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- BlueStacks teams with AMD to optimize Android App Player for Fusion, Radeon chips (video)
- Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G review: T-Mobile's QWERTY slider falls flat
- Google's Niantic Labs launches Field Trip app for Android, helps the working world play hooky
- Samsung asks us to witness 'The Next Big Thing' at an October 24th event in New York City
- Bank of America testing QR Code scanning mobile payment system in North Carolina
- ASUS Transformer Prime TF201 gets Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update
- Second-generation Razer Blade hands-on (update: video)
- Caption Contest: Eric Schmidt does 'Gangnam Style' with PSY
- GNOME 3.6 arrives with new notifications and improved accessibility support
- Nexus 7 comes to South Korea, causes price envy across the water
- Google's Eric Schmidt slams patent wars, still has nice things to say about Apple and Samsung
- Zeebox second screen TV companion app crosses over to the US, with a boost from Comcast and HBO
- Google Play services arrives for Android 2.2 and above, the eager can download directly
- Venturi announces 300HP, €300K America all-terrain EV, coming in 2014
- Dish Network launches nationwide satellite broadband service with ViaSat, Hughes, calls it dishNET
- Nissan Terra concept takes you and your fuel cell off the beaten path
- Engadget visits Nokia House wrap-up: Stephen Elop Q&A, Lumia 920 camera tests and more
- US pricing leaks for incoming Xbox Music service
- Steam for Linux entering private beta in October for just 1,000 users
- Production-ready Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive supercar unveiled
- BMW i3 sheds its skin, shows off carbon skeleton
- Apple files patent application for 'intelligent automated assistant,' sounds like Siri
- FCC chairman green-lights AT&T's use of WCS spectrum for LTE with proposed order
- European Commission set to fine Microsoft over 2009 browser compliance breach
- Nokia Lumia 920, 820 get official European prices, launching in November
- Matrix One drops to $60, moves from impulse purchase to disposable tablet
- Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo concept is a plug-in shooting brake
- LG Display countersues Samsung over OLED patent infringement
- Ubuntu 13.04's final release slated for April, alpha to arrive in December
- SensoGlove revamp brings automatic pressure check, stops us from strangling our golf swing
- Samsung aims to become key player in digital content distribution through company buyouts
- Chrome for Android update brings Google browser to Intel-powered smartphones
- Foursquare rolls out iPhone 5 / iOS 6 update, Explore gains more personalization options
- Lexus LF-CC Concept shows the future of touchscreen interiors
- Nokia announces Australian carriers: Telstra gets the 920, Vodafone and Optus get the 820
- Verizon FiOS TV Media Server due in the coming months, delivers content to 3rd party devices
- Telia scraps plans to charge extra for mobile VoIP in Sweden, hikes overall rates in compensation
- Google data center in Oklahoma to get 48MW of wind power, boost renewable energy in the Sooner state
- Huawei Ascend P1 LTE named as EE exclusive in UK, other markets to follow
- LG Optimus Vu II specs officially unveiled: new CPU, IR, stylus and 'One Key' accessory
| BlueStacks teams with AMD to optimize Android App Player for Fusion, Radeon chips (video) Posted: 27 Sep 2012 11:31 AM PDT AMD has a disproportionately large $6.4 million investment in BlueStacks, and now we're seeing one clear reason why. The two companies have teamed up to create a special version of the BlueStacks App Player that's tuned for AMD's Fusion-based processors and Radeon graphics cards, running Android apps with the full help of the chip desgner's hardware in Windows 7 and 8 PCs. Accordingly, over 500,000 Android apps are invading AMD's new AppZone portal without any needed tweaks of their own, giving the service a much larger catalog than if it had gone with Windows alone. Both companies have a clear incentive to this melding of desktop and mobile: BlueStacks suddenly gets exposure to as many as 100 million AMD-running users, while AMD can tout a giant app catalog that may be preloaded on future PCs using its components. We don't know if the world needs yet another avenue for playing Angry Birds, especially when many AMD-based PCs won't have touchscreens, but the BlueStacks partnership could be a strong lure for new PC buyers who'd like an instant software library. AMD AppZone Brings Graphics-Accelerated Windows and Android Apps to PCs Worldwide AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the launch of AMD AppZone, an online showcase for applications and games accelerated by AMD Radeon™ graphics processing units (GPUs) and AMD accelerated processing units (APUs). In addition to featuring some of the most recognizable PC games and productivity apps, consumers can now download and seamlessly run popular Android™ apps on AMD-based PCs running Windows® thanks to a collaboration with BlueStacks to enable the AMD AppZone Player. Powered by BlueStacks' award-winning technology, the AMD AppZone Player brings thousands of Android apps to the millions of AMD-powered tablets, notebooks, all-in-one and desktop PCs worldwide. In addition, consumers can automatically sync their AppZone apps with Android-based devices via BlueStacks Cloud Connect, a cloud-based service that enables a Windows-based PC to become an extension of an Android mobile device and vice versa1. "BlueStacks' cross-platform innovation bridges the Android and x86 application ecosystems, providing new opportunities for developers and better experiences for users," said Manju Hegde, corporate vice president, Heterogeneous Applications and Developer Solutions at AMD. "By collaborating with BlueStacks, we are enabling software developers to more easily tap into the full capabilities of AMD's products, and providing millions of consumers with great experiences as they can now run Android apps on AMD-powered devices." "As the engine behind the AMD AppZone Player, we are providing a potent combination of award-winning software optimized for AMD's industry-leading hardware. Consumers can now enjoy their favorite mobile apps on the larger, more immersive screen of their PC," said Rosen Sharma, CEO of BlueStacks. "With BlueStacks technology, app developers can rest assured their Android apps will run directly on Windows without any code change. We've made it easy for all." Starting today, the AMD AppZone Player and featured apps like Sleeping Dogs, Adobe® Photoshop® CS6, and CyberLink PowerDirector 11 are available for download at www.amd.com/appzone or via the VISION Engine Control Center, which will be updated regularly to bring new titles like the highly anticipated Medal of Honor™ Warfighter2. Users can download featured apps directly from within the AMD AppZone Player or search for apps across the built-in app store. In addition, AMD and BlueStacks are currently working with leading OEMs to preload the AppZone Player on upcoming AMD-powered devices. BlueStacks is an AMD Ventures-backed software company that enables Android apps to run on notebooks, desktops, all-in-one PCs, slates and tablets. BlueStacks was founded in 2009 by Rosen Sharma, is privately held and headquartered in Silicon Valley with global offices in India, Taiwan and Japan. For more information visit http://www.bluestacks.com/, or join their more than 1,000,000 Facebook fans at www.facebook.com/bluestacksinc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G review: T-Mobile's QWERTY slider falls flat Posted: 27 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT More InfoWe first heard rumblings about the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q slider back in August, and what stood out most -- apart from the rumored Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and HSPA+42 connectivity -- was that long-winded moniker. Interesting, then, that Sammy should re-brand the T-Mobile device with a name that does nothing to clarify this handset's identity: the Galaxy S Relay 4G. That jumble of words aside, this phone offers a five-row QWERTY layout, a dual-core S4 chip and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, all for the moderate price of $150 (with a $50 mail-in rebate). Is this slider the best T-Mobile has to offer? Join us past the break as we give the Relay the full run-through. HardwareThe Relay 4G won't shatter your conception of a slider: at 4.9 x 2.5 inches (125.9 x 64.9mm) and 0.5 inches (13.4mm) thick, it has more or less the same brick shape of other handsets with QWERTY keyboards. At 5.3 ounces (150 grams), this phone isn't heavy compared to its competitors (the Motorola Droid 4 weighs 6.3 ounces, and the T-Mobile myTouch Q is a hefty 6.5), but the extra girth that comes with a slide-out keyboard means you'll never confuse the Relay with wispier, touchscreen-only Android phones. Much like the Samsung Captivate Glide from late 2011, the Relay is a relatively warm and fuzzy incarnation of a QWERTY slider. Competing handsets like Motorola's Photon Q 4G LTE and Droid 4 sport sharp, diagonally cut corners, and while that design choice may take away from the otherwise boxy dimensions, we prefer the Relay 4G's gently rounded edges, which conform to the palm quite nicely. A soft-touch, slightly dimpled backing also makes for a solid grip, and indeed the Relay feels very good in the hand. The 4-inch display gives you decent screen real estate, but it doesn't push the reach of smaller hands to the limit. Most of the phone's backing sports the soft-touch finish, which is quite similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, though