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Engadget News |
- Pantech Flex user manual discovered: Easy Experience mode shown in detail
- Bad Piggies, the alternate-universe's answer to Angry Birds, lands September 27th
- Microsoft delivers Windows Server 2012, puts the enterprise on cloud 8
- Nokia and Motorola press events go down tomorrow, get your liveblogs here
- HTC announces upcoming press event on September 19th
- Unreleased Nokia Lauta QWERTY slider emerges, shows where MeeGo might have tread
- Sony posts binaries to back Googler's AOSP project for Xperia S
- Apple announces presumed iPhone 5 launch event for September 12th; we'll be there live!
- Tesco recruits Andy McNab's e-book firm Mobcast to help win the Supermarket content war
- Leaked photo shows Nokia Lumia 920 with five color options
- Amazon joins up with Epix, adds thousands of flicks to Prime Instant Video roster
- Sony NEX-6 spotted in the wild, electronic viewfinder and mode dial in tow
- Tinkermite replaces the wooden barnyard shape puzzles of yore with a tablet (video)
- Samsung Galaxy Stellar available through Verizon beginning Thursday, free after rebate
- Pantech Flex coming to AT&T on September 16 for $50, offers ICS and new 'Easy Experience' mode
- LG Intuition with Verizon 4G LTE gets official: $200 on contract starting September 6th
- Editorial: Physics and politics stand in the way of true mobile
- Popcorn Hour launches A-400 streamer for €289 with 'studio-quality' 3D video processing
- Nokia Music free streaming service comes to US, available exclusively for Lumia handsets
- Nano-SIM for next iPhone makes appearance ahead of launch?
- Xbox LIVE down, Microsoft working on a fix (update: it's back!)
- Researchers tout progress with brain-controlled robotic legs
- TV Catchup for Android arrives on Google Play
- Final Fantasy Ultimate Box goes from PSOne to PS3: All 13 games for $450
- NFL Game Rewind apps for iOS and Android tablets appear with coaches film and telestrator features
- Freesat launches 'Free Time' TV Guide to help you waste yours
- Baidu launches mobile web browser, wants a bigger slice of China's mobile Internet
- Nokia invites you to stay tuned, offers augmented reality teaser (updated)
- Tokyoflash Kisai Zone watch tells time in hexagons
- Hulu marks its first year in Japan by opening up access on Apple TV
- ThinkGeek's Power-Up brings the arcade controls to your room's light switch
- CyanogenMod tops up CM10 Jelly Bean jar with SMS pop-up, quick reply features
- Blackmagic Design starts shipping Cinema Cameras in limited quantity
- BlackBerry 10 L-Series all-touchscreen phone caught on camera
- BMW and Thermaltake's Level 10 M gaming mouse is real, costs $100
- New York bookshop launches rescue mission to digitize out-of-print sci-fi titles
- BBC iPlayer for iOS update coming with downloads and offline viewing, on Android soon
- Windows Phone companion surfaces for Windows 8, could take over syncing duties
- Must See HDTV (September 3rd - 9th)
- Modder builds $150 open-source thermal imaging camera to help insulate his house (video)
| Pantech Flex user manual discovered: Easy Experience mode shown in detail Posted: 04 Sep 2012 11:33 AM PDT And just like that, our pleas for more details about the Pantech Flex have been answered. We've come across the full 108-page user manual for AT&T's newest LTE device -- also known as the P8010 or Oscar -- which offers a heap of screenshots, included features and plenty of other tidbits. In it we learn many of the details concerning the manufacturer's new Easy Experience mode, which is geared toward first-time smartphone buyers. Look below to find the manual in its entirety, and past the break we'll break down some of the most important or interesting factoids we uncovered in the manual.
