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- How to set up your Raspberry Pi to play Atari 2600 games
- Amazon breaks down its Kindle Paperwhite light technology (video)
- NPD: Android users chew an average 870MB of cellular data per month, youngest gobble the most
- T-Mobile leases 7,200 mobile towers to Crown Castle in a 28-year, $2.4 billion deal
- Insert Coin: The Parallella project dreams of $99 supercomputers
- Don't mind the zero-emissions Mercedes fuel-cell car behind the invisible curtain (eyes-on video)
- Editorial: Apple apologies actually aren't that infrequent, and that's okay
- AT&T 4G LTE adds Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Galaxy Express and Galaxy Rugby Pro to lineup
- Engadget Podcast 311 - 09.28.2012
- GreenGT H2 eyes-on: the first fuel cell-powered racer to tackle Le Mans
- Google offers up more high-res places in Maps / Earth, intros additional 45-degree imagery
- Distro Issue 59: Boston's DBC City Bike is putting a new spin on an old design
- Tim Cook apologizes for Maps mess
- Smart Forstars concept EV brings drive-in theater to a wall near you (video)
- John Rogers returns with a silicon-silk circuit that dissolves inside your body
- Neil Young's Pono music service wants to democratize high-quality audio (video)
- Build-a-bear's new store concept wants you to choose, love, stuff and fluff with high-tech (video)
- Sony Tablet S gets chunky update: better multi-tasking and IR, 'guest mode', new media apps (correction)
- Sony makes Olympus rescue pact official with $645 million investment
- Ibis hotels to have robots paint art while they track your sleep: no, that's not creepy at all (video)
- FAVI's $50 Streaming Stick adds apps, streaming services to any HDTV with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
- Google gives users an easy out, adds YouTube to Takeout data transfer tool
- NASA's Curiosity rover finds ancient streambed on Mars, evidence of 'vigorous' water flow
- Google adds CardDAV support to contacts for easier syncing with iOS and other third-party devices
- Sharp takes out $4.6 billion loan while it continues restructuring
- The Dark Knight Rises Blu-ray officially set for December 4th, limited edition Bat Cowl revealed (Update)
- ADATA's got an 8.9mm thick portable USB 3.0 drive, limbos under the competition by a millimeter
- ZTE Engage cleared to land at Cricket on October 2nd for $250
- NFL Network's Thursday Night Football Xtra app comes to Android
- Exagon Motors Furtive-eGT electric supercar eyes-on
- ZTE shows off new V98 Windows 8 slate, we go hands-on
- Kingston Digital SDXC cards arrive with lower price, larger capacities
- Moo.com working on NFC-equipped business cards, kicks off limited beta program today
- Simple.TV clarifies shipping dates, tells backers units will start arriving October 10th
- Samsung Galaxy Camera swings past the FCC with AT&T-capable 3G
- Mozilla Persona sign-in launches in beta, skips the social networking ball and chain (video)
- Cellcom to offer iPhone 5 for $149 and up starting Friday
- Facebook Messenger for BlackBerry reaches App World, sates compulsive chatters
- RIM: first BlackBerry 10 devices to focus on mid-range and up, entry-level may be ready in 2013
- Harman shows off its upcoming JBL docks and speakers, we go eyes-on
| How to set up your Raspberry Pi to play Atari 2600 games Posted: 28 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT So after your brain hurts a bit and you're tired of learning computer science on the Raspberry Pi, you might want to relax with a bit of nostalgia and exercise your thumbs with some retro gaming. Want to revisit your childhood memories of Pong? Ping away. Maybe your kids have been hounding you for a video game console but you don't have the $300 to spring for a PS3. The Pi can help you with this and help teach your kids something, to boot. After some slight software configurations and a hardware purchase or two, you can relive the days of the almighty Atari 2600. Catch us after the break and we'll show you how to get your Pi to play all your totally legal cartridge backups. Configuring your Pi to play video gamesGetting your Raspberry Pi to play Pong is actually quite simple. Through a quick set of commands and a few configuration steps, you'll be vaulted back in time and playing Atari on your tube. With that said, let's get to blastin' Asteroids! What you need to get started, hardware-wiseYou'll obviously need a few things to get your Atari 2600 nostalgia rockin' and rollin' so here's a list of hardware items to have:
Lastly, as a reference point, here's what we used to get our own setup up and running:
So, once you've rounded up your gear and have your Pi set up like so, let's get it configured. Also, while you're doing this, we recommend adding the song "2600 Refugee" by the Super 8 Bit Brothers to your playlist for some inspiration. Let's get started. Emulators and ROMsEssentially, since the Raspberry Pi is a fully functional Linux computer, what you're doing here is installing a piece of software called Stella. Through a bit of genius reverse engineering, Stella emulates an Atari 2600 video game console. That's great, but what about the games? Well, you're obviously not going to rig up a cable from your Raspberry Pi to an Atari cartridge through a bit of MacGyvering and then just start playing. So you can put that Swiss Army Knife down, because here we're going to use ROMs -- software backups of your physical Atari cartridges. That's awesome, so how do I get them? Well, the politically correct answer is that video game ROMs are completely illegal in the US, along with most other parts of the world. However, we aren't your parents and can't stop you from using Google. Piracy is bad, mmkay? There's also a bit of a grey area it seems if you already own the physical copy of the game and are making a personal backup. Consult your attorney regarding that. Hey, we aren't lawyers! With that said, let's get to chompin' ghosts, Pac-Man. Setting up the Atari 2600 EmulatorWhat we're going to do first is set up the Atari 2600 emulator Stella. In short, it's a top-notch emulator that runs reliably on the Pi. Audio, video and USB gamepads work smoothly -- always a major plus, we say. We're going to assume you've already got your Raspberry Pi up and running and have the LXDE Desktop Environment up and running like so: Open up an LXTerminal by double clicking the LXTerminal icon on your desktop and issue the following command on your keyboard: sudo apt-get install stella When prompted with the "Y/N" prompt, just hit Enter. And that's it! Stella is installed. Now let's get it configured. First, you'll need to have your ROMs, err legal backups, handy in a folder on your system. Again, how you get those ROMs there is entirely up to you. Execute Stella by typing "Stella" in your already open LXTerminal. On the initial run of Stella, you'll be asked to set up the location of your ROM directory as we previously mentioned. Go ahead and navigate to where your Atari 2600 ROMs are by using the mouse or the arrow keys on your keyboard. Once you've configured where your ROMs are located, you'll want to customize your controllers for playing games. First, click "Options" down at the bottom. Then, click on "Input Settings" and the "Devices & Ports" tab. Uncheck "Grab mouse in emulation mode" and "Use mouse as a controller" if you plan on using a gamepad. Now, click the "Emul. Events" tab. Time to map the joystick buttons. Start by clicking the P0 Joystick Up item, click "Map" and then press the button to represent "up" on your joystick. Be sure to do that for the rest of your buttons. Once you're happy with your settings, click "OK." Now it's time to have some fun. Select one of the ROMs from your list and double click on it. In our case, we'll be launching Pole Position. If all goes well, your game will load and you'll be off to the races. These graphics are amazing -- just think how far we've come since Checkers! You can hit Escape at any time to go back to your ROM list and choose another game. And that's a wrap, folks. You now have hours of Atari fun ahead of you. Atari is great, what about other systems?Though we'd love to bask in 8-bit NES nostalgia as well, the Raspberry Pi doesn't yet have an emulator that packs the full punch yet. We've tried fceultra and mednafen, two popular NES emulators, and they each deliver horrible sound quality. Also, the OpenGL support for these two apps needs some tweaking. Hopefully down the road someone will get to porting the code so that it runs a bit better on the Raspberry Pi. For now, though, we hope you like Atari. |
| Amazon breaks down its Kindle Paperwhite light technology (video) Posted: 28 Sep 2012 10:41 AM PDT Amazon's certainly not the first company to deliver an illuminated e-reader, but the mega-retailer's psyched about its new Kindle Paperwhite nonetheless, and after playing around with the device a bit, it's easy to see why. According to CEO Jeff Bezos, R&D's been working on the technology for years now, attempting to get the perfect balance of brightness and battery life, all while ensuring an even distribution across the display. How does it achieve this? We've heard the technology described as an optical cable laid flat across the display. The company goes into a bit more detail on the technology that powers the reader, via a few Beautiful Mind-esque shots in the video after the break. It'll give you something to do while you wait for your reader to ship early next month.