the bottommost part is done up in plastic and makes room for two tiny speaker grilles. The 5-megapixel camera and LED flash sit prominently on the device's rear side, with the Galaxy S logo etched directly underneath. The front side of the Relay is riddled with additional branding: Samsung's moniker sits right below the screen, and T-Mobile slaps its name across the top of the handset. What would otherwise be a pleasingly minimalist design is cheapened by all that labeling; we wish the carrier had shown some restraint and left out its logo. A large home button, along with smaller ones for Settings and Back, sits at the bottom of the phone's front face. The top of the front face is lined with the LED notification light, earpiece and 1.3-MP front-facing shooter. The 3.5mm headphone jack is up top, and the power button resides on the right edge. You'll find the volume rocker on the left edge, while the micro-USB port lines the bottom side. There is a microSD card slot for expanding the phone's modest 8GB of internal storage up to an additional 32GB, but you'll have to remove the backing to get to it. Taking a look at what's under the hood, we have 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory. In practice, though, users will have access to about 5GB of on-board storage. The handset supports quad-band DC-HSPA+ / UMTS (850 / AWS / 1900 / 2100MHz) in addition to GSM (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900MHz) for roaming the globe. (We'll get to network performance later.) The Relay 4G's 4-inch display sports a WVGA (480 x 800) resolution and is made of scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 2. We appreciate this extra layer of protection, but this is a Super AMOLED PenTile panel, and that in itself is enough to send shudders down the most hardcore screen buffs' spines. Truly, it's disappointing that Sammy's still stuck in Super AMOLED mode: we've been seeing basically this same panel since the original Galaxy S debuted in 2010. It might have been impressive then, but the bar has since been raised substantially, and this display on a $150 device is downright underwhelming. Yes, this screen isn't top-notch -- pictures and text exhibit a subtle, but noticeable, blurriness. That said, the display isn't horrid, either. Viewing angles are wide and colors are bright and accurate, if not especially vibrant. But then again, take this guy outside and you'll be lucky to make out anything on the panel: it's perfectly acceptable for viewing email and browsing the web, but you'll want to turn elsewhere to get you outdoor reading -- not to mention your 1080p trailer -- fix. Keyboard A hardware keyboard entails some extra heft, but the idea is that you'll enjoy a more comfortable typing experience than cramped touchscreen keyboards can offer. We've seen that concept carried through on sliders like the Photon Q 4G LTE, whose keypad offers well-sized keys and a decent amount of travel. But if that Sprint handset is a success story, the Relay 4G can only be described as a half-hearted attempt at an ergonomically pleasing device.
The Galaxy S Relay 4G's keyboard isn't completely flush with the rest of the deck, but it's not raised enough to let you find keys by feel, either. There's definitely a learning curve with this layout -- and even accomplished touch typists may find themselves looking down at their fingers pretty often. Using a third-party typing test app, we notched shamefully low word-per-minute scores (read: less than 20 words per minute when we stopped to correct our various mistakes). The keys are on the small side, but the real challenge to efficient typing is the flat layout: our fingers often hit adjacent letters or no letter at all. We do appreciate the keyboard backlighting, which, while not adjustable, helps for pecking out messages in low-light conditions. Sliding the keyboard out feels smooth and secure -- no creakiness here -- but if anything, the mechanism offers too much resistance and requires a hearty push to open up and reveal the keys. That's probably better than an overly sensitive slider that moves at the slightest touch, but we had the distinct sensation that we were mowing over keys row by row when we pushed out the keyboard, as if Samsung didn't leave enough room between the keyboard and the slider mechanism. Software The Relay 4G runs Android 4.0.4, the most current version of Google's last-gen Ice Cream Sandwich OS. (We reached out to T-Mobile about an update to Jelly Bean, but the carrier wouldn't share anything on that front.) Of course, Samsung's custom TouchWiz UI is layered on top, but out of the box, the phone's interface is more T-Mobile inspired, with a white-and-pink background and no fewer than eight folders of apps -- many of which bear the carrier's branding. In addition to these folders, T-Mobile widgets like Bonus Apps and Media Hub hog screen real estate with their ad-centric content. Luckily, you can send these suckers to the trash can, but you'll still find plenty of crapware in your apps list. You can disable superfluous built-in widgets like Bonus Apps and Game Base, and you most certainly should. Third-party additions include Lookout Security, Slacker Radio and a shortcut to Amazon.com. The Galaxy S Relay 4G carries Samsung's SAFE (Samsung Approved for Enterprise) designation, and it includes a few corporate-targeted features, such as VPN client for remotely accessing your computer network, AES-256 bit encryption and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. Now is as good a time as any to mention that the Relay 4G supports NFC for sharing contacts and other content with other enabled devices via S Beam, Samsung's tap-to-share utility. T-Mobile also offers WiFi calling for when you're out of the network's reach. Camera The Relay 4G's 5-megapixel camera with LED flash isn't impressive. We'll take a moment here to passive-aggressively point out that even some less expensive smartphones like the Droid RAZR M manage to pack 8-megapixel cams capable of 1080p video. Shots that look crisp when viewed on the phone's display often translate into blurry messes once they make it to your PC or social network profile. Even when we tap on the part of the image we want in focus, the camera doesn't reliably render that area in sharp detail. Tap-to-focus fans though we may be, we'd recommend letting autofocus do the work: we got the clearest results this way. In general, sunny scenes come through with pleasing clarity, but cars and people in motion show up a bit blurry. Also, the shooter tends to render images darker than they appear in real life, and we found ourselves bumping up the exposure value when shooting in the late afternoon and in the shade. Camera settings aren't too in-depth -- no HDR here, for example -- but you'll find ISO and exposure adjustment, several white balance options and a variety of shot and scene modes, including panorama and smile shot. We noticed a one- to two-second delay when tapping the on-screen shutter button (there's no physical option here), which means that candid pictures are out of the question. The phone's volume rocker doubles as the zoom in / out function within the camera app. Though images snapped during the day (or in other scenarios with ample light) show mostly accurate colors and satisfactory detail, nighttime shots that require the LED flash look blurry and indistinct. The camera is capable of 720p video recording, and we found it did a fine job of capturing motion with little jerkiness and no distortion. We shot our test footage in New York's always-busy Astor Place and our clip exhibits plenty of fuzzy, sometimes harsh, ambient noise. You'll find fewer settings for the front-facing 1.3-megapixel -- there are simply options to turn the timer on or off and to adjust the exposure value. When we made a test Skype video call over WiFi in our New York apartment, our partner's face appeared clear at times and plagued by pink and green pixels at others, though of course results will vary according to your connection. Performance and battery life
The Relay 4G's dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and 1GB of RAM enable some zippy, fluid performance. Swiping through home screens, launching apps and scrolling through web pages is glitch-free, and the phone had no problem accommodating our Riptide GP sessions. The touchscreen is wonderfully responsive as well; we had to force ourselves to pull out the keyboard every now and then. Cold-booting into Ice Cream Sandwich takes 28 seconds, and once the phone is up and running it's almost immune to stuttering and other performance hiccups. Benchmark scores echo our real-world experience. This phone keeps pace with other sliders, crushing the Motorola Droid 4 and the Samsung Captivate Glide with their older internals but trailing the Photon Q by a small margin in most tests. The Relay 4G's Vellamo score of 2,734 is especially impressive, and indeed the stock Android browser loaded pages almost instantly; even with the maximum of eight tabs open, the phone rendered websites in 0.93 seconds. On our battery rundown test, which involves looping a locally stored video with WiFi on and a few social network accounts set to send push updates once an hour, the Galaxy S Relay 4G's removable 1,800mAh battery lasted seven hours and 59 minutes. This is one area where the Relay makes other QWERTY sliders look half-baked: the Photon Q 4G LTE pulled through for just six hours and 18 minutes and the Motorola Droid 4 lasted a slightly shorter seven hours and 15 minutes. In our everyday use, which entails lighter video-watching, email-composing and occasional picture-taking, the phone lasted about 11 hours -- enough to see us through the work day and then some.
