nanometer chip with all the size and power savings that usually come from a die shrink. Compared to the larger processors with flat transistors that we're used to, the new technique is poised to offer between 40 to 60 percent better battery life, all else being equal -- a huge help when even those devices built on a 28nm Snapdragon S4 can struggle to make it through a full day on a charge. To no one's shock, Globalfoundries is focusing its energy on getting 14nm-XM into the ARM-based processors that could use the energy savings the most. It will be some time before you find that extra-dimensional technology sitting in your phone or tablet, though. Just as Intel doesn't expect to reach those miniscule sizes until 2013, Globalfoundries expects its first working 14nm silicon to arrive the same year. That could leave a long wait between test production runs and having a finished product in your hands. GLOBALFOUNDRIES Unveils FinFET Transistor Architecture Optimized for Next-Generation Mobile Devices Company's 14nm roadmap accelerates customers' path to FinFET technology Milpitas, Calif., Sept. 20, 2012 – GLOBALFOUNDRIES today accelerated its leading-edge roadmap with the launch of a new technology designed for the expanding mobile market. The company's 14nm-XM offering will give customers the performance and power benefits of three-dimensional "FinFET" transistors with less risk and a faster time-to-market, helping the fabless ecosystem maintain its leadership in mobility while enabling a new generation of smart mobile devices. The XM stands for "eXtreme Mobility," and it is the industry's leading non-planar architecture that is truly optimized for mobile system-on-chip (SoC) designs, providing a whole product solution from the transistor all the way up to the system level. The technology is expected to deliver a 40-60% improvement in battery life when compared to today's two-dimensional planar transistors at the 20nm node. The 14nm-XM offering is based on a modular technology architecture that uses a 14nm FinFET device combined with elements of GLOBALFOUNDRIES' 20nm-LPM process, which is well on its way to production. Leveraging the maturity of the 20nm-LPM technology will enable a smooth transition for customers looking to tap the benefits of FinFET SoCs as soon as possible. Technology development is already underway, with test silicon running through GLOBALFOUNDRIES' Fab 8 in Saratoga County, N.Y. Early process design kits (PDKs) are available now, with customer tape-outs expected in 2013. "We have more than a decade of FinFET R&D to build on as we prepare to bring this technology to production," said Gregg Bartlett, Chief Technology Officer at GLOBALFOUNDRIES. "We are confident this foundation will enable us to lead the foundry volume ramp of FinFETs, just as we did with High-K Metal Gate (HKMG)." Building on a Foundation of HKMG Expertise The FinFET architecture takes the traditional two-dimensional transistor design and turns the conductive channel on its side, resulting in a three-dimensional "fin" structure surrounded by a gate that controls the flow of current. A key benefit of FinFET technology is its superior low-power attributes. The 3D transistor design intrinsically operates at a lower voltage with minimal current leakage, which translates into longer battery life for mobile applications or less power consumption for plugged-in applications such as networking chips in datacenters. "Many people don't realize that FinFETs build upon the same fundamental mobile driving force as today's HKMG technology," said G. Dan Hutcheson, CEO and Chairman of VLSI Research. "While HKMG was a significant innovation in leakage reduction, FinFETs are a great leap forward in this value proposition that clear the way for many years of advancements. But to fully extract the value of FinFET technology, a company needs to be in volume production of HKMG. GLOBALFOUNDRIES has a head start in this area with almost two years of high-volume manufacturing experience with HKMG." Not All 3D Transistors are Created Equal GLOBALFOUNDRIES has developed a new approach to technology definition that has resulted in a cost-effective and power-optimized FinFET technology that is ideally suited for the mobile SoC market. The 14nm-XM architecture strikes the ideal balance between performance and power consumption, while minimizing both die size and cost. At the same time, the technology has been architected for optimum manufacturability and ease of design, with a view to allowing designers to re-use much of their IP from previous generations. Additionally, consideration is given to SoC-level concerns beyond the transistor architecture, such as overall system-level performance and specific mobile applications needs. Another critical aspect of delivering a fully SoC-optimized solution is the ability to leverage the entire ecosystem of industry expertise, from EDA and design solutions partners to providers of IP. FinFET technology comes with new considerations, especially for the design community. GLOBALFOUNDRIES' process R&D and technology architecture teams have been working closely with both internal design teams as well as design ecosystem