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| NPD: Android users chew an average 870MB of cellular data per month, youngest gobble the most Posted: 28 Sep 2012 10:12 AM PDT Ever wonder how much data you burn through every month on average? If you're an Android user within the US, odds are that it's quite a lot. The NPD Group estimates that Americans of the Google persuasion typically consume about 870MB of data on cellular networks every month. While it's not an extreme amount next to the 2.5GB of WiFi usage, it's enough to give anyone second thoughts about coasting on a basic data plan -- and a reflection of how both 4G and media apps have changed our behavior. Not surprisingly, it's a younger crowd more comfortable with smartphones that's the most aggressive: the 18-24 set races through 1.05GB a month where the 55-plus audience uses a more modest (if still healthy) 750MB. We don't yet know how iOS stacks up in current conditions, but the NPD is promising a comparable look soon. Something tells us the iPhone 5's LTE will lead to just as much voraciousness. |
| T-Mobile leases 7,200 mobile towers to Crown Castle in a 28-year, $2.4 billion deal Posted: 28 Sep 2012 09:44 AM PDT T-Mobile's just received a hefty cash boost thanks to a tower-leasing agreement it's entered into with Crown Castle. The deal leases 7,200 wireless towers to the infrastructure firm for a term of 28 years in exchange for $2.4 billion -- that T-Mobile's parent Deutsche Telekom will use to pay off debt. As part of the contract, Crown Castle can buy the towers outright when the deal ends in 2040 for a further $2.4 billion -- and is planning to make money by adding another tenant to T-Mobile's system, so depending on your carrier, you might find your coverage suddenly getting a lot better. CROWN CASTLE AND T-MOBILE USA ANNOUNCE $2.4 BILLION TOWER TRANSACTION Houston, Texas and Bellevue, Wash. - Sep. 28, 2012 - Urban-centric portfolio with 83% of the towers in top 100 US markets and 72% in top 50 US markets Strengthens T-Mobile's position within the US market by helping to support funding of previously announced growth initiatives T-Mobile to continue focus on network modernization, LTE launch in 2013 and other previously announced initiatives Crown Castle International Corp. (NYSE: CCI) and T-Mobile USA, Inc. ("T-Mobile"), a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, AG ("DT"), announced today that they have entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which Crown Castle will acquire rights to approximately 7,200 T-Mobile towers for $2.4 billion in cash at closing (subject to certain adjustments). Under the definitive agreements, Crown Castle will have the exclusive right to lease and operate the T-Mobile towers for a weighted average term of approximately 28 years. In addition, Crown Castle will have the option to purchase such towers at the end of the respective lease terms for aggregate option payments of approximately $2.4 billion, which payments, if exercised would be primarily between 2025 and 2048. The transaction is expected to close in fourth quarter 2012. "We are pleased to reach this mutually beneficial agreement with Crown Castle and take another step closer to realizing the bold vision outlined in our Challenger strategy to solidify our competitiveness in the industry by investing in areas where we anticipate the strongest return for our customers," said John Legere, Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile USA. "T-Mobile USA is working aggressively to make our 4G network stronger, faster and more dependable for consumers, and this transaction will support our ongoing $4 billion network modernization initiative that is the cornerstone of this effort as we work tirelessly to continue to deliver our amazing 4G services nationwide." "We are very pleased with our agreement with T-Mobile, which strengthens our position as the largest provider of shared wireless infrastructure in the US, which we believe is the largest, fastest growing and most profitable wireless market in the world," stated Ben Moreland, Crown Castle's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Consistent with our focus on the top 100 US markets, the T-Mobile towers are similarly well-located, with 83% of the towers in the top 100 markets and 72% located in the top 50 markets. The T-Mobile assets are expected to provide significant growth driven by the continued demand for wireless data services, particularly in the most densely populated areas in the US. While this transaction increases our tower count by approximately 33%, the transaction consideration represents only approximately 9% of our enterprise value. Further, we expect the impact from the contemplated transaction and related expected debt financing to be accretive to our 2013 adjusted funds from operations per share and approximately 5% accretive to our long-term adjusted funds from operations per share." Crown Castle expects to fund the transaction with cash on hand and debt financing. DT will use the proceeds from the transaction to retire corporate debt and strengthen its financial position to provide for funding of growth investments, including T-Mobile's Challenger strategy. Crown Castle estimates the T-Mobile towers will produce approximately $125 million to $130 million in adjusted funds from operations ("AFFO") before financing costs in 2013, and have sufficient capacity to accommodate at least one additional tenant per tower without significant incremental capital. T-Mobile has committed to maintain its communications facilities on the towers from Crown Castle for a minimum of 10 years with annual rent escalation provisions tied to the consumer price index. Further, T-Mobile's rent includes the rights, subject to certain limitations, to complete its current network modernization on these sites. It is expected that the net effect of this transaction, as reported under US GAAP, will not have a material impact to adjusted OIBDA or annual operating income in 2012 for T-Mobile USA. DT reports results under IFRS. The transaction is expected to result in a material gain impacting Net Income and EBITDA under IFRS for 2012. A fact sheet outlining Crown Castle's tower portfolio, is available on the Crown Castle website at http://investor.crowncastle.com. Crown Castle has scheduled a conference call for Friday, September 28, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the transaction. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 480-629-9645 and asking for the Crown Castle call at least 30 minutes prior to the start time. The conference call may also be accessed live over the Internet at http://investor.crowncastle.com. Any supplemental materials for the call will be posted on the Crown Castle website at http://investor.crowncastle.com. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available from 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time on September 28, 2012 through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 5, 2012, and may be accessed by dialing 303-590-3030 using access code 4567732. An audio archive will also be available on the company's website at http://investor.crowncastle.com shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately 90 days. T-Mobile is being advised by TAP Advisors and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as financial advisors, as well as Jones Day and Lape Mansfield & Nakasian, LLC as legal advisors. Crown Castle is being advised by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP as legal advisor. |
| Insert Coin: The Parallella project dreams of $99 supercomputers Posted: 28 Sep 2012 09:19 AM PDT In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Parallel computing is normally reserved for supercomputers way out of the reach of average users -- at least at the moment, anyway. Adapteva wants to challenge that with its Parallella project, designed to bring mouth-watering power to a board similar in size to the Raspberry Pi for as little as $99. It hopes to deliver up to 45GHz (in total) using its Epiphany multicore accelerators, that crucially, only chug 5 watts of juice under normal conditions. These goliath speeds currently mean high costs, which is why they need your funds to move out of the prototype stage and start cheap mass production. Specs for the board are as follows: a dual-core ARM A9 CPU running Ubuntu OS as standard, 1GB RAM, a microSD slot, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, Ethernet and a 16- or 64-core accelerator, with each core housing a 1GHz RISC processor, all linked "within a single shared memory architecture." An overriding theme of the Parallella project is the openness of the platform. When finalized, the full board design will be released, and each one will ship with free, open-source development tools and runtime libraries. In addition, full architecture and SDK documentation will be published online if-and-when the Kickstarter project reaches its funding goal of $750,000. That's pretty ambitious, but we're reminded of another crowd-funded venture which completely destroyed an even larger target. However, that sum will only be enough for Adapteva to produce the 16-core board, which reportedly hits 13GHz and 26 gigaflops, and is expected to set you back a measly $99. A speculative $3 million upper goal has been set for work to begin on the $199 64-core version, topping out at 45GHz and 90 gigaflops. Pledge options range from $99 to $5,000-plus, distinguished mainly by how soon you'll get your hands on one. Big spenders will also be the first to receive a 64-core board when they become available. Adapteva's Andreas Olofsson talks through the Parallella project in a video after the break, but if you're already sold on the tiny supercomputer, head over to the source link to contribute before the October 27th closing date.
Previous project update: Not long after covering the Impossible Instant Lab on Kickstarter, we ran into a prototype at Photokina and were mighty impressed. It's no surprise to us, then, that with 10 days still to go, its $250,000 goal has been met nearly twice over. |
| Don't mind the zero-emissions Mercedes fuel-cell car behind the invisible curtain (eyes-on video) Posted: 28 Sep 2012 08:51 AM PDT Mercedes wanted to make a dramatic statement about how its new B-Class F-Cell car passes through the environment without leaving a trace, so it placed it behind an invisible LED curtain. We wanted to (not?) see that for ourselves at the Paris Auto Show, so took a quick tour of the magic LED cloak and the technology behind it. It doesn't work quite as well in a show hall as it did when we first saw it in its natural habitat, but the system was still a fun way to show off Merc's green ambitions. It works by passing video from behind the car taken with a Sony video camera through a laptop to a 200 x 300 resolution LED curtain. That makes the car blend in with its background, which is what such a car would do in the real world as far as its emissions go -- apart from a little water, of course. See the video below for the complete technical explanation.