The Relay 4G's tiny back-set speakers pump out sufficiently loud sound that stops short of tinny, even if we can't call it clear or crisp. Listening with headphones is the ideal setup here, as audio comes through a bit richer. The speakers' placement, near the bottom of the phone's backside, isn't the most convenient in either portrait or landscape modes, since your fingers will likely gravitate to this edge either way. In terms of audio formats, you're good to go with .amr, .flac, .m4a. mp3, .ogg, .wav and .wma files; we tried and failed to play songs in the .aac, .ac3, .aiff, .ape, .au, .m4r, .mka, .mmf and .npc formats. When we made a few test calls on this slider, our friends on the other end said we came through loud and clear, and things sounded crisp on our side as well. In terms of network speeds, we saw a max of 15.04 Mbps downloads and 3.44 Mbps uploads on T-Mobile's HSPA+ network, with results generally ranging 0.7-2 Mbps on the uplink and 14-15 Mbps down. These numbers are nothing to sniff at, and throughout New York City the 4G signal remains strong. We saw throughput on the upper end of this range when we took the Relay 4G for a spin in Southern California. Comparison and pricingIf you need a physical keyboard, you know you're limiting your smartphone options. The Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G costs $150 with a mail-in rebate, but QWERTY fans on T-Mobile have a few other devices to choose from, including the myTouch (free with a two-year contract), which is a capable device even though it runs the outdated Gingerbread OS. And the Relay 4G is just one of several Galaxy S devices on T-Mobile: on the slightly lower end, there's the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, which runs Gingerbread on a 1.5GHz processor and like the Relay sports a 5-megapixel camera. Now that the price has dropped to $100, it's a worthwhile contender. On the higher-end side -- but priced at $150 just like the Relay 4G -- is the Samsung Galaxy S III. If the QWERTY layout is at all negotiable, this is hands-down a better pick. Opening the door to QWERTY devices on other carriers, we like the Photon Q on Sprint, which, for $50 more than the Relay 4G, offers a superior typing experience. On Verizon, there's the $100 Droid 4, which runs Ice Cream Sandwich on a 4-inch qHD screen and also sports a best-in-class keyboard. Wrap-up For a mid-tier smartphone running Ice Cream Sandwich, the Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G is no slacker. Its Snapdragon S4 allows for smooth and fast performance, and battery life is none too shabby. Sure, the 4-inch WVGA display isn't tops and the camera is underwhelming, but $150 doesn't buy you the stars. What it should buy you is a comfortable, reasonably fast device that fits in well with your texting and photo-taking habits. If there wasn't a five-row QWERTY keyboard under the hood, our review would end on a higher note. But the fact that there is one naturally leads to some expectations about a better typing experience, and this device falls flat in that regard. If you want the extra set of keys, the Photon Q is a much better pick, and if you're open to going touchscreen-only, T-Mobile has plenty of superior devices -- even within the Galaxy S lineup. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google's Niantic Labs launches Field Trip app for Android, helps the working world play hooky Posted: 27 Sep 2012 10:56 AM PDT While Apple struggles to figure out how to help its users find their way, the mapping experts at Google have just launched a way to get folks to diverge a bit from their given path. Field Trip, released for Android by Google-owned Niantic Labs, runs in the background on your Android handset, eagerly waiting for you to get near a point of interest. Once that happens, it leaps into action, showing you a card for one of thousands of cool locations -- historic spots, museums, restaurants and the like. Google's partnered with a bunch of taste makers for the project, including Flavorpill, Cool Hunting and its own Zagat, to get things done. You can vote choices up and down, change the frequency of pop ups and post your findings to Twitter, Facebook and that one Plus social network. There's also a driving mode serves as an auditory tour guide when you're behind the wheel. The app's available now as a free download in Play. The iOS version, on the other hand, is coming soon. Psst... yes, it appears to be US-only for now. Bah, humbug.
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| Samsung asks us to witness 'The Next Big Thing' at an October 24th event in New York City Posted: 27 Sep 2012 10:47 AM PDT We're starting to suspect that Samsung has a thing for special events. The company just asked us to clear our calendars for an evening presentation in New York City on October 24th, teasing that the "Next Big Thing" has arrived. It's easy to make the connection to the Galaxy Note line with a stylus front and center in the teaser, although just what's entailed is left to the imagination: is it a more formal launch for American Galaxy Note II variants? A new tablet beyond the Galaxy Note 10.1? All we know is that we plan to be there to find out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bank of America testing QR Code scanning mobile payment system in North Carolina Posted: 27 Sep 2012 10:20 AM PDT Mobile payment is still a bit of a wild west at the moment, and seemingly every technological and financial institution has a dog in this fight. Bank of America's not going to just sit idly by and watch it all unfold. The US's second largest bank has flirted with NFC in the past and is currently doing trials with QR scanning in Charlotte, North Carolina, where it's based. At present, five sellers in the area are taking part in the pilot program, with bank employees given access to the technology. The three-month trial is the result of a partnership with mobile payment company Paydiant, is compatible with Android handsets and iPhones, no NFC needed, naturally. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASUS Transformer Prime TF201 gets Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:51 AM PDT The folks from ASUS gave North American Transformer Pad Prime and Infinity owners a tease yesterday, telling them that the TF201 and TF700 models would receive an update to Android 4.1 within the next three days. Today, the Tawianese firm's made good on half its promise, delivering Jelly Bean to the Prime OTA. We confirmed that the update is rolling out, as our in-house TF201 has, indeed, been upgraded to version 4.1.1. Alas, Infinity owners are still sans their software goodies, but ASUS still has plenty of time left in that 72 hour window. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second-generation Razer Blade hands-on (update: video) Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:24 AM PDT Razer's second attempt at a gaming laptop is just as sleek as its first try, and even more powerful. The second-generation Razer Blade -- Razer Blade 2.0, we're calling it -- packs some serious hardware: an unannounced Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M graphics (a big step up from last year's GT 555M inclusion), 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3 RAM, a 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, and 64GB of solid state storage. All that hardware is stuffed in a nigh identical aluminum chassis to the first edition, with a 17.3-inch high def screen and the infamous multitouch LCD Switchblade interface (read: that bizarre little touch screen built into the keyboard). And all this for the low, low price of ... nearly $2,500. Yikes. For the savvy, independently wealthy gamer on the go, however, little else on the market compares to Razer's Blade laptop. The second generation focuses on beefing up the tech specs from last year, and that's immediately apparent with the inclusion of the Kepler-grade GTX 660M. Not much else is changed in the hardware department otherwise, with the exception of the USB slots all being upgraded to 3.0 -- the same LCD touch panel display sits on the right side of the keyboard, and its been bolstered with a new software suite. As we put it in our review of the previous model, the second gen Blade is sexy (clichés be damned). At just .88-inches tall and a touch over 6.6 pounds, it's by far the lightest gaming laptop out there. The sleek finish is reminiscent of a devilish, gaming-inspired MacBook Pro (the canned 17-inch model, that is), and the touchpad is just as responsive and natural feeling as those on Apple's wares. We'll need to put it through its paces to see how it stacks up benchmark-wise against comparable units (Alienware's m17x, or Asus' gaming laptops), but from our time with it so far, it's another step in the right direction from Razer. This video states the Razer Blade is two-inches tall, when it is in fact .88-inches tall. Please excuse us. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caption Contest: Eric Schmidt does 'Gangnam Style' with PSY Posted: 27 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT Did you honestly think Eric Schmidt went all the way to Seoul just to launch the Nexus 7 for South Korea, hang out with Samsung's JK Shin and moan about the patent war with Apple? Of course not. The Google chairman also found some time to learn the legendary "invisible horse" dance with PSY, the charismatic oppa in the Korean chart-topper Gangnam Style. While Google Korea was happy to supply a few photos, the only video we could dig up was a surprisingly short one hosted by Daum -- it's embedded right after the break. Brian: "Man, not being the CEO of a multinational corporation sure is hard work." Terrence: "I see you are a fellow disciple of the Carlton Banks school of dance." Don: "Gangnam Style, 2012-2012." Billy: "This song is really about the time I set my socks on fire. I see you still have yours. One moment." Edgar: "Hm... I think we forgot the horse." Richard Lai: "OK Eric, now let's do the elevator scene." Dan: "Doenjang Girls, would you like to buy a Nexus 7? It's wayyy more expensive than a latté." Darren: "Soooo glad this guy put this video on YouTube and not Vimeo. $$$$$$$$" Jon Fingas: "Oppan Google sty-- no, even I can't go that far."