partners to co-optimize the technology and design environments. GLOBALFOUNDRIES recently announced a new multi-year agreement with ARM to jointly deliver optimized SoC solutions for ARM processor designs on FinFET process technologies. The companies have been collaborating for several years to jointly optimize ARM Cortex™-A series processors, and this agreement extends the prior efforts by driving production IP platforms that will promote rapid migration to three-dimensional FinFET transistor technology. "In the growing era of extreme mobility, FinFET technology will be a critical enabler to the next generation of smart mobile devices," said Dipesh Patel, deputy general manager of the Physical IP Division at ARM. "Through our early engagement and co-optimization with GLOBALFOUNDRIES, we will provide our mutual customers with a new level of system performance and an easier path to the benefits from FinFET technology. The result will be a platform which is well-suited for SoCs based on the next generation of ARM processors and GPUs for the mobile market." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refresh Roundup: week of September 17th, 2012 Posted: 23 Sep 2012 05:42 PM PDT Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Official Android updates
Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery
Other platforms
Refreshes we covered this week
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| Posted: 23 Sep 2012 04:48 PM PDT Mobile security company Intrepidus Group presented evidence during the EUSecWest security conference potentially identifying a major flaw in at least two US transit systems. Creating an Android app named "UltraReset" and using it in tandem with an NFC-enabled Android phone (a Nexus S, in this case), security researchers Corey Benninger and Max Sobell were able to reset and reuse -- free of charge -- transit access cards in both San Francisco's MUNI system and New Jersey's PATH system. Before you go getting any bad ideas, know that Benninger and Sobell haven't released the app for public use, and warned both transit systems in late 2011 (though neither region has fixed the exploit, the duo claim). PATH and MUNI share a common chip access card -- the Mifare Ultralight -- which can apparently be reset for 10 extra rides (as demonstrated on video below) via Android phones with NFC, an OS newer than 2.3.3 (Gingerbread). Starting to sound familiar? Intrepidus is, however, releasing a modified version of the app, named "UltraCardTester." The modified app functions just like its nefarious progenitor, except it can't add time to cards (see it in action below). The app can tell you how many rides you have left, and if a system is open to exploit, but it won't assist you in the act of exploiting. We reached out to both New Jersey's PATH and San Francisco MUNI on the issue, but have yet to hear back as of publishing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iran announces plans to create isolated local internet system, fate of global access unknown Posted: 23 Sep 2012 03:07 PM PDT Iranians have been having trouble accessing YouTube, Gmail and other Google services for some time now, but their digital world may be growing even smaller -- Iran announced today that it plans to shuffle citizens onto its own domestic version of the web. Reuters reports that officials plan to connect citizens to the national information network that's currently in use at government agencies. Iran hopes to complete the transition by March of next year, and is already taking steps to isolate its population from certain international services. "Google and Gmail will be filtered throughout the country until further notice," an Iranian official added, noting that the ban would commence in "a few hours." Some locals, such as the Iranian Students' News Agency, are attributing the ban to recent protests sparked by a trailer for an anti-Islamic film on YouTube called Innocence of Muslims, but the government has made no official comment on the reason behind the ban. The state isn't clear on the fate of the global internet in Iran, either -- although it has talked about creating an isolated national network before. Here's hoping the new network will be a compliment to the Persian web, and not a substitute. [Image credit: yeowatzup, Flickr] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Switched On: The iPod's modern family Posted: 23 Sep 2012 02:30 PM PDT Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. If you bet that Apple was going to turn the square, occasionally wrist-strapped iPod nano into a MOTOACTV-like watch that would provide a glanceable window into iPhone apps, you lost. Clearly, Apple could have gone that route. It teased in the last generation with an expanding selection of watch faces and used this generation to add Bluetooth and enable a thinner design via the new Lightning connector. Nevertheless, Apple decided to forgo the embryonic smartwatch market. Indeed, it returned to the larger, longer iPod nano school of yore, but with the single-button design of its iOS mobile devices complementing a multitouch interface. The watch faces may be gone, but the new iPod nano