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| Editorial: Apple apologies actually aren't that infrequent, and that's okay Posted: 28 Sep 2012 08:28 AM PDT Today, Tim Cook made his first major apology as the CEO of Apple. It probably won't be his last. Despite the obvious knee-jerk reaction regarding the Maps debacle, it's actually interesting that this particular scenario is yet another example of humans having extraordinarily short-term memories. It's the same reason that whatever game we most recently saw is the "best or worst ever." (Packers v. Seahawks 09.24.2012, I'm looking at you.) In truth, Apple has a fairly solid history of ingesting pride in the iPhone era, when it surged headfirst into the realm of serving consumers in a way that it never had before. And moreover, hearing Cook apologize isn't something that should be mocked or berated; one can only hope that more companies of all shapes and sizes develop a policy of listening and reacting. Allow me to explain. You don't have to look too far back to remember the iPhone 4 -- specifically, the iPhone 4 "antennagate" issue. In that instance, Apple even went so far to hold a press conference to address the problem, and subsequently chewed through some $100 million in the Bumper resolution program. When the iPhone 4S launched, early adopters may remember the near-universal failure of the internet when it came time to place a pre-order. Like clockwork, Apple publicly stated the following: "Yesterday Apple and its carrier partners took pre-orders for more than 600,000 of Apple's new iPhone 4. It was the largest number of pre-orders Apple has ever taken in a single day and was far higher than we anticipated, resulting in many order and approval system malfunctions. Many customers were turned away or abandoned the process in frustration. We apologize to everyone who encountered difficulties, and hope that they will try again or visit an Apple or carrier store once the iPhone 4 is in stock." Sliding back a bit further in time, Apple also seemed fairly disappointed in itself when trying to ship out its flagship 27-inch Core i7 iMac in late 2009. In that instance, the following apology was issued: "The new iMac has been a huge hit and we are working hard to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience or delay this may cause our customers." While we're reliving the noughties, it's worth recalling that bungled .Mac to MobileMe transition, where Apple's MobileMe team publicly admitted that the switch was "a lot rockier than they had hoped," while "apologizing to [its] loyal customers and expressing [its] appreciation for their patience with a 30-day extension to MobileMe accounts free of charge." If you're willing to look all the way back to the launch of the original iPhone, there's this -- an apology straight from Steve Jobs himself, as well as a $100 credit due to its sudden price drop that caught many by surprise: "We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple." And if you're really convinced that -- at the very least -- this is the first time that Apple has admitted a wrong in the year 2012, allow me to bring you way back to the month of July. On the 13th day of that very month, Senior VP Bob Mansfield said the following about Apple's abrupt removal of its products from the EPEAT rating system: "We've recently heard from many loyal Apple customers who were disappointed to learn that we had removed our products from the EPEAT rating system. I recognize that this was a mistake. Starting today, all eligible Apple products are back on EPEAT." The point here isn't to apologize for Apple; I can say firsthand that the Maps in iOS 6 are inferior to the ones we're leaving behind, and need a lot of work in the near future. It's to prove that Apple actually has something of a track record for saying that it's sorry, and in the case of Maps, going so far as to recommend its chief rivals (Google and Nokia) by name as stop-gap alternatives. But beyond all that -- well beyond Apple -- is the greater point. It actually links directly back to a piece I wrote earlier in the week regarding the slow and spectacular death of customer service. We live in a world where it's now a surprise to hear of a company listening to its users, issuing an apology and vowing to make it better. We live in a world where it's now a surprise to hear of a company listening to its users, issuing an apology and vowing to make it better. There is something fundamentally wrong with that premise. Indeed, those very acts should be celebrated by all in the industry, even those who wish ill on Apple. What's the alternative? Wishing that monoliths like Apple would just bury their heads in the sand while doing nothing to improve the state of their products? If anything, I can only hope that the Maps apology ignites an industry-wide trend where even more apologies are issued -- heaven knows I see enough kit roll through our offices that could use one. As consumers, it's on us to remember these apologies and hold people like Tim Cook to his promise of making things better. And eventually, to vote with our wallets if said promises aren't kept. |
| AT&T 4G LTE adds Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Galaxy Express and Galaxy Rugby Pro to lineup Posted: 28 Sep 2012 08:24 AM PDT Of the four big US carriers, AT&T's always been a solid go-to for variety across its wireless product portfolio. And today, the operator's welcoming a gaggle of Android devices from Samsung to bolster its 4G LTE offerings. Headlining this galactic quartet is the Galaxy Note II, the company's 5.5-inch phablet sequel which, though previously announced, has yet to receive a solid ship date. Also sharing that spotlight is an actual tablet, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, and two new smartphones: the Galaxy Express and Galaxy Rugby Pro. While that latter handset is a mere update to the rugged, water-, shock- and dust-proof OG Rugby Smart, the Express is a fresh 4.5-inch ICS device that reps a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU and considerable 2,000mAh battery. All are said to be arriving within the "coming months" which, in non-PR garble, should translate to a pre-holiday release. Check out the official presser after the break. AT&T Continues To Build 4G LTE Android Portfolio With The Addition Of Three Smartphones And One Tablet From Samsung DALLAS, Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile)1 announced three new 4G LTE Android™ smartphones– Galaxy Express™, Galaxy Rugby Pro™ and the Galaxy Note® II – and one new 4G LTE Android tablet, Galaxy Tab® 2 (10.1), available in the coming months. Samsung Galaxy Express Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro Samsung Galaxy Note II Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1" AT&T customers have access to the nation's largest 4G network***, covering 275 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G network. All of these devices will be available from AT&T in the coming months. Samsung, Express, Note, Rugby Pro, Super AMOLED, Exynos, S Pen, and AllShare are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 1 Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012. Samsung Electronics Company is the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: Q2 2012. *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. **Waterproof against incidental exposure to water when all ports (incl. USB and earphone ports) are tightly closed. NOT designed or intended for in water use. Submersible up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Waterproof based on IP57 rating. ***4G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network. |
| Engadget Podcast 311 - 09.28.2012 Posted: 28 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT  It's been a long time, and we shouldn't have left you without a dope 'cast to Jam to, but we're back, inmates-running-the-asylum style, reporting on the bleeding edge of the future of the #3 mobile phone dominator position. In this rap-rock edition of the Engadget podcast we'll also tackle the age-old question: are magazines dead, or just in sleep mode? Hosts: Brian Heater 02:08 - Engadget Live: Join us at 4AM ET for an 'ask me anything' Q&A with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop!
Subscribe to the podcast Download the podcast This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| GreenGT H2 eyes-on: the first fuel cell-powered racer to tackle Le Mans Posted: 28 Sep 2012 07:23 AM PDT The 24 hour race at Le Mans held every year is among the most punishing automotive tests on the planet: race-bred machines running top-speed (or close) for a full day. Recently, gasoline-powered cars have had their dominance usurped by diesels, who themselves are now losing to hybrids. The next step? It could be EVs. The GreenGT H2 will take the grid of next year's 24 hour race as an experimental entry, driving the full race distance pushing only water vapor out its tailpipe. Hydrogen is stored in the two large tanks running down the sides, while the massive fuel cell stack itself is situated behind the driver. Power output is somewhere north of 500 horsepower, which is quite healthy for a car that the company hopes will be down under 1000Kg (2,200 pounds) by the time it hits the track in anger. Enough to win Le Mans? Almost certainly not, but it'll be fun to watch it try. Steve Dent contributed to this report. |
| Google offers up more high-res places in Maps / Earth, intros additional 45-degree imagery Posted: 28 Sep 2012 06:54 AM PDT Google's mapping offerings are getting a little bit better this week. The software giant's announced the addition of a slew of high-res aerial and satellite images for 17 cities and 112 countries / regions -- it's a long list, so your best bet is accessing the source link below to check out all of the offerings. Google's also adding 45-degree imagery in Maps for a total of 51 cities -- 37 in the US and 14 outside -- letting you check out the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the buildings of Madison, Wisconsin from an all new angle. Forget the plane tickets -- all you need for your next vacation is a browser and an overactive imagination. |
| Distro Issue 59: Boston's DBC City Bike is putting a new spin on an old design Posted: 28 Sep 2012 06:30 AM PDT As the summer comes to a close (as least north of the equator), temperatures are dropping and the leaves are beginning to change their hues. Leisurely strolls and bike rides that had become quite uncomfortable are options for relaxation once again. Speaking of bicycles, that's precisely where the cover story of this week's edition of our tablet mag focuses. Terrence O'Brien visits with Dan Sorger at his DBC City Bike workshop in Boston and discovers how -- with the help of designers, engineers, and medical professionals from institutions like MIT -- The Swift takes a beloved European-style bike and adapts it for American city dwellers. This week's "Hands-on" section circles the globe as we check in at the Tokyo Game Show and Nokia's HQ before returning in the States. On the review front, we put Sony's Xperia T and Xperia Tab as well as Vizio's all-in-one through their respective paces and offer our detailed impressions of each. Find yourself a spot on the porch and settle in before grabbing the latest issue via any of the options that lie down below. Distro Issue 59 PDF This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Tim Cook apologizes for Maps mess Posted: 28 Sep 2012 05:55 AM PDT Well, it's hardly a secret that customers are unhappy with Apple's new mapping solution in iOS 6. And, while the company has admitted that, perhaps, it's not quite up to snuff yet, it has played down Maps' flaws and urged customers to be patient. Today, in an open letter to the Apple faithful, Tim Cook struck a far more candid and conciliatory tone, apologizing for failing to deliver a "world-class" product. Cook went so far as to suggest that unhappy customers could check out offerings from competitors like Bing, MapQuest, Google and Nokia -- at least until Cupertino sorts this mess out. You'll find the complete text of the letter after the break. Update: You can read our editorial on Apple apologies since the launch of the iPhone here. To our customers, At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better. We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up. There are already more than 100 million iOS devices using the new Apple Maps, with more and more joining us every day. In just over a week, iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations. The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you. While we're improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app. Everything we do at Apple is aimed at making our products the best in the world. We know that you expect that from us, and we will keep working non-stop until Maps lives up to the same incredibly high standard. Tim Cook |
| Smart Forstars concept EV brings drive-in theater to a wall near you (video) Posted: 28 Sep 2012 05:46 AM PDT Auto show concept cars are all whizzy styling and impractical interiors, and Smart's latest offering, the Forstars EV at the Paris Auto Show, has all that in spades. But the stubby car has another show-stopping feature we'd love to see in production -- a projector installed right into the vehicle's grill. That would let you and a special friend pull the two-seater up to any white wall and beam the flick of your choice from an iPhone's bluetooth port, while blasting the audio through the sound system. Other friends not in the Forstars' confines would also get the sound from speakers located in the ventilation grills behind the doors. Once rolling, the concept Smart moves along with an 80 horsepower electric motor and 17.6 kWh battery, boasting 127 lb/ft of torque and an 80MPH top speed. Since the car's currently a one-off, don't get any ideas about heading to Lookout Point with a screen in tow -- but you can head to the video after the break to see how it works.