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GNOME 3.6 arrives with new notifications and improved accessibility support Posted: 27 Sep 2012 08:41 AM PDT GNOME 3.6 Released: Evolution in the Making Groton, MA, October 2, 2012: The GNOME project is happy to announce the release of GNOME 3.6, the third update to GNOME 3.0, originally released in April 2011. This release of GNOME 3 is the outcome of six months of development effort, resulting in major new features, updated applications, and significant refinements in the user experience. It is evolution in the making. "The GNOME Foundation is proud to present this latest GNOME release, and I would like to congratulate the GNOME community on its achievement", said Andreas Nilsson, President of the GNOME Foundation. "I am especially happy about our advancements in accessibility and internationalization with this release. GNOME 3.6 is an important milestone in our mission to bring a free and open computing environment to everyone." The new version of GNOME 3 will be included in the upcoming releases of partner distributions. "We are excited by the new features in this latest GNOME release, as well as the overall improvement in quality that has been achieved", said Robyn Bergeron, Fedora Project Leader. "I am confident that Fedora users will enjoy an enhanced experience as a result of the work done by the GNOME community. This new GNOME release includes important new features, like improved accessibility support, the new Boxes application and extended Online Accounts integration. The GNOME community has done a great job for 3.6, and I encourage them to maintain the rapid pace of development that we have witnessed in recent releases." The latest version of GNOME 3 was made possible by the ongoing investment in the GNOME project by its partners. Robert McQueen, CTO & Co-Founder of Open Source consultancy Collabora, said: "Collabora is pleased to see the continuing evolution of GNOME with each release raising the bar on usability and quality. GNOME's focus on tight integration moves it closer to the vision of a modern, powerful, and easy-to-use desktop. We remain committed to the GNOME project and its community." GNOME 3.6 has also been receiving praise from well-known figures in the Free Software world. "GNOME 3.6 provides a stronger, easier to use foundation for the enterprise desktop", said Michael Meeks, Distinguished Engineer, SUSE, "I love the intense polish, bug fixing, attention to detail, and particularly LibreOffice's improved look with the new gtk+ theme". The new features presented in GNOME 3.6 include a revamped notification system, updated Activities Overview, improved Accessibility support, integrated input sources for using different languages, and enhanced Files and Web applications. It also includes general improvements to the GNOME 3 user experience as well as many smaller enhancements and bug fixes. With 3.6, the GNOME Project continues its focus on improving the GNOME 3 user experience with each release. Ensuring that all users can take advantage of GNOME 3 is a major focus for the latest GNOME release. New advancements in accessibility support and an integrated input methods system mean that everyone will be able to use GNOME, regardless of their physical abilities or languages. You can find out more about the changes that are included in GNOME 3.6 in the release notes, which were made available today. GNOME was started in 1997 by two then-university students, Miguel de Icaza and Federico Mena Quintero. Their aim: to produce a free (as in freedom) desktop environment. Since then, GNOME has grown into a hugely successful enterprise. Used by millions of people around the world, it is the most popular environment for GNU/Linux and UNIX-type operating systems. GNOME's software has been utilised in successful, large-scale enterprise and public deployments, and the project's developer technologies are utilised in a large number of popular mobile devices. The GNOME community is made up of hundreds of contributors from all over the world, many of whom are volunteers. This community is supported by the GNOME Foundation, an independent non-profit organization that provides financial, organizational and legal assistance. The Foundation is a democratic institution that is directed by its members, who are all active GNOME contributors. GNOME and its Foundation works to promote software freedom through the creation of innovative, accessible, and beautiful user experiences. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nexus 7 comes to South Korea, causes price envy across the water Posted: 27 Sep 2012 08:17 AM PDT If Google-lovin' Koreans were a little jealous after seeing Eric Schmidt turn up in Japan with a Nexus 7-shaped gift under his arm, they needn't be. It looks like the Executive Chairman brought another one along with him on his Asian travels. It wasn't just the hardware that came along for the ride either, with The Next Web reporting that the firm also made movies available in the countries edition of Google Play. The Korean asking price will be a reported KRW 299,000 (about $267) for the 16GB edition, a smidgen less than its neighbor's (¥19,800 / $312). We suspect, though, not quite enough to warrant a ferry ride. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google's Eric Schmidt slams patent wars, still has nice things to say about Apple and Samsung Posted: 27 Sep 2012 07:49 AM PDT Eric Schmidt's recent trip to Seoul wasn't all spontaneous Gangnam dancing. Google's former-CEO / current executive chair had a lot to say during the Korean launch of the company's Nexus 7 tablet, bemoaning the patent wars that have ensnarled the industry, telling the crowd, "literally patent wars prevent choice, prevent innovation and I think that is very bad. We are obviously working through that and trying to make sure we stay on the right side of these issues." The war for marketshare ought to be fought with the release of better products, rather legal maneuvering, according to the executive. But in spite of Apple's role in the battle -- and the company's decision to go it alone on products like its troubled Maps app -- Schmidt still had kind words for Cupertino, calling the company "a very good partner," and adding that the, "two companies are literally talking all the time about everything." The exec also told the crowd that he'd be meeting with Samsung, one of the company's "most important partners," during the trip, "as I do every time I come here." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zeebox second screen TV companion app crosses over to the US, with a boost from Comcast and HBO Posted: 27 Sep 2012 07:46 AM PDT While it seems like every network is rolling out its own personal second screen app for tablets and / or phones, over in the UK zeebox has been trying to corner the experience across channels and providers with its app. Available as an app for iOS and Android and also on the web, it brings a customized TV guide, live chat, social network sharing and remote control features to the TV experience, and now it's come to the US. Other than the typical second screen experience, its main hook is an "OpenBox" API and tags that allow content providers to customize the experience for their viewers... and then sell them stuff like video on-demand or related merchandise. On this side of the Atlantic zeebox has secured backing from Comcast / NBC Universal, giving it financial and promotional support as well as covering more than 30 networks right away. It also means it can eventually act as a remote control for Comcast users, which may be an advantage over competition like Miso, GetGlue and IntoNow, and can flex its muscles paired with hundreds of shows like The Voice, Notre Dame football and HBO content like True Blood. Out of the box, the app's social ties and careful metering may be a programmer's dream as it monitors who is watching what live, but we'll have to see more of the second screen content come to life if it's going to catch on socially. A customizable guide (yes, you can hide or reorder channels at will) is a nice touch and so is being able to see what your friends are viewing with Facebook Open Graph and Twitter hooks -- but only if they're actually using it. If you want to check it out, the free apps are linked below and the full press release follows after the break. zeebox Makes U.S. Debut with Game-changing TV Companion Experience; Launches for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android and the Web New York; September 27, 2012- zeebox, the premier TV viewing companion, today launched its highly anticipated experience in the U.S. in partnership with many of the most influential media companies in television. In an unprecedented alliance, Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, HBO & Cinemax are all teaming with zeebox in a first-of-its-kind endorsement of a universal, cross-channel TV viewing companion app for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, and the Web. This marks an important beginning, with further partners expected to be invited in due course. zeebox's cloud-based app recognizes the context of what its users are watching and enhances the viewing experience with relevant content and experiences from across the Web, TV programmers, social networks and advertisers. Viewers can engage with their favorite television personalities directly through zeebox and even buy the products they see on TV. zeebox also automatically displays more in-depth information about the programs as viewers are watching. Through their strategic partnerships, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal are taking the lead in the TV viewing companion app market by bringing their customers and tens of millions of viewers across hundreds of channels. "We are proud to launch with this game-changing roster of partners who recognize the importance of fully meeting web-empowered consumer expectations," said Ernesto Schmitt, CEO and co-founder of zeebox. "As consumers continue to flock to social media and the web to experience a program beyond what is on the screen, zeebox gives content owners and programmers a direct line of communication, feedback and engagement that has never before been possible." As strategic launch partners, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal are backing zeebox with investments and promotional support, and are preparing to enhance hundreds of their top TV shows on zeebox, including the likes of The Voice and Notre Dame Football. zeebox's revolutionary OpenBox API allows content owners to enhance their shows and channels on the zeebox app in a matter of hours, distributing exclusive content to consumers, connecting directly with fans through live interactions and social engagement, and monetizing the second screen alongside TV commercials through synchronized, targeted, relevant advertising and affiliate links. HBO is the exclusive premiere network partner of zeebox, bringing highly acclaimed and award-winning programming such as Boardwalk Empire and True Blood to the social discovery platform as well as originals like Strike Back from sister network, Cinemax. "We're excited to team with zeebox on their US launch" said Steve Burke, CEO of NBCUniversal. "As the Olympics demonstrated, the second screen experience has become an increasingly important platform to engage audiences. We think the zeebox technology presents tremendous opportunities for our viewers and our advertisers" Said Neil Smit, CEO of Comcast Cable, "zeebox is a really compelling second-screen companion viewing