regains the ability to play video while retaining photo display and Nike+ integration. It has become the equivalent of the lineup's feature phone, albeit with a better user interface. Examined in context, the new clip-free iPod nano looks more at home as a midrange option between the tiny iPod shuffle and the now larger iPod touch. Indeed, at $150, the new iPod nano might have been a tougher sell had the significantly updated and slimmed down seventh-generation iPod touch stayed at $199. However, for those who want the state of Apple's art, there is now a wide pricing swath between the two multitouch-enabled iPods, with the new iPod touch commanding $299, twice the price of the nano (with the 64 GB version priced at $399). More InfoAmong iPods then, this leaves Apple with the still unique and capable fourth-generation iPod touch at $199 point, once deemed by the company as a key price point worth pursuing and perhaps even holding back features for. But while the new iPod touch's price puts it in the running against $300 holiday gift competitors like the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" tablet and the Nintendo Wii U, it will be the first time that the iPod touch has cost more than a subsidized iPhone on major U.S. carriers. While the new iPod touch continues its tradition of being thinner than its contemporary iPhone cousin and has a bigger display and better camera than the fourth-generation model, it is bested in many other respects by the iPhone 5, which of course has much higher hardware costs than are reflected in the subsidized price. Apple does not seem to be too concerned by the new economic disparity facing the new iPod touch. In fact, this will be the first time that Apple has offered the iPod touch in six hues. That's not so unusual for a mature product line, but it has been something that Apple has tended to confine to the lower-end product and a move that indicates confidence in healthy sales volumes. The iPod touch has long been the iPhone for those couldn't or didn't want to use the iPhone on their cellular networks. With the iPhone 5 now taking advantage of the latest network technology on three major U.S. carriers (and the fourth seeking to crash the party), the relationship between the two products has shifted, with the iPod touch becoming more about who the users are rather than what they want to spend. The new nano and touch may leave a wide price gap between them, but they now even more clearly target optimized media experiences -- one focused on the iPod's legacy in music and the other on its future of games and other apps. Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is principal analyst at Reticle Research, an advisory firm focused on consumer technology. Views expressed in Switched On are his own. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Riot breaks out at Foxconn's Taiyuan plant, reportedly over guards beating up a worker Posted: 23 Sep 2012 01:01 PM PDT News just came in that workers at Foxconn's Taiyuan plant have started a riot in the wee hours in China, and that police forces are on site to control the crowd. While the motive isn't clear, Sina Weibo user Li Tian reports that the riot isn't related to the recent anti-Japan protests, though judging by his photos, much damage has been done in the process. The same site suffered from a strike back in March over salary dispute -- the front-line workers failed to receive the promised pay rise. On a similar note, Foxconn's Chengdu plant also had a riot in June, but that was apparently due to an argument between some workers and a local restaurant owner. Update: We are seeing unofficial reports claiming the "2,000-people" riot was triggered by security guards hitting a worker at 10pm local time. Update 2: According to a provincial website, Foxconn's Taiyuan industrial park focuses on magnesium alloy components for consumer electronics, heat conduction products, LED lighting products, mobile phone products and magnesium alloy automotive components. Update 3: An undercover report from August mentioned that the Taiyuan plant processed the back casing of the iPhone 5. It also highlighted the company's harsh management as well as "practically compulsory" over-time work. We don't doubt that this riot escalated due to dissatisfaction over working conditions. Update 4: Unsurprisingly, the original Sina Weibo posts have since been deleted. At the time of publication, the author had already noticed that some of the photos were already being censored by Sina. However, the photos over at Baidu Tieba are still intact. Update 5: Well this is interesting. Foxconn has told Reuters that there was "a fight among workers from different production lines," but the company's spokesperson said they're "still investigating the cause of the fight and the number of people involved." An official statement will be released on Monday. Update 6: The Next Web has heard that there were no deaths in the incident. Here's hoping those 40 injured people will recover quickly. Update 7: Foxconn tells CNET both that there weren't any deaths, and that production should resume Tuesday.
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