smart forstars: An amazing drive-in cinema experience smart is reaching for the stars. With the concept vehicle smart forstars the urban global brand is hitting the nerve of a target group that is at home in the cities of the world. The electrically driven smart forstars is an SUC (Sports Utility Coupé) with room for two people and plenty of stowage space. Its name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the glass roof above the passengers that gives a clear view of the starry sky. At the same time it hints at the witty idea of integrating a video projector in the front bonnet. This enables the work of film stars to be spontaneously shared with friends at any time. The smart forstars will be premiered at the Paris Motor Show 2012. The show in the trendy French capital is a local affair for smart as the brand's production facility is located in Hambach, Lorraine. The colour of the expressive coupé is also a reference to the venue of the world premiere. It is painted in the extravagant colour "alubeam rouge" that creates an appealing contrast to the matt metallic titanium colour of the tridion safety cell. And thanks to the 60 kW magneto-electric motor from the new smart BRABUS electric drive, the zero-emission smart forstars is agile and lively. smart boss Dr Annette Winkler says: "The smart is Europe's most inexpensive series-produced electric car. Not only is it emission-free and fast, it is also possible to conveniently set the perfect interior temperature in advance with a smartphone, and it is simple to charge at a domestic socket. What's more, with its powerful battery and integrated projector the smart forstars can transform any grey backyard into an animated open-air cinema." The compact smart forstars (length/width/height: 3550/1710/1505 mm) is therefore not only a mobility concept with ample space for two people and a generous cargo area under the glass tailgate, it is also a communication concept that needs no more than a free house wall for a spontaneous cinematic experience. The media player of the projector integrated in the front bonnet is operated via Bluetooth® from an iPhone®. A high-quality sound system with additional loudspeakers in the ventilation openings behind the doors enables the drive-in cinema experience to be perfected for friends as well. The exterior design: sassy and friendly with extremely short overhangs The smart forstars is immediately recognisable as a member of the smart family, yet it also boasts striking new features – and not only its silhouette offers a look at smart's future design idiom. It greets the viewer with a saucy smile on its friendly yet assertive face. The study has a longer wheelbase than the current smart fortwo (2470 mm/plus 603 mm) and a wider track (front 1475 mm/plus 193 mm, rear 1475 mm/plus 90 mm) and these also emphasise the confident look. At the same time the extremely short overhangs at the front and rear make it exceedingly compact. All four wheels have been positioned at the outer corners of the body – a typical smart feature. There is a convex glass coupé roof above the passengers' heads. It joins seamlessly with the glass cover over the cargo area which opens upwards. Like the smart for-us, the lower tailboard at the rear can also be opened electrically. To start with, the tailgate slides down in a parallel position, then the cargo floor including tailboard retracts by 280 mm. The cargo on the 900 mm cargo area is then extremely easy to access. Shiny black trims that continue below the side skirts draw attention to the wheel cutouts. The smart forstars rolls on Michelin sports tyres measuring 245/35 ZR 21. The wing nut covers of the three-spoke wheels are an attractive detail. The interior: stylish, uncomplicated and individual Sleek, taut surfaces in mother-of-pearl white combined with precisely designed technical functional elements in brushed aluminium – the interior is characterised by contrasts. The colour "alubeam rouge" that is also used as an accent colour in the interior creates a link to the exterior. Stylish, uncomplicated, highly functional and easy to individualise – the two seats in the concept car are typically smart. The seat shells, which are open in the middle, are covered with a soft fabric throw giving them a hammock-like seating feel. The graphic elements and different red tones of the covers indicate a progression and thus underline the dynamism and the very trendy aspect of the vehicle. As the covers can be removed in next to no time, simple individualisation with other throws is conceivable. Practical: when the seat cover on the passenger side is removed, long items can be loaded through the seat of the smart forstars. The seats are trimmed with high-quality white bag leather with exquisite white piping. Perforated leather in the door panelling forms a further sophisticated contrast and emphasises the high quality of the materials used. Like the smart forvision and the smart for-us, the whole cockpit boasts aerodynamic styling for interior ventilation. The control and display elements are oriented to the driver. Just as the cockpit module divides the instrument panel, the two-spoke steering wheel is open at the top. Electric drive – driving fun with zero local emissions The electric drive of the smart forstars is based on the innovative drive concept of the smart fortwo BRABUS electric drive. Compared to the production model of the smart electric drive the output of the magneto-electric motor has been increased to 60 kW, giving the smart forstars agile and lively performance. With 135 Newton metres of torque it boasts powerful, lag-free acceleration and can overtake other vehicles with the greatest of ease. The vehicle has a top speed of more than 130 km/h and the lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 17.6 kWh. |
| John Rogers returns with a silicon-silk circuit that dissolves inside your body Posted: 28 Sep 2012 05:16 AM PDT While you'd be forgiven for not knowing who John Rogers is, he's certainly graced these pages more than once. He's the research chief at the University of Illinois that's previously broken new ground in the world of invisibility cloaks and wearable technology. This time, his team has cooked up a silicon, magnesium, magnesium oxide and silk circuit that's designed to dissolve in the body in the same way that absorbable sutures are used in minor surgeries. It's thought that the tech could eventually be used to implant monitors that never need removal, reducing invasive medical procedures, or even build devices that eventually turn into compost rather than E-waste -- although we're not sure we'd appreciate our smartphone doing the same thing when we're making calls in the rain. [Image Credit: Fiorenzo Omenetto / Science] |
| Neil Young's Pono music service wants to democratize high-quality audio (video) Posted: 28 Sep 2012 04:34 AM PDT Neil Young isn't shy when it comes to embracing new technology, something he put beyond question with his latest appearance on The Late show with David Letterman. The artist took the opportunity to reveal plans for his high-fidelity Pono music service. The aim is to tackle the poor quality in which he believes most people receive their music these days -- the humble MP3. Young's offering would comprise a three-pronged approach, including a music store with high-resolution recordings, a digital-to-analog style conversion technology, and portable hardware to listen to it all with. The simple intention is to offer music as it was originally intended to be heard, but at this time there's no detail as to what this actually entails (sorry specification fans). According to Rolling Stone, the big three labels are interested, and the goal is to unify, rather than diversify, the quality of recorded content. The Pono players (that yellow wedge you see above) will serve up your existing catalog, but you'll likely need to re-buy some of your collection if you want the holistic experience. With no cards fully on the table, we're at the ransom of Young's celebrity endorsements, which all claim that the benefits are tangible. Young, of course, says "You can't get better than this, this is what they do in the studio," but until we get some details, or ears on, everybody knows this is nowhere. [Image credit:CBS]
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| Build-a-bear's new store concept wants you to choose, love, stuff and fluff with high-tech (video) Posted: 28 Sep 2012 03:47 AM PDT If little Johnny thought Build-a-Bear had nothing for his tech-savvy toddler sensibilities, he'd better think again. The plush toy-seller has just launched a new high-tech store concept that it hopes will help re-engage children otherwise distracted with tablets, phones and game consoles. The new additions include a 55-inch interactive digital sign out front, with touchscreen and Kinect functionality, complete with unlockable content via barcodes. Once inside, four Samsung SUR40 smart tables loaded with custom software offer a range of different parts of the teddy-making process, as well as interact with the toys in real-time -- like a virtual bubble bath -- thanks to a purpose-built tagging system. The sound side of things also gets a lick of paint, with six audio "zones" created, using ultrasonic speakers that can target sound to specific parts of the store and stop all the collective noise from reverberating like something from a bad dream. The first such shop is already open in St Louis, with five more locations to follow: Pleasanton CA, Annapolis MD, Troy MI, Fairfax VA and Indianapolis IN between October and November.