platform, and we're excited to join such a strong group of industry partners in its launch. zeebox will offer a unique nationwide TV companion experience that will make viewing live TV more engaging, compelling and fun." "Our audiences have demonstrated a clear commitment to connecting with HBO and Cinemax programming on a deeper level," said Eric Kessler, HBO Co-President. "zeebox offers a unique, comprehensive platform that drives discovery, engagement and conversation around our most beloved programs and stars." zeebox launches with features including: - A comprehensive 7-day TV program guide across all major US TV channels, enabling the configuration of customized channel line ups and booking of future TV show reminders - Integration with Facebook and Twitter to enable social discovery of TV content, and engagement with friends and celebrities across live TV - In-depth information about shows, talent, topics and products mentioned on TV – synchronized second by second with the live show - Ecommerce links to relevant digital and physical products related to shows and the content of shows, with direct links to VOD content to come in the near future - Optimized for the new iPhone 5, four-inch Retina display and on iOS 6 including Smart App downloads within zeebox and Facebook single sign on The zeebox app is available for free from the App Store on IPhone, iPad, and iPod touch or at | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google Play services arrives for Android 2.2 and above, the eager can download directly Posted: 27 Sep 2012 07:22 AM PDT Google recently announced to developers the availability of a new "Services" platform, to allow better integration of its core products in 3rd party apps. The update comes in the form of an APK that will automatically find its way to handsets with Android 2.2 and above. But, for the impatient amongst you, it's available for download directly from the Play store now. This first release centers around better integration for Google+ (for account sign-in / Plus buttons etc) and providing OAuth 2.0 functionality, but it's expected that deeper functionality with the Google universe will take root soon. Most handily, as Mountain View decided to deliver this in the form of an app / APK, there's no pesky waiting around for networks to get it to you. Read up on the benefits via the more coverage links, or head to the source to make sure you're on-board. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Venturi announces 300HP, €300K America all-terrain EV, coming in 2014 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:52 AM PDT If you feel the need to rapidly hit the great outdoors without despoiling it, Venturi just may have your ride -- provided you have about $400,000 to spare. The company just launched the America EV at the Paris Auto Show, packing a 300HP powerplant, 53 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and projected 200 mile range to go along with the breathtaking price tag. Venturi's touting the car as more than just a smooth pavement flyer though, saying that it has a go-anywhere attitude with its high stance, generous clearance and tough carbon-fiber chassis. Still, if you want to go fast, the car can hit a top speed of 120 mph, and once you've burned off all the volts, can be fast charged in four hours, or ten from a 230V socket. Despite its off-road gumption, the rear-driver has considerable competition for sports EV dollars -- and a smooth road to its 2014 availability target is no given. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dish Network launches nationwide satellite broadband service with ViaSat, Hughes, calls it dishNET Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:41 AM PDT Dish Network's long-gestating tie-up with ViaSat and Hughes has finally arrived under the name dishNET. Sounding like an implement you'd use to clean dirty dinner plates, the nationwide satellite broadband service launches from October 1st, targeting customers in rural areas that are underserved with fixed line gear. $40 a month gets you 5 Mbps down / 1Mbps up with a 10GB data cap, while subscribers can get a $10 discount if they pick up a TV package at the same time. We asked the company if this was related to the service based upon its spectrum purchases that was hinted at back in August, and it confirmed this is just leveraging ViaSat Exede and HughesNet. DISH Launches dishNET Broadband, Bringing High-Speed Internet to Rural Americans with Slow or No Access New high-speed Internet brand offers affordable satellite Internet service nationwide starting at $39.99 ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 27, 2012 – DISH (NASDAQ: DISH), a leading national provider of satellite TV, is expanding the availability of its broadband service with the launch of dishNET, a high-speed Internet service via satellite nationwide. Available Oct. 1, dishNET offers customers the convenience of one bill, one installation, one customer service number and a $10 monthly discount when bundled with DISH's most popular TV programming packages Ideal for rural residents underserved, or unserved, by wireline broadband, dishNET offers 4G-level speeds that are about 50 percent faster than the typical residential broadband connections in American homes. The affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service starts at $39.99 per month and is available with next–day installation. DISH's CEO Joseph Clayton is unveiling dishNET today at the flagship Cowboy Maloney's Electric City retail store in Jackson, Miss., the historic retail launch site of digital satellite TV and satellite radio services. "Today, we are launching a revolutionary consumer broadband service that delivers high-speed Internet available in metropolitan areas to rural markets nationwide," Clayton said. "With nearly one-in-four rural residents lacking a high-speed connection, reaching these underserved markets is vital. Our mission is to provide broadband at an outstanding value with fast speeds and large data plans." In Aug. 2012, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reported 19 million Americans lack access to high-speed Internet, including 14.5 million who live in rural regions. The FCC highlighted that 23.7 percent of rural residents lack broadband access. The dishNET satellite service offers rural residents download speeds up to 10 Mbps. These speeds are fast enough for typical Internet applications, including social media, telecommuting, music streaming, online video streaming and even Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. "Many unserved and underserved markets are years away from a telco or cable broadband build out, but dishNET is available today," said Brian McIntyre, vice president of Broadband at DISH. "These services will have powerful, positive impacts for kids, educators, businesses, farmers and families -- no matter how far out of town they may choose to live." Living in the Jackson area, the first official dishNET family got a preview of the new service. Jeff Thigpen, father of five and a high school athletic director in Ridgeland, Miss., is now trying dishNET Internet and DISH TV service with the Hopper™ Whole-Home HD DVR. "We no longer have to worry about tethering a cell phone to our home computer to get on the Internet," said Thigpen. "Since my girls are required to do much of their high school homework online, dishNET will help them move much faster when submitting school work. In fact, one of my daughters says it's as fast as working on the computers at school." The dishNET brand leverages advanced technology and high-powered satellites launched from Hughes and ViaSat to provide broadband coverage nationwide. DISH will tailor its service to suit a customer's needs, location and budget. All services are sold, installed, billed and supported by DISH under the dishNET brand. Pricing, Packaging and Availability In rural and outlying suburban regions nationwide, dishNET satellite broadband starts at $39.99 per month (plus equipment fees) for 5 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload speeds and data plans of 10 GB, when bundled with DISH's popular America's Top 120™ or higher programming packages and with a two-year agreement. Combining dishNET with DISH TV saves $10 per month. Most satellite customers can upgrade to a 10 Mbps /1 Mbps plan available with 20 GB of data for $49.99 per month. Satellite broadband service includes five @dishNET.com email accounts, each with 2 GB of storage and an easy-to-configure online mail portal that combines web search, news, entertainment and weather updates. Installation is free for new and existing DISH TV customers when dishNET is bundled with DISH's television programming and $99 when ordered as a stand-alone service. Existing DISH satellite Internet customers can upgrade to the 5 Mbps or 10 Mbps speeds for $199.99. In addition to satellite Internet service, DISH's own competitive local exchange carrier will also fold its wireline broadband service into the dishNET brand. Urban and suburban residents living in a 14-state region and access high-speed Internet with 7 Mbps starts at $29.95 per month. Upgrade to 12 Mbps service for an additional $5 per month or 20 Mbps for an additional $10 per month. This service is available in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nissan Terra concept takes you and your fuel cell off the beaten path Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:23 AM PDT Your average fuel cell powered car is something like the Mercedes B Class F-Cell: tiny, light and hugely efficient. Nissan is trying to break that rather restrictive preconception with its latest concept, the Terra. Like its cross-prefixed predecessor, the Xterra, and similarly quirky Juke, the Terra is designed to take the rougher road while cosseting its occupants in a particularly trick interior featuring both a dashboard that's actually a removable tablet. The idea is you can take it inside and keep tabs on your car, but we wonder what happens when you leave it sitting by the bed as you groggily stagger out to your vehicle in the morning. Impractical concept car interior design decisions aside, the machine is powered by a trio of electric motors (yes, three) driving all four wheels and receiving their power from Nissan's latest hydrogen-powered fuel cell. Nissan says this unit costs just one sixth that of its predecessor, but presumably such a system has a long way to go before it can be placed in a reasonably priced machine. No word on what this might cost -- if indeed it ever goes into production. This one, we think, isn't too likely. Steve Dent contributed to this post. ZERO EMISSIONS, ZERO LIMITS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget visits Nokia House wrap-up: Stephen Elop Q&A, Lumia 920 camera tests and more Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT It's been a whirlwind week of all things Nokia for our Engadget crew here in Helsinki, Finland. With a (nearly) all access pass to the company's glass House in Espoo, we brought you a very candid, very live Q&A with CEO Stephen Elop -- recorded for posterity with the Lumia 920 -- as well as in-depth proofs of that handset's game-changing rear camera module. From side-by-side low light comparison shots with other leading smartphones to optical image stabilization tests and even a peek behind the Finnish outfit's R&D practices, we've got it all. So, if you haven't had time to catch up with this flurry of pre-launch news from behind the velvet rope, now's your chance. Just click on past the break for the full recap.