Build-A-Bear Workshop Unveils Newly Imagined Store New store concept with enhanced hands-on bear-making process and new interactive features ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Build-A-Bear Workshop®, the interactive entertainment retailer of customized stuffed animals, has opened its first highly anticipated newly designed store at West County Center in St. Louis. The store is one of six that the company will open this year in select markets across the United States. "We worked with companies and individuals who are leaders in their industries, many with which we have had long term relationships. There were many supporting partners that have contributed to a highly innovative brand experience." This press release has an accompanying Smart Marketing Page providing further details about the organization, products and services introduced below. You can access the Smart Marketing Page via the following link: http://smp.newshq.businesswire.com/pages/build-a-bear-workshop-inc. Build-A-Bear Workshop has spent the last two years creating the newly imagined store design that merges the hands-on bear-making experience with innovative technology that is central to how kids play today. The updated store allows Guests of all ages to personalize the bear-making process and offers them a different experience each time they visit a Build-A-Bear Workshop store. "Build-A-Bear Workshop invented experiential mall-based retailing 15 years ago and has been the leader in providing interactive experiences for kids of all ages," said Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop founder and chief executive bear. "Since our inception, over 100 million stuffed animals have been made in our stores. With this new store design, we have combined the love of a teddy bear with the best of digital technology. We look forward to continuing our leadership in the interactive retail space." Newly Imagined Store Design While the Build-A-Bear Workshop signature process remains at its core, Guests who visit the new store will see noticeable changes to the company's trademarked stuffed animal-making experience including: An interactive storefront which goes beyond the typical digital signage found in other retail locations and will change with the seasons, holidays, or other special events. Using Microsoft's Kinect technology and interactive touch elements, Guests can engage and play with the signage at the front of the store. The Choose Me station where Guests are introduced to all the furry characters and then select one, which soon becomes a new friend. The stuffed animals are now at kid height so young Guests can touch, play, and form a connection with these furry friends. There is a large selection of stuffed animals to choose from including teddy bears, bunnies, dogs, kittens, and more. The Love Me station allows Guests to customize their furry friends with special personality attributes displayed as emoticons on an interactive table. Using Samsung's SUR40 with Microsoft® PixelSense™ technology, Guests can add unique traits - like cuddly, brave, silly and smart - to their red satin hearts, which are inserted inside their furry friends during the Stuff Me process. The award-winning Hear Me station, an interactive touch screen supplied by Canvys, features an assortment of high quality sounds that can be inserted into the stuffed animals for further customization and personalization. Guests can select and load popular hits from current music or sounds onto a chip plus record their own voice to a Build-A-Sound to further personalize their new friend. The Stuff Me station, where Guests can now add SCENTiments to make their new furry friend smell yummy. An assortment of scents is available including: bubble gum, strawberry, cotton candy, and chocolate chip. The scents that are offered will change by season and holiday. After the Stuff Me station, the last seam of stuffed animals is neatly pulled shut, nearly completing each new best friend. Before stitching the furry friend, a Bear Builder associate inserts a barcode, allowing it to be reunited with its owner if ever lost and returned to Build-A-Bear Workshop. Thousands of furry friends have been reunited through this exclusive Find-A-Bear® ID program. The barcode also generates a unique code on the birth certificate so Guests can bring their new friend to life online and play for free at Bearville.com™ to continue their friendship adventure when they get home. The Fluff Me station, allows Guests to interact with their new furry friends at a "water rippling and splashing" digital bath tub that is enabled by Samsung's SUR40 with Microsoft® PixelSense™ technology. The tub magically recognizes the items as they are placed on it and reacts with sensory effects such as virtual bubbles that appear when play soap is placed on the "water surface." The Dress Me station is now organized by theme, such as dress up and super heroes, so coordinating items are grouped and easily accessible. This station is updated with Match Me technology that allows Guests to see what is new in the clothing area and to receive suggestions on related items that can be added to outfits as Guests personalize their animals. The process culminates at the Name Me station, where Guests use a viewfinder or "bear-o-scope" that reveals the special attributes and personality that have been added to the animal throughout the process. At Name Me, Guests create a personalized one-of-a-kind birth certificate that now includes a photo of their new furry friend. Guests conclude their in-store bear-making experience at the remodeled Take Me Home station, which now resembles the iconic Build-A-Bear Workshop Cub Condo®. They receive their customized birth certificate that is themed to their stuffed animal selection and a special Stuff Fur Stuff® club membership, a rewards program for Guests. Each new furry friend is then placed in their very own Cub Condo® carrying case, which is designed as a handy travel carrier and new home. New Locations Build-A-Bear Workshop will open other new concept stores in the following premiere shopping centers throughout the United States: Stoneridge Shopping Center® in Pleasanton, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 5 These locations are in family-centric areas that are strong matches with the company's core demographic. Bears Working Together "It takes a village to raise a bear and our newly imagined store concept was created with many partners who have helped turn our vision for Build-A-Bear Workshop into a reality," said Clark. "We worked with companies and individuals who are leaders in their industries, many with which we have had long term relationships. There were many supporting partners that have contributed to a highly innovative brand experience." Working with Build-A-Bear Workshop on the new store concept were Adrienne Weiss Corporation, specializing in brand development and store design, Oei Design, a retail entertainment design firm, St. Louis-based architects and construction management firm, Epoch Design Group, and Studio Productions, specializing in themed fixtures. Build-A-Bear Workshop also aligned with technology companies including Microsoft Corp., Samsung Electronics America, Infusion, Nanonation, Epicor Software, Parametric Sound Corporation, and Canvys - Visual Technology Solutions. Leading cyber safety expert Parry Aftab, executive director and founder of WiredSafety.org and WiredTrust, worked with the company to ensure that the technological aspects meet all privacy and safety standards. WiredTrust has presented Build-A-Bear Workshop with the Socially Safe seal for its new store concept. This is the first time that the organization has given this award to a brick and mortar retailer. Building on the tradition of including kids at the imagination stage and listening to what is important to them, Build-A-Bear Workshop also enlisted a group of "Cub Advisors," children and their parents, to provide suggestions and help perfect the working model of the design. "The Cub Advisors have helped us achieve our mission to bring the teddy bear to life while providing the 'funnest' hour of a family's day," said Clark. "Our new stores will continue to redefine the retail industry, much like we did 15 years ago. The addition of new sensory and technological features to our store concept will further propel Build-A-Bear Workshop to our next level of success. With over 400 stores in 18 countries worldwide, we have learned that a teddy bear hug is understood in any language. Our brand knows no boundaries and we look forward to significant expansion and growth for Build-A-Bear Workshop, both in the United States and internationally, in the future." |
| Posted: 28 Sep 2012 02:42 AM PDT The original Tablet S has already absorbed a few interesting updates and now it's getting one more: devices are waking up to an Android 4.0.3 update that brings significant additions like a Guest Mode for creating restricted user accounts, revamped media and social aggregation apps, and six assignable macro buttons on the IR Remote Control app. Sony has also bolstered its Small Apps function, allowing you to overlay a browser, IR remote and other utilities in a window on top of another app. What this update isn't is Jelly Bean, which is headed to the Tablet S's similarly-named replacement, the Xperia Tablet S. Correction: We originally confused the Tablet S with the newer Xperia-branded model. Thanks to all who spotted the error. |
| Sony makes Olympus rescue pact official with $645 million investment Posted: 28 Sep 2012 01:54 AM PDT After months of speculation about who would step in to save the scandal-ridden Olympus' rocky fortunes, Sony has finally opened up its checkbook. The two companies are entering into a "business and capital alliance," with Sony pumping in $650 million to its former rival. In exchange, it's gaining a seat on the company's board and a 51 percent stake in a new joint venture based on Olympus's coveted medical imaging tech -- something Kaz Hirai outlined in his "One Sony" strategy. The deal also includes a component-sharing agreement in the photography space, with Olympus mirror cells and camera lenses being given to Sony, while image sensors (where Sony is very strong) will go the other way. |
| Posted: 28 Sep 2012 01:37 AM PDT First they invaded our factories, and now it's our hotel rooms. Is nowhere safe from the robots? In truth, Ibis' upcoming Sleep Art project is very slick, even if it smacks of robot voyeurism. Ibis hotels in Berlin, London and Paris will let 40 successful applicants sleep on beds that each have 80 sensors translating movements, sound and temperature into truly unique acrylic paintings by robotic arms connected through WiFi. You don't have to worry that the machines are literally watching you sleep -- there's no cameras or other visual records of the night's tossing and turning, apart from the abstract lines on the canvas. All the same, if you succeed in landing a stay in one of the Sleep Art hotel rooms between October 13th and November 23rd, you're a brave person. We all know how this ends. |
| FAVI's $50 Streaming Stick adds apps, streaming services to any HDTV with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Posted: 28 Sep 2012 12:52 AM PDT Why get a Smart TV when you can enhance your existing HDTV with a dongle? That's the precise inquiry FAVI is aiming to answer with its SmartStick, a device that lets you access streaming movies, music, apps, and games just by plugging it into your television's HDMI port. It runs Jelly Bean, the latest Android OS, and supports services like Netflix, Hulu, Epix, YouTube, and Pandora. Other features include a full internet browser, 4GB of memory, and the ability to wirelessly stream media from your computer via its MediaSHARE app. Since it runs Android, you can download apps from the Google Play store as well. While we're still fans of the Roku Streaming Stick, the SmartStick's $50 price tag is hard to beat. You can also get a mini wireless keyboard and touchpad mouse for $39.99 for easier navigation. The FAVI Streaming Stick will be available this November, though you can pre-order it now for an October 30th ship date. Check after the break for the SmartStick promo video and the press release. |
| Google gives users an easy out, adds YouTube to Takeout data transfer tool Posted: 28 Sep 2012 12:07 AM PDT Breaking up with a web-based ecosystem is hard to do, especially when you have several gigabytes of data invested in a specific platform. However, things just got a whole lot easier for disgruntled vloggers. Google recently added YouTube to its Takeout data migration service, which now gives users the ability to pull all of their uploaded videos from the company's servers in a single stroke. This groovy tool should definitely come in handy when you're busy shopping around your latest foreign film to different movie studios. In addition to being extremely easy to use, the service will also send an email letting you know that your download has finished. Simply set it and forget it! |
| NASA's Curiosity rover finds ancient streambed on Mars, evidence of 'vigorous' water flow Posted: 27 Sep 2012 11:28 PM PDT Curiosity may have spent a while limbering up for the mission ahead, but now it's found evidence of an ancient streambed on Mars that once had "vigorous" water flow. Photos of two rock outcroppings taken by the rover's mast camera between the north rim of Gale Crater and the foot of Mount Sharp reveal gravel embedded into a layer of conglomerate rock. The shape of the small stones indicate to NASA JPL scientists that they were previously moved, and their size (think from grains of sand to golf balls) are a telltale sign that water did the work instead of wind. Evidence of H2O on Mars has been spotted before, but this is the first direct look at the composition of riverbeds NASA has observed from above. According to Curiosity science co-investigator William Dietrich, it's estimated that water flowed at the site anywhere from thousands to millions of years ago, moved at a clip of roughly 3 feet per second and was somewhere between ankle and hip deep. "A long-flowing stream can be a habitable environment," Mars Science Laboratory Project Scientist John Grotzinger said. "It is not our top choice as an environment for preservation of organics, though. We're still going to Mount Sharp, but this is insurance that we have already found our first potentially habitable environment." NASA Rover Finds Old Streambed on Martian Surface September 27, 2012 PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Curiosity rover mission has found evidence a stream once ran vigorously across the area on Mars where the rover is driving. There is earlier evidence for the presence of water on Mars, but this evidence -- images of rocks containing ancient streambed gravels -- is the first of its kind. Scientists are studying the images of stones cemented into a layer of conglomerate rock. The sizes and shapes of stones offer clues to the speed and distance of a long-ago stream's flow. "From the size of gravels it carried, we can interpret the water was moving about 3 feet per second, with a depth somewhere between ankle and hip deep," said Curiosity science co-investigator William Dietrich of the University of California, Berkeley. "Plenty of papers have been written about channels on Mars with many different hypotheses about the flows in them. This is the first time we're actually seeing water-transported gravel on Mars. This is a transition from speculation about the size of streambed material to direct observation of it." The finding site lies between the north rim of Gale Crater and the base of Mount Sharp, a mountain inside the crater. Earlier imaging of the region from Mars orbit allows for additional interpretation of the gravel-bearing conglomerate. The imagery shows an alluvial fan of material washed down from the rim, streaked by many apparent channels, sitting uphill of the new finds. The rounded shape of some stones in the conglomerate indicates long-distance transport from above the rim, where a channel named Peace Vallis feeds into the alluvial fan. The abundance of channels in the fan between the rim and conglomerate suggests flows continued or repeated over a long time, not just once or for a few years. The discovery comes from examining two outcrops, called "Hottah" and "Link," with the telephoto capability of Curiosity's mast camera during the first 40 days after landing. Those observations followed up on earlier hints from another outcrop, which was exposed by thruster exhaust as Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory Project's rover, touched down. "Hottah looks like someone jack-hammered up a slab of city sidewalk, but it's really a tilted block of an ancient streambed," said Mars Science Laboratory Project Scientist John Grotzinger of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. The gravels in conglomerates at both outcrops range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Some are angular, but many are rounded. "The shapes tell you they were transported and the sizes tell you they couldn't be transported by wind. They were transported by water flow," said Curiosity science co-investigator Rebecca Williams of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Ariz. The science team may use Curiosity to learn the elemental composition of the material, which holds the conglomerate together, revealing more characteristics of the wet environment that formed these deposits. The stones in the conglomerate provide a sampling from above the crater rim, so the team may also examine several of them to learn about broader regional geology. The slope of Mount Sharp in Gale Crater remains the rover's main destination. Clay and sulfate minerals detected there from orbit can be good preservers of carbon-based organic chemicals that are potential ingredients for life. "A long-flowing stream can be a habitable environment," said Grotzinger. "It is not our top choice as an environment for preservation of organics, though. We're still going to Mount Sharp, but this is insurance that we have already found our first potentially habitable environment." During the two-year prime mission of the Mars Science Laboratory,esearchers will use Curiosity's 10 instruments to investigate whether areas in Gale Crater have ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. |
| Google adds CardDAV support to contacts for easier syncing with iOS and other third-party devices Posted: 27 Sep 2012 10:50 PM PDT The marvelous folks from Mountain View never seem to take a break from working on tools to help make almost everyone's life easier -- even if some of these folks happen to be on the other side. Today, Google announced it was adding CardDAV to the list of open protocols it currently supports to access Gmail and Calendar from mobile apps and devices alike, noting that with the recent adaptation it'll be easier for third-party clients -- such as iOS -- to access and sync with Google Contacts. Better yet, the company posted a full set of instructions on how users can do just that, which you will find at the source link below. |
| Sharp takes out $4.6 billion loan while it continues restructuring Posted: 27 Sep 2012 10:14 PM PDT Much of the business news out of Japan from Sharp hasn't been good, but for now at least it's worked out a loan agreement to keep rolling. It's still pursuing a deal with manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry / Foxconn that would provide a much-needed injection of capital, but those talks have reportedly stalled. Until something happens there it has a 360 billion yen ($4.6 billion) syndicated loan worked out with a couple of Japanese banks that runs until June 30th 2013. We're still not sure how Sharp will proceed with all this, but hopefully an agreement can be reached that brings its sweet IGZO LCD tech and any other new screens it will be showing off at CEATEC next week to more devices. |
| Posted: 27 Sep 2012 08:42 PM PDT After false starting a couple of weeks ago, the Blu-ray trailer for The Dark Knight Rises is back, and Entertainment Weekly has heard from Warner Bros. that December 4th is the official release date. Also on display from EW is this limited edition Bat Cowl packaging which will be available at launch. While there's not a full spec list, extras will include a Batmobile-focused documentary and more than a dozen featurettes about going behind the scenes of the movie with Christopher Nolan and his team. We expect to see more details soon, for now just check out the trailer embedded after the break. Update: The press release with all the details and an image of the Blu-ray box art are out, posted by TheHDRoom. While it's not all listed on Amazon yet where the prices will likely be lower, the standard Blu-ray edition has an MSRP of $35.99, while the Bat Cowl Limited Edition's tag is $39.99. Additionally, fans can nab the whole trilogy in the The Dark Knight Trilogy Limited Edition Giftset which has a price of $52.99, although they might want to wait until 2013 when The Dark Knight Trilogy Ultimate Collector's Edition will arrive. Got all that? Check after the break for the list of extras plus the box art. "THE BATMOBILE" DOCUMENTARY: Witness all five Batmobiles together for the first time in history. Dive deep into every aspect of the most awe-inspiring weapon in Batman's arsenal as you journey through the birth and evolution of this technological marvel and cultural icon. (01:00)
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| ADATA's got an 8.9mm thick portable USB 3.0 drive, limbos under the competition by a millimeter Posted: 27 Sep 2012 07:38 PM PDT When it comes to your device being the "world's thinnest" or not can be decided by a single millimeter. Just days after Toshiba unveiled its 9mm-thick 500GB external hard drive, ADATA has knocked a little more off its own enclosure and declared victory. It's releasing the DashDrive Elite HE720, a stainless steel USB 3.0 drive that measures in at 8.9mm-thick, and size is not the only department where it's making an end-run around ol' Tosh -- it's also $25 dollars cheaper, costing $90. In more mundane news, users who pick up the unit are entitled to snag a 60-day trial of Norton Internet Security and it'll be available shortly. ADATA Launches World's Thinnest External Hard Drive Company makes its mark with visually striking expansion of the DashDrive HDD lineup Taipei, Taiwan - September 27, 2012 - ADATA™ Technology today announces the launch of the DashDrive™ Elite HE720 external hard drive, a USB 3.0 compatible device that is the thinnest of its kind on the market. Sporting a brushed stainless steel surface, and with a record-breaking slim profile of only 8.9mm thickness, the HE720 demonstrates once again the company's consistently strong ability to combine top performance with style. The brushed metal case with protective layer provides 9H scratch resistance, which prevents damage even after long-term use. The drive features a bright blue LED indicator to indicate power and data transfer status, as well as the company's popular "one-touch backup" feature, which automatically backs up and synchronizes data with one easy touch. The USB 3.0 interface offers transfer efficiency up to three times that of older USB 2.0 devices, but retains full backward compatibility with earlier versions. Purchasers of ADATA's external storage devices are eligible for a free download of the latest Norton Internet Security 2012 anti-virus software (60 day trial version), and also enjoy three year warranty service, ensuring better mobility, security and convenience. Since announcing the new product family in June, ADATA has moved quickly to release products that embody the speed and portability signified by the DashDrive name. The DashDrive Elite group is comprised of the most advanced products in terms of performance and design, and the HE720 is looking to be a strong addition to ADATA's top tier external storage products. Initial launch capacity will be 500GB. |