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| US pricing leaks for incoming Xbox Music service Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:43 AM PDT Following those British-based leaks yesterday, a second mole has now offered us a glimpse at Xbox Music pricing across the Atlantic. It looks like the Zune successor will offer a longer 30-day free trial, alongside $10 per-month and $100 annual subscriptions. Surprise -- looks like Americans are getting a better deal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steam for Linux entering private beta in October for just 1,000 users Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:29 AM PDT Next month, Valve is inviting 1,000 fortunate gamers to take part in the first external beta test of Steam for Linux. The trial includes the service itself and one game (which we're taking to be Left 4 Dead 2) that'll run on systems running Ubuntu 12.04 and above. Users won't get their hands on any other Valve titles, or Big Picture Mode, and the company is asking that only experienced Linux users get in touch -- novices are politely asked to wait for a subsequent release. It'll offer up details of how to sign up shortly, and given the love for the Valve's other products, we suspect it'll be a little oversubscribed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Production-ready Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive supercar unveiled Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:05 AM PDT We're pretty sure we've suffered some amount of vision loss from staring at the ridiculously bright paint scheme on Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell over the past few years. MB has rolled it out at virtually every auto show it can and we've always stopped for a gander, but now we finally have the full production version -- and it's in a slightly more tame but visually perhaps even more stunning color, a sort of chrome blue that even in the flesh looks CG rendered. It's the SLS AMG Electric Drive, it's launching next June and we have the full details after the break. Those numbers are all incredible, but Mercedes finally unveiled two other massively important bits of information: price and date. The car will finally go into production soon ahead of a release in June 2013 and will cost -- you might want to sit down -- a whopping $500,000. That's more than twice the cost of the gas-powered version. Worth it? How big is your discretionary fund? If it's big enough, you can place an order for yours today. Steve Dent contributed to this post. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BMW i3 sheds its skin, shows off carbon skeleton Posted: 27 Sep 2012 04:46 AM PDT  Want to know how the BMW i3 electric car can be so light (2,800 pounds) despite hauling around a massively heavy battery pack? A lot of it has to do with its carbon chassis. BMW uses something called CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) to create a material that is light, strong and, crucially, cheap enough to actually be used in production. The car is still on track for its 2013 release, where it will be sold out of posh i Stores like the one recently opened in London. Steve Dent contributed to this post. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple files patent application for 'intelligent automated assistant,' sounds like Siri Posted: 27 Sep 2012 04:22 AM PDT Siri's managed to make it into several Apple devices now, so it doesn't shock us to spy the company's attempt to patent the polite (somewhat frosty) tones of its voice navigation system. A pretty deep patent application filed today describes an "intelligent Automated Assistant," with the claims describing an application that is guided through the user's speech -- and all wrapped in a "conversational interface." So far, so Siri. The filing elaborates on Apple's earlier filings, explaining how this digital assistant furthers the users' demands with additional requests for speech-based information -- hopefully resulting in that map location or a movie booking you were after. This "user intent" is then put to use, launching an additional app or performing the specified function, while non-speech input (presumably like the ability to correct your requests in text form) get a brief mention. We do get plenty of description on commands though, with some pretty thorough response tables and examples of "anchor text" -- something that the automated assistant tries to pluck from your ramblings in order to make sense of them. The full version resides at the source below, if you're looking for 51 verbose pages explaining Siri's inner workings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FCC chairman green-lights AT&T's use of WCS spectrum for LTE with proposed order Posted: 27 Sep 2012 04:11 AM PDT AT&T is close to securing a major victory in its battle against the spectrum crunch. While it's not quite a done deal, FCC chairman Genachowski has submitted a proposed order to FCC commissioners that would authorize AT&T's deployment of its LTE service within a 20MHz portion of the 2.3GHz (WCS) band. The deal is unique in that the spectrum is currently reserved for satellite radio, and the reallocation would mark the first of its kind within the WCS band. As you may recall, AT&T previously conceded to a 5MHz dead zone on both ends of Sirius XM's operating frequency in order to mitigate interference concerns, and it seems the move was sufficient to gain the chairman's support. Also looming on the FCC's to-do list is the decision of whether to approve AT&T's purchase NextWave and its unused WCS spectrum. If it's any indication, however, Chairman Genachowski seems bullish on the reallocation and has suggested that the agency may authorize another 30MHz of the WCS band for mobile broadband use. AT&T has previously said that it could feasibly deploy LTE over the 2.3GHz spectrum within the next three years. One group fighting the deal is the Competitive Carrier Association, which posits that AT&T's purchase of such a significant chunk of spectrum on the secondary market is anti-competitive in nature. It'll no doubt be interesting to see if the argument gains any traction with the FCC. In the meantime, you can view remarks from the agency's spokesperson after the break.