| ZTE Engage cleared to land at Cricket on October 2nd for $250 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:37 PM PDT We recently caught first sight of the ZTE Engage at a press event in New York, but while Cricket was more than happy to let us play with its latest smartphone, the carrier stopped short of providing us with its pricing or arrival date. All of that changed this afternoon, as we now know that the ZTE Engage will become available on October 2nd with a no-contract price of $250. As a quick refresher, the handset will feature a near-stock Android 4.0 environment and a Snapdragon S2 SoC with a CPU that's clocked at 1.4GHz. Other relevant specs include a 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480) TFT-LCD display, an 8-megapixel rear camera with a VGA front-facing counterpart and a 1,900mAh battery. For complete details, you'll find the full PR right after the break. ZTE Engage Smartphone to be Exclusively Available at Cricket ~ Second Android 4.0 - Ice Cream Sandwich Handset in Cricket's Smartphone Lineup ~ SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cricket Communications, Inc. and ZTE, today announced the upcoming availability of the ZTE Engage. The Engage will be available at Cricket company-owned stores, dealers and www.mycricket.com beginning Tuesday, October 2, 2012. The ZTE Engage is a full-featured, multimedia powerhouse based on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), equipped with a 4.0" capacitive touchscreen, a 1.4GHz CPU and an 8.0 megapixel camera with LED flash. With Android 4.0, Cricket customers will benefit from a range of improved features that offer an exceptional, interactive experience – from multitasking, customizable home screens to Swype predictive text. The ZTE Engage also features Cricket's innovative Muve Music service. Muve Music subscribers have access to unlimited downloads of their favorite music and access to exclusive artist commentary, music and video through Muve Music's Muve First and Muve Headliner featured artist programs. With millions of songs at their fingertips, customers will never pay per song and no contracts are required. "The ZTE Engage is an exciting smartphone with enhanced functionality from Android 4.0 OS and will be available with Cricket's new value-rich no-contract smartphone service plans," said Matt Stoiber, senior vice president of devices for Cricket. "Impressive at any price, the ZTE Engage will be a WOW device for Cricket customers and is a great new addition to the higher-end smartphone line-up that Cricket is turning on this year." The ZTE Engage features: 4.0" WVGA TFT capacitive touchscreen The ZTE Engage will be available at Cricket company-owned stores, dealers and at www.mycricket.com beginning Tuesday, October 2, 2012 for $249.99 (MSRP). Customers can choose from three Cricket no-contract smartphone plans for the ZTE Engage. The rate plans start at $50 for unlimited talk, text and 3G data plus 1GB of full-speed data per month. The $60 smartphone plan contains 2.5GB of full-speed data per month and the $70 smartphone plan offers 5GB of full-speed data per month. Both the $60 and $70 plans include the ability for customers to tether their device to power additional wireless devices. For more information about Cricket's dynamic service and newest device lineup, visit www.mycricket.com. To follow Cricket's recent news and updates online, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/cricketwireless and Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cricketnation. |
| NFL Network's Thursday Night Football Xtra app comes to Android Posted: 27 Sep 2012 06:12 PM PDT Just in time to arrive alongside some real referees, the NFL Network has expanded the companion app experience for its Thursday night game to include Android users. Now active as the Browns take on the Ravens in a game where a defender catching the ball in the end zone with both hands is likely to be ruled an interception and not a touchdown, Thursday Night Football Xtra promises fans additional interaction with polls, games, stats. There's also live video reports from Simon Wilcots on the sideline, as well as some conveniently placed ads as seen in the screenshot above. We checked it out early on and the content available was mirrored across devices and platforms, although it was oddly stuck in portrait mode on our Nexus 7. The feature debuted on iOS last week, and is now available on Android phones and tablets as a separate app from the standard NFL '12. Hit the source link below to download it (Verizon subscribers have their own version) as we wait to see if Brandon Weeden can learn to play quarterback before he turns 30. |
| Exagon Motors Furtive-eGT electric supercar eyes-on Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:58 PM PDT There are few things we love more than custom-crafted carbon fiber cars with meaty all-electric powertrains and torque for miles and miles and miles. So, when we wandered by the display for the Furtive-eGT from Exagon Motors and, we couldn't help but stop and throw together a gallery -- despite that company trotting out mildly modified versions of this concept for a few years now. The all-electric supercar weighs just over 3,600 pounds and has dual electric motors, one for each rear wheel, pumping out a combined 402 horsepower. That's good for a 0 - 60 dash in 3.5 seconds and, with its carbon ceramic brakes, it can pull 1.2G while doing a hard stop. Exagon says it could manage up to 225 miles on a charge. When will it ever go into production, and how much will it cost if it does? The company still isn't saying, but if you have to ask...
Steve Dent contributed to this report. |
| ZTE shows off new V98 Windows 8 slate, we go hands-on Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:29 PM PDT Intel just outed its new Atom SoC, and at its tablet event in San Francisco today, the company had a whole slew of slates packing the Clover Trail silicon on hand. Dell's Latitude 10, the ASUS Tablet 810, Acer's Iconia W510 and W700, Lenovo's ThinkPad 2, the HP Envy x2 and Samsung's Series 5 were all there. However, it was the handsome slice of Windows 8 from ZTE that really caught our attention. Called the V98, it has a 10.1-inch, 1366 x 768 LCD on top of an aluminum chassis with a beveled edge similar to what you'd find on a white iPhone 5. Beneath that handsome exterior is the aforementioned Intel Z2760 chipset, 64GB of ROM, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (plus a microSD slot if you need more digital space). There's 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, tri-band UMTS and quad-band GSM radios, plus NFC and LTE can be had as options. It's got an accelerometer, proximity and ambient light sensors, a magnetometer and a gyro, too. An 8-megapixel camera is stuck in the back, while a 2-megapixel shooter resides round front. ZTE managed to stuff all that and a 7,000mAh battery inside a svelte 8.9mm-thin package. We got to spend a little bit of time with a prototype ZTE model, and found the hardware to be solid for a hand-built unit. Its aluminum chassis makes for quite a rigid device in hand, and the machined and polished bevel gives the V98 a very high-end look. The chromed plastic volume rocker, power button and screen orientation lock switch nestled in the plastic radio reception strip at the top of the device are decidedly less luxurious, however -- the travel of each was shallow, and the finish on the plastic appeared a bit cheap to our eyes. That said, the rotating magnetic aluminum door that reveals the SD card and SIM slots is slick -- far easier to open and close than the plastic port covers found on most other slates. There's also a 30-pin docking port on the bottom edge of the tablet, but ZTE informed us it'd be another month or so before the dock is ready for public consumption. Unfortunately, the V98 won't be available for purchase until Q1 of next year, but you can see if its worth waiting for in our gallery of shots below. |
| Kingston Digital SDXC cards arrive with lower price, larger capacities Posted: 27 Sep 2012 05:05 PM PDT Kingston's unveiled two new SDXC cards for anyone looking to upgrade the capacity (or performance speed) of their current removable storage of choice without denting the bank balance too much. The SDXC Class 10 cards arrive in 64GB and 128GB sizes, and Kingston reckons they'd go great with your new digital camera -- as long as it's compatible with the SDXC format, naturally. Both are available to buy now, direct from the storage manufacturer, alongside smaller capacities, with the 128GB card priced at $182 and the 64GB setting you back $80. The full press release is after the break. Kingston Digital Releases SDXC Class 10 Value Card for Price-Conscious Consumers Perfect for Smartphones, Tablets and High-quality Still and Video Cameras "Consumers need to make sure that their camera or camcorder carries the SDXC logo to ensure compatibility and make the most of the new, huge capacity options." "It is important to note that although SDXC cards are identical in size to standard SD cards, they have a different design and are only recognized by SDXC host devices," said Andrew Ewing, Flash memory business manager, Kingston. "Consumers need to make sure that their camera or camcorder carries the SDXC logo to ensure compatibility and make the most of the new, huge capacity options." For added reliability and durability, Kingston's solid-state SDXC memory cards are built of nonvolatile memory components and have no moving parts that could wear out or break. All cards are 100-percent tested and are backed by a lifetime warranty as well as free live technical support. For more information, visit www.kingston.com. |
| Moo.com working on NFC-equipped business cards, kicks off limited beta program today Posted: 27 Sep 2012 04:44 PM PDT Do you recall those fancy business cards that took a design cue straight out of your adored Facebook Timeline? Well, the company behind such neat idea is now working on bringing cards equipped with NFC technology, which will allow folks to add things like email address, URLs and even pinpoint locations for easy access via any maps application. Of course, most of this information can already be shared using typical business cards, but one of the biggest pros with the Near Field Communication method will be the ability to change this info at any given time without having to purchase a whole new set. Moo plans on having the NFC-ready cards available to the masses by 2013 -- that said, the startup's currently running a beta program where it will allow 150,000 lucky folks get a complimentary card with their order of a traditional sheet. There's a video demo down below for you to check out, and you should probably act fast if you're looking to get one for yourself ahead of the extensive rollout.
MOO.COM Unveils Business Cards With NFC-Open Beta Test This Year, Full Roll-out in 2013 Brand Identity Leader Embraces the Future of Networking – Connecting Businesses Offline and Online EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Committed to cutting-edge design and technology, MOO.COM (www.moo.com), the award-winning online printer and branding resource, today announced plans to release near field communication (NFC)-enabled business cards. The cards will be available in early 2013, but 150,000 MOO customers will have the opportunity to participate in an open beta test later this year for free. "The business world is constantly evolving and adopting new technologies that streamline communication, and we at MOO believe the digital printing market should adapt to bridge the gap between online and offline identities" This innovative communication tool will combine MOO's impeccably designed Luxe Business Cards with the frictionless technology of NFC to create a tangible, yet digital way to share marketing content via any NFC-enabled smartphone. MOO's new Business Cards with NFC create a unique "Third Side" to the business card, allowing companies to go beyond just sharing contact information to showcasing their brand in an innovative way both offline and online. With NFC technology, users have the ability to write and rewrite the URL on the chip to direct people to whatever digital properties they choose. A real estate agent could highlight different listings daily; a local retailer could highlight seasonal sales and promotions, limiting the need to create costly marketing materials, as well as provide a map to its location; and a jewelry designer at a street fair could link to a product catalogue. "The business world is constantly evolving and adopting new technologies that streamline communication, and we at MOO believe the digital printing market should adapt to bridge the gap between online and offline identities," said Richard Moross, CEO and Founder of MOO.COM. "For the past six years MOO has been dedicated to helping businesses, both big and small, create an offline identity and curate a brand that is as unique as its people. With the roll-out of our NFC cards, and our recent acquisition of Flavors.me, a design-led personal identity site, we are showing our commitment to expanding online personal and professional identity creation." MOO Business Cards with NFC are made using MOO's Luxe Business Cards, which were introduced earlier this year as the company's premium business card offering. Combined with the innovative NFC technology, MOO NFC Business Cards seamlessly bring together online and offline networking. "Our goal for NFC is to allow businesses to expand the possibilities of face-to-face networking to include their digital identities," said Moross. "We have such creative customers; we can't wait to see their ideas for using this technology." Invested in the growth of NFC, MOO is rolling out a plan to share this new technology with customers at no cost. Starting today, the first 150,000 customers to place a business card order will receive a complimentary MOO Business Card with NFC as part of an open beta test. The embedded NFC chip will be programmed to link to a landing page that features the user's contact information. "This year will be crucial for our NFC cards," said Moross, "As we're going to be gathering feedback from our customers on how they're using their cards. It will be invaluable in rolling out additional solutions for them in 2013." In the future, MOO Business Cards with NFC packs will be available for purchase and provide avid networkers with the ability to customize the content of their cards. To learn more, please visit www.moo.com/nfc or watch a demonstration video at bit.ly/MOO_NFC_Cards. About MOO.COM MOO is an award-winning online print business that is passionate about great design and the difference it can make to its customers and the world. Launched in 2006, MOO aims to disrupt the $640 billion global print industry by combining the values of professional design with accessibility and reach of the web; making great design available to all. By applying Web 2.0 principles to a 500 year-old market, MOO has become one of the fastest growing print businesses in the world, with triple digit annual growth and a global reach since launch. MOO prints millions of cards a month and has served customers in over 180 countries. MOO also empowers companies of 10 or more employees with MOO for Business, offering volume discounts and easy order management for entire organizations. For more information, visit www.moo.com |
| Simple.TV clarifies shipping dates, tells backers units will start arriving October 10th Posted: 27 Sep 2012 04:27 PM PDT According to Simple.TV, there have been articles circulating around the interwebs that may have caused confusion amongst parties interested about the shipping dates of its facile white puck. So, in order to induce some clarity, the folks behind the project have posted a Kickstarter update to let its backers know their Simple.TVs will be arriving soon enough -- somewhere between October 10th and 15th, to be precise. On the other hand, Simple.TV is also set to start taking pre-orders on its website tomorrow from people who missed out on the crowd-funded party, with these particular units estimated to ship "within 20 days" after the order has been placed. The good news is we're only a couple of weeks away from its long-overdue arrival; in the meantime, however, don't forget we have our own hands-on for you to graciously pore over. |
| Samsung Galaxy Camera swings past the FCC with AT&T-capable 3G Posted: 27 Sep 2012 04:10 PM PDT Samsung made much ado of the Galaxy Camera coming in both 3G and 4G versions, but it wasn't clear just which carriers would let us upload photos when away from WiFi. The FCC might have just given out a big clue with approval filings for two 3G editions. As it's been tested for US clearance, the Android point-and-shoot in its EK-GC100 and EK-KC100 guises has support for HSPA-based 3G on the 850MHz and 1,900MHz bands used by AT&T and larger Canadian carriers -- a possible hint of Big Blue's ongoing connected devices push, but not a very promising discovery for most T-Mobile users or any CDMA customers. Before anyone bemoans the absences of LTE or support for more American networks, however, we'd note that this is just one filing and might not represent the totality of Samsung's US plans, if we're indeed looking at one or more US-bound examples. We'll keep an eye out ahead of the Galaxy Camera's international launch in October to see if there's anything more in the FCC's cards. |
| Mozilla Persona sign-in launches in beta, skips the social networking ball and chain (video) Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:59 PM PDT We all know those web pages where the only alternative to a site-specific login is a social networking account. That's not very reassuring for anyone skittish about linking their commentary to a Facebook account relatives might see, if they're even willing to join a social network in the first place. Mozilla has been aware of that hesitation long enough to have just released its long-in-development Persona sign-in service as a beta. Although it has the same kind of simple approach to a login as a Facebook or Twitter pop-up window, Persona's emphasis is on privacy: it stops paying attention the moment credentials go through, keeping any diatribes or subscription details from landing in social streams or central databases. Users don't have to play a rousing game of guess-the-username, either, as they just need to sign in with one or more familiar e-mail addresses and a single password. Persona faces an uphill battle in getting web developer adoption when the establishment sign-in services are open to hundreds of millions of internet citizens, but it does have The Times' online crossword section, OpenPhoto and Voost as early poster children -- and anything that lets the privacy-minded join the party has our vote. |
| Cellcom to offer iPhone 5 for $149 and up starting Friday Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:44 PM PDT Small carrier Cellcom just announced pricing details for the iPhone 5, which it will offer starting this Friday, September 28th. Apple's latest smartphone will run on the carrier's 3G network, and pricing for the various models is as follows: $149 for the 16GB version, $249 for 32GB and $349 for 64GB. iPhone 5 owners on Cellcom will have to choose one of four plans, ranging from $69.95 for unlimited testing and 200 voice minutes to $109.95 for unlimited voice, text and 2,048MB of data. (Of course, there's a mandatory two-year contract as well.) Head past the break for the carrier's full press release. Cellcom to Offer iPhone 5 on September 28 De Pere, WI (September 27, 2012) - Cellcom today announced it will offer iPhone 5 beginning Friday, September 28. iPhone 5 will be available for a suggested retail price of $149 for the 16GB model, $249 for the 32GB model and $349 for the 64GB model in Cellcom retail stores and agent locations. In addition, iPhone 4S will be available for $49 and iPhone 4 will be available for free. Cellcom will allow iPhone 5 customers to connect to its fast 3G network. iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology-all while delivering even better battery life. iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world's most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features including: the all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography and turn-by-turn navigation; Facebook integration; Passbook organization and even more Siri features and languages. "We've seen the anticipation for iPhone 5 grow and are excited to soon offer our customers this fantastic phone on our network," said Pat Riordan, president and CEO of Cellcom. iPhone 5 requires activation on one of Cellcom's individual or family voice and data plans: |
| Facebook Messenger for BlackBerry reaches App World, sates compulsive chatters Posted: 27 Sep 2012 03:14 PM PDT If you own a BlackBerry, it might not have been immediately apparent that Facebook Messenger has been an option since October; unlike with Android or iOS, you had to track down the download on Facebook's website. We don't know why it's been kept out of a more accessible channel, but that ends today with Facebook's chat-focused app arriving on BlackBerry App World like most any other title. There don't appear to be any new tricks included with the expanded availability, although we'd say that the wider exposure is enough of a highlight for an audience that just needs to get by until BlackBerry 10. Those who don't use BBM for all their instant messaging can find what they need at the source link. |
| RIM: first BlackBerry 10 devices to focus on mid-range and up, entry-level may be ready in 2013 Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:55 PM PDT RIM's Q2 earnings details have had a common theme of a silver lining to darker clouds, and that edge may have grown a bit brighter with hints of the company's longer-term BlackBerry 10 roadmap. When asked about the release strategy, CEO Thorsten Heins said that the first BB10 devices would focus on both the mid-range and high-end of the market, a bit wider than the chiefly high-end approach that has been rumored so far. While shy on details, he confirmed that the full-touch smartphone would have a screen with an HD resolution -- that's higher than on the iPhone 5, the executive was eager to point out. More intriguingly, Heins teased the prospect of an entry-level BB10 device arriving as soon as 2013. Although development was in the early stages, the new starter phone just might be ready next year if all goes well. There's a lot of questions left to answer about RIM's strategy, so we won't get too excited yet; even so, the statements are signs that the BlackBerry designer doesn't want to leave any product gaps open for very long. |
| Harman shows off its upcoming JBL docks and speakers, we go eyes-on Posted: 27 Sep 2012 02:52 PM PDT Harman announced a fair amount of JBL-branded speakers back at IFA, but that wasn't all it had to announce before the year goes out. Today we met with in the company in NYC, where it was ready to show off even more of its upcoming wireless and dock speakers. In fact, don't tell Harmon that the 30-pin connector is on its way out, as its $199 OnBeat Venue (seen above and $139 OnBeat aWake are ready to pair up with your last-gen iOS devices. The Venue is rated for a peak output of 30-watts and features a stow-away dock a tweeter and woofer combo for both stereo channels, component outputs for use with TVs, an obligatory 3.5mm jack and Bluetooth if you'd prefer to go wireless. The aWake shrinks things down to about 13 watts, and features a digital clock so that you can use it on your bedside night stand -- despite its small size, it'll easily dock an iPad. Both systems also work with free JBL apps for iOS that'll enhance the experience. According to the company, it's also working on solutions for the Lightning connector, but wouldn't reveal any hard details. Moving along to dedicated speakers, you might recall the SoundFly BT, which recently got outed during its trip to the FCC. The 20-watt Bluetooth-equipped unit is strictly intended to plug directly into wall outlets, having only a status light with no inputs or buttons. It'll set you back $149 when it hits shelves, and if you tack another another $50 you can get an AirPlay-equipped version instead. We gave the BT a quick listen and it sounded surprisingly big with a fair amount of bass extension -- impressive considering it's petite and it plug-friendly design. A Harmon rep even noted that the hotel we were in was interested in procuring some for its rooms. Sadly, the units aren't remotely water-resistant, even though our demo area was a bathroom. Lastly, we're actually most intrigued by the $59 Harman / Kardon BTA 10 dongle. The nearly matchbook-sized box connects to any speaker via its 3.5mm jack, allowing you to stream over Bluetooth 4.0 on the fly. Power is supplied via a micro-USB cable, and a blue indicator light lets you know that it's powered up. Harmon's mainly created it to add Bluetooth functionality to its non-wireless speakers, but it can be used with any speaker of your choice. We're also told that it overs very high-quality, despite being Bluetooth, thanks to some in-house development dubbed as TrueStream. There's no exact word on when all of these units will hit shelves, but you can peek the galleries for better looks -- check the source link for full details. |
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