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| European Commission set to fine Microsoft over 2009 browser compliance breach Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:45 AM PDT The European Commission is planning to fine Microsoft for its failure to adhere to a 2009 ruling that required the software giant to offer customers a choice of default web browser. The EU Competition Commissioner, Joaquin Almuni, advised the press that a formal proceeding into the breach -- which Microsoft itself acknowledges -- has begun. Reuters reports that should Microsoft be found on the wrong side of the law, that the resulting fine could be as much as 10 percent of its global turnover. Whether the end sum would be as high as this remains to be seen, but given recent events, you can expected some hurried shuffling of paper in Redmond's accounts department. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia Lumia 920, 820 get official European prices, launching in November Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:34 AM PDT The optical nous of the Lumia 920 won't just be visiting Australia soon. Nokia has revealed that its Windows Phone 8 flagship will arrive in Europe priced at 649 euros ($836), while the Lumia 820 will arrive several hundred euros cheaper at 499 euros ($643). Both will arrive in Italy and Germany some time in November, although the company weren't pointing to any specific launch date just yet. Further east, Russian Nokia fans can already put in their preorder, with the devices there arriving at some point in Q4. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Nokia brings Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 in November to Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matrix One drops to $60, moves from impulse purchase to disposable tablet Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:33 AM PDT Well, the Matrix One isn't becoming any more attractive spec-wise as the days pass, but Direct Merchandise Marketing believes they can keep up with the low-priced big boys by under-cutting them even further. If a $90 retail sticker wasn't enough to convince you that the A8-powered ICS slab deserved your attention, maybe a drop to $60 will change your tune. The 7-inch WVGA tablet is now an impressively thrifty $59.99, though, after tax and shipping the total tops $70. Still, its impossible to deny its bargain value. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo concept is a plug-in shooting brake Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:15 AM PDT The shooting break -- basically a long and low sporty station wagon -- isn't exactly a huge hit in the United States, but in Europe Porsche is pushing that body style to a new level with the Sport Turismo. It's a concept of what it believes a future, hatchback version of its Panamera four-seater grand tourer might look like. But, look beyond the dramatic styling and distinctive LED headlights, and there's plenty of tech to be spotted. Details after the break. The Sport Turismo concept is a plug-in hybrid, battery pack living in the rear hatch and, unusually, exposed to the world through a glass panel that turns clear at the touch of a button. Porsche is actually showing off the battery pack, not hiding it like most. Fully charge the car and you can drive about 19 miles (30km) using only the 95 horsepower electric engine. But, when you're looking to drive a bit more spiritedly you'll want to also call in the 333 horsepower supercharged V6 that resides under the hood. The combined power of the two get you to 60 in under six seconds -- while delivering an estimated 67MPG. The interior is naturally pretty trick, too. Cameras built in the side mirrors pump their images to small displays flanking the digital tachometer. The center stack has been completely deleted, replaced by what looks like a tablet seated in between the seats. It isn't -- it's permanently affixed -- but using the touch interface you control the climate system, navigation and even control the traction control and power distribution of the whole thing. For those times when you want to control the car from the outside, a smartphone app will let you do things like schedule charging to get the cheapest rates, pre-condition the climate control to make sure it's warm or cool enough for you and even get directions back to your car should you forgot just where in long-term parking you left it. Sadly there's no app to tell us when, or if, the Sport Turismo might go into production, but with the Panamera already shipping around the world, and Porsche getting closer to releasing advanced hybrids like the 918 Spyder, a car like this could hit production very soon indeed. Steve Dent contributed to this post. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LG Display countersues Samsung over OLED patent infringement Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:02 AM PDT The strained relationship between the two tentpoles of Korea's tech industry is starting to wear, now that LG Display has counter-sued its local rival over OLED patents. Earlier this month, Samsung filed for an injunction accusing its frenemy of stealing secrets, but LG is claiming instead that it's the victim. If successful, Lucky Goldstar would seek a ban on devices including the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note on the pair's home turf -- so, yeah, this one looks like it's going to run and run. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ubuntu 13.04's final release slated for April, alpha to arrive in December Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:42 AM PDT Quantal Quetzal won't properly launch until October 18th, but a tentative timeline for Ubuntu 13.04 has already appeared on the horizon. Come December 1st, the as-of-yet unnamed version will hit its first alpha and transition into its second testing stage on February 7th. After touching the beta milestone on March 7th, the release is just a small stretch away from its proposed April 25th launch. If the wait feels entirely too long, you can spend time perusing potential pseudonyms for the OS at the more coverage link below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SensoGlove revamp brings automatic pressure check, stops us from strangling our golf swing Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:23 AM PDT Hand rookie golfers a driver and they'll frequently make the classic mistake of gripping the club as though their lives depend on it. A seasoned veteran knows that a little give and take might be needed, which is why Sensosolutions just updated its long-serving SensoGlove to better encourage a balanced hold. The new automatic sensitivity toggle will offer a recommended grip through the LCD based on how tightly the club has been held in the past; throttle the 9 iron often and you'll be asked to loosen up. Longer battery life is also in the cards versus the older model, although we're reaching out to determine how many more holes the glove will handle in one charge. No matter how you slice (or hook) it, the newer SensoGlove is shipping for $89 in versions for both hands and multiple sizes. SENSOGLOVE SHIPS NEW ADVANCED VERSION OF WORLD'S FIRST DIGITAL GOLF GLOVE New "Automatic Sensitivity Selection" Button Recommends Optimal Pressure Setting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung aims to become key player in digital content distribution through company buyouts Posted: 27 Sep 2012 01:57 AM PDT The writing has been on the wall ever since Samsung's acquisition of mSpot, but the Korean firm today confirmed to Reuters that it plans to join the ranks of Apple, Google and Amazon in the world of digital content distribution. Most importantly, it plans to do so through buyouts. Samsung executive Kang Tae-jin offered a rather frank overview of the company's ambitions, saying that it will grow Music Hub into one of the top four services in terms of revenue and subscribers within the next three years. According to Kang, the push isn't so much to tap a new source of revenue, but rather to drive hardware sales -- perhaps it sees Apple's rumored move into music streaming as a bit of a threat. That said, the announcement also dovetails with rumblings of Samsung's efforts to build a more self-sufficient software ecosystem. Whatever the true reason, we'd imagine that the folks at Pandora, Spotify and the like are now watching the phone a bit more intently. Wouldn't you? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chrome for Android update brings Google browser to Intel-powered smartphones Posted: 27 Sep 2012 01:42 AM PDT While the Motorola RAZR i hasn't yet hit stores, when it does, it'll now be able to tap into the Chrome Mobile app, following its latest update. We're putting the Intel-powered Android 4.0 phone through the review wringer right now, but have already noticed the lack of Chrome browser support. Due to the way Intel x86-based devices run apps, the browser required some adjustments, which are now complete. At the moment, the only existing phone that officially runs Android 4.0 on a Medfield processor is the incoming RAZR i, but now any future Intel smartphones will also get the full Chrome experience -- and Motorola gets to keep its promise of preinstalling the browser on its new devices. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foursquare rolls out iPhone 5 / iOS 6 update, Explore gains more personalization options Posted: 27 Sep 2012 01:32 AM PDT Foursquare is on an update tear. Aside from the "Always On" feature it introduced recently, the company just rolled out a new iPhone update that lets users create more personalized maps. Compatible with iOS 6, the update improves upon the existing Explore map with a more tailored search experience -- you can map out places you haven't been, top destinations, favorite spots, or where your friends have checked in. The app also promises to be faster and to have an improved design that takes advantage of the iPhone 5's larger screen. The new update certainly goes along with the company's philosophy that Foursquare is a discovery and recommendations engine rather than just another social service. Let's just hope the new Apple Maps doesn't hamper that experience. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lexus LF-CC Concept shows the future of touchscreen interiors Posted: 27 Sep 2012 01:13 AM PDT We're boots on the ground at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and Lexus is one of the first auto makers to roll out its concept hardware for the show. The company had a few machines to unveil, but the highlight is definitely the curvaceous LF-CC. It is, alas, just a concept that is intended more to show the future design direction of the company than give a clue into an actual production model to come, but more interesting is the clues this is hinting about both interior design and electrification on the powertrain front. Join us after the break for more details -- and more pictures. Driving the thing is an evolution of the a current Lexus powertrain, a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder paired up with Toyota's traditional parallel hybrid system, here tuned to deliver power as well as efficiency. Lexus officials didn't quote any power figures but based on the generously proportioned rear fenders, and a tradition of ballsy sedans from the company, we're guessing it won't be slow. And, with the hybrid system bolted on there, it should be reasonaby eco-conscious, too. Again, it's just a concept at this point so don't get your hopes up too high, but with any luck cars of the not-too-distant future will be wrapping their drivers and passengers in this kind of display technology. Steve Dent contributed to this report. WORLD PREMIERE OF THE LEXUS LF-CC CONCEPT CAR AT THE 2012 PARIS MOTOR SHOW Brussels, Belgium - Following the unveiling of Lexus' award-winning hybrid 2+2 sports coupe concept, the LF-LC at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show and its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show, a new, mid-sized coupe concept, the LF-CC makes its World Premiere at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. EXTERIOR DESIGN INTERIOR DESIGN ALL-NEW 2.5 LITRE FULL HYBRID POWERTRAIN LEXUS AT THE 2012 PARIS MOTOR SHOW Introduced by Paul Van der Burgh, Director Lexus Europe, the Lexus Press Conference will be held at 8.45 AM CET on September 27 (hall 4, stand 120). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nokia announces Australian carriers: Telstra gets the 920, Vodafone and Optus get the 820 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 12:52 AM PDT Nokia's started its world tour of local announcements in Australia, letting slip that the Lumia 920 is coming to Telstra's LTE network down under. Those with an eye on the cheaper Lumia 820 are in luck too, as it's going to be carried by both Vodafone and Optus Business. The Finnish phone maker added that a number of leading retailers would be selling both handsets, but declined to go into specifics there. Pricing and availability will be announced toward the end of October, giving us hope that everything's on schedule for a strong pre-Christmas launch. Australian operators and retailers on board with the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 Sydney, Australia – 27th September 2012. A number of operators and retailers today confirmed they will sell the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 in Australia. Telstra will add Nokia's flagship device, the Nokia Lumia 920, to its smartphone portfolio, while Vodafone and Optus Business customers will get the affordable and feature-rich Nokia Lumia 820. A number of leading retailers will also sell the new smartphones. Nokia Australia's managing director, Steve Lewis, said: "Operators and retailers are throwing their weight behind our new Nokia Lumia smartphones and we appreciate their continued support. "So many consumers and businesses have already made the switch to Nokia Lumia and with the new range, we believe many more will follow suit. "The industry tide is turning and that's good news for us, Microsoft and our partners," he said. The Nokia Lumia 920 is the first Nokia smartphone that supports Telstra's ultra-fast 4G network. It includes the latest advances in Nokia PureView imaging innovation such as floating lens technology. The camera takes in five times more light than competing smartphones without using flash so the user can capture clear, bright pictures and video indoors and at night. It also compensates for hand movement while the photo is being taken. The Nokia 920 comes with built-in wireless charging and boasts the most advanced, feature-rich location experience of any smartphone with the addition of augmented reality tool Nokia City Lens to Nokia Maps, and enhancements to Nokia Drive. The Nokia Lumia 820 is an affordable, mid-range smartphone that delivers high-end performance in a compact package. While the Nokia Lumia 820 has the same look and feel as the high-end Lumia smartphones, it comes with an exchangeable shell design. Exchangeable shells not only make it possible to select from a range of colours, but also to add wireless charging. Beneath the shell is room to insert a micro SD memory card. Both smartphones are compatible on all Australian networks including 4G and dual-carrier and come in a range of colours including yellow, red, grey, white and black. The pricing, availability and colour range for the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 will be announced at the end of October 2012. In conjunction with the launch, Nokia Lumia consumers will also be able to purchase a range of wireless Nokia accessories for use with NFC-enabled smartphones, thanks to partnerships with Monster and JBL: Nokia Purity Pro Wireless Stereo Headset by Monster – a high-definition over-ear stereo Bluetooth headset with active noise cancellation. NFC allows one-tap pairing to play and share music, plus the built-in Dolby Headphone technology inside Nokia Lumia devices creates a spacious sound when paired with the headset. There's also a Nokia Wireless Charging Plate and Stand where Nokia Lumia users can charge their device without having to plug it in. To purchase these Nokia accessories and more, head to https://nokia.mobilefulfilment.com.au/ Telstra customers can register their details to receive more information about Nokia Lumia 920 by heading online to: www.telstra.com.au/nokia. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verizon FiOS TV Media Server due in the coming months, delivers content to 3rd party devices Posted: 26 Sep 2012 11:41 PM PDT Fall is officially here and we're closing in on the final quarter of 2012, a time when products usually get real or fade into the vapor forever. One that we've been waiting to hear about just got a little more real as the Verizon Media Server (VMS), which Big Red teased last December and promised in 2012, got a little mention in the company's latest comments to the FCC. While attempting to persuade the FCC to standardize an IP content interface and delay the December 2012 deadline, Verizon revealed that the rollout of its new product will begin in the coming months. The full feature set of this server is still unknown, but one interesting feature is its ability to stream multiple high-def stream simultaneously to 3rd party devices connected to your home network. Of course without a industry wide streaming standard -- again, like Verizon is requesting the FCC to ratify -- who knows exactly what devices could be in the mix. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Telia scraps plans to charge extra for mobile VoIP in Sweden, hikes overall rates in compensation Posted: 26 Sep 2012 11:07 PM PDT Telia raised hackles in March when it proposed charging Swedish subscribers extra if they wanted to use voice over IP. On top of the net neutrality issues, the proposed price premium would have been a slap in the face to Skype, the country's homegrown VoIP pioneer. While Telia's Spanish subsidiary Yoigo has no problems with such a split, Telia itself must have had a change of heart: as of now, all regular plans will continue to treat internet telephony as just another set of data packets. Only a new, ultra-basic Telia Flex Bas plan excises the option. Unfortunately, most everyone will have to pay the price for equality -- new subscriptions will have their data plans "adjusted" to compensate for increasing data use, and those paying daily will see their maximum rates jump from 9 SEK ($1.40) to 19 SEK ($2.90). As painful as the price hike might sound, however, we'd still endure it to avoid carving the mobile internet into pieces. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google data center in Oklahoma to get 48MW of wind power, boost renewable energy in the Sooner state Posted: 26 Sep 2012 10:33 PM PDT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Huawei Ascend P1 LTE named as EE exclusive in UK, other markets to follow Posted: 26 Sep 2012 09:53 PM PDT If you'd wondered what Huawei might bring to the table for the launch of the UK's newly-minted 4G network, your time is up, as the Ascend P1 LTE has been revealed as a national exclusive for EE, with availability in other markets to follow. Like its forebear, the handset features Android 4.0 alongside a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU, a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display and an 8-megapixel camera, although as a nice surprise, it'll also come with a beefier 2,000mAh battery. There's no word yet on pricing for the latest entrant, although it seems a safe assumption that all will be revealed in rather short order. In the meantime, you'll find the remaining details in the PR after the break. Huawei Device Ramps Up 4G Innovation Full-speed ahead with the availability of the HUAWEI Ascend P1 LTE Vancouver, Canada, September 26, 2012: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, announced the availability of its ultra-fast 4G smartphone, the HUAWEI Ascend P1 LTE at the Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2012 in Vancouver, Canada. The HUAWEI Ascend P1 LTE will be available in the UK exclusively from EE, with availability in other markets to follow. At the event, Huawei also underscored its commitment to increase access to high-speed mobile experiences for more people around the world through strengthening their LTE product portfolio which includes many first-in-class LTE products such as the Huawei B593, the world's first LTE TDD wireless broadband router and the Huawei E398, the world's first triple-mode LTE modem. "LTE is the future of mobile communications, and faster data networks will become a key area of differentiation for consumers when choosing their mobile devices," said Kevin Ho, President of the Handset Product Line of Huawei Device. "Huawei is committed to LTE innovation throughout the entire communications infrastructure from the ground to the cloud. The availability of the HUAWEI Ascend P1 LTE is just one more way in which we are putting great technology into the hands of more people globally." Huawei Ascend P1 LTE is currently the device compatible with the highest number of frequency bands and is being tested on operators' networks across Europe, Latin America, North America, Asia-Pacific. Through Ascend P1 LTE, Huawei Device is helping operators to develop and expand their LTE user base. Since initiating LTE R&D efforts in 2004, Huawei has been a global leader in the development of LTE technology and has led the way in commercial LTE rollouts. Ultra-Fast Mobile Communication with the Ascend P1 LTE With its 2,000mAh Li-Polymer battery and powerful 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, the HUAWEI Ascend P1 LTE enables faster downloads at a data transmission rate of up to 100 Mbit/s that far outperforms HSDPA. Its ultra-low latency guarantees smooth video calls and online games. The Ascend P1 LTE, running the Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, is an entertainment dynamo with pace to burn. The 1GB RAM ensures smooth browsing and the 4GB ROM offers capacity for limitless apps from the Google Play™ Store. The HUAWEI Ascend P1 LTE also provides an array of multimedia features to delight photographers and movie-makers. Its 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash captures 30 images per second to preserve every memorable moment. The second-generation 10.9-cm (4.3-inch) Super AMOLED qHD display with scratchproof Corning® Gorilla® Glass2 provides enhanced stability and durability. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LG Optimus Vu II specs officially unveiled: new CPU, IR, stylus and 'One Key' accessory Posted: 26 Sep 2012 09:41 PM PDT Whether or not there's a 5-inch 4:3 aspect ratio spot in the world to fit LG's Optimus Vu is still up for debate, but the company is pressing on and has now officially revealed specs for its follow up, the Optimus Vu II. Matching the specs leaked previously the CPU is a Qualcomm MSM8960 that's a newer design than the previous one, but is still a dual-core chip clocked at 1.5GHz. The RAM has been doubled to 2GB, the battery is just a hair larger at 2,150mAh and it will come with Android 4.0 out of the box plus that integrated IR blaster and QRemote software to control your home theater. The VoLTE capability listed in the leak is here and accounted for, as well as a Rubberdium Pen 2.0 stylus with a thinner, more precise nub. One thing we hadn't heard about is its optional "One Key" accessory, a waterproof fob intended for your key ring that can be pressed to make your phone beep loudly if you need to find it, and light up blue or red to alert you when there are messages or if it has finished charging. The Optimus Vu II is priced at 966,900 won ($864) in Korea, though we'll have to wait for a US announcement to have any idea how much it will cost when it ships here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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