For such a basic phone, 108 pages seems to be a little overkill. However, there's certainly a few interesting nuggets to dig up from the loads of screenshots and step-by-step instructions, so feel free to have a look and pipe up in the comments if anything else stands out to you. [Thanks, Anonymous!] |
| Bad Piggies, the alternate-universe's answer to Angry Birds, lands September 27th Posted: 04 Sep 2012 11:02 AM PDT Imagine a world where everyone's evil and wears a goatee, while our avian allies from Angry Birds are actually the villains of the piece. That's the premise behind Bad Piggies, Rovio's newest productivity killer, which promises entirely new game mechanics (and no slingshots!). It'll arrive on iOS, Android and OS X on September 27th, with Windows and Windows Phone 8 versions following shortly afterward. Rovio to launch Bad Piggies on September 27! Espoo, Finland- September 4, 2012 Rovio Entertainment, the creators of Angry Birds, today announced their newest game, Bad Piggies, launching September 27 for iOS, Android and Mac. This innovative game turns the franchise on its head by letting the fans play as the pigs – with all new, never-before-seen gameplay – and not a slingshot in sight! "There's a lot of empathy towards the lovable enemies from the Angry Birds games, and we've been constantly asked: what about the pigs' side of the story?" said Mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio. "Bad Piggies gives you the chance to play as the second-most-loved characters in the Angry Birds universe, and explore this rich world through their green eyes." The new game will launch on iOS, Android and Mac on September 27. Windows Phone, Windows 8 and PC versions will follow shortly. "We've had a lot of fun creating a totally new and unique gameplay experience," said Petri Järvilehto, EVP Games at Rovio. "There's so much more to these pigs than what is seen in the Angry Birds games, and Bad Piggies is the first glimpse into what's going on in the imaginative and ingenious minds of the pigs." |
| Microsoft delivers Windows Server 2012, puts the enterprise on cloud 8 Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:42 AM PDT Forget Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 is where it's at... if you're a corporate IT manager, that is. Microsoft has just posted the finished version of its suit-and-tie OS for immediate sale in download form. Not surprisingly given Microsoft's big cloud push, the emphasis with the upgrade is on improving how well the software scales for internet hosting -- the company wants one common backbone that can handle as little as a small e-mail server to large-scale Azure deployments and virtualization. Server 2012 is also defined by what you won't find: while the Metro-style interface from the platform's Windows 8 cousin shows its face in the Essentials version, it's noticeably stripped down and goes away in the more advanced tiers. The real shakeup for some might just be the new price points, which drop the cost by a large amount for offices that don't need more than a slice of what the all-out Datacenter edition has to offer. We'll admit that most of our attention as end users will be focused on what happens several weeks from now, but if you're one of those rare server operators that can't wait to start testing a new OS release almost immediately, you've got a head start on most of us. |
| Nokia and Motorola press events go down tomorrow, get your liveblogs here Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:11 AM PDT Tomorrow is a busy, busy day folks. Things would be exciting enough with just one of these events going down, but you get a joint conference from Nokia and Microsoft at 9:30am (ET) followed by a Motorola announcement at 2pm (ET). Lucky you! We'll be on hand, as usual, bringing you live updates from the floor. So, check back in Wednesday, September 5th to get all the nitty-gritty details. You'll find your liveblogs here and here for Nokia and Motorola, respectively. |
| HTC announces upcoming press event on September 19th Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:49 AM PDT Not wanting Nokia, Motorola, Amazon or Apple to hog all of the attention this month, HTC just sent out invites to the press for an event on September 19th. The invite doesn't offer up too many clues as to what will be revealed at this particular time, but we have a feeling the company may offer its competition to whatever products Nokia will unveil tomorrow (hint: not Android). Regardless of what it may be, we'll be there to give you the full scoop. We'll post more details as they flow in. |
| Unreleased Nokia Lauta QWERTY slider emerges, shows where MeeGo might have tread Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:40 AM PDT Those of us who remember Nokia's late-stage MeeGo phone development will recall how the dreams fell apart: we got the N9 and the developer-tuned N950, but the future grew dark almost immediately as Nokia swung its attention further towards Windows Phone. If MyNokiaBlog's prototype leak is accurate, however, the engineers in Espoo had planned at least one more MeeGo phone for the general public: meet the Lauta, or RM-742. It would have been an "immediate" follow-up to the N9 that brought a tilting, sliding QWERTY keyboard to the party, with performance identical to its touch-only sibling. Nokia was reportedly committed enough that it had fully functional prototypes and had penciled in a fall 2011 release to give the N9 some company. We don't really know why Nokia scrapped the Lauta, although it's not difficult to surmise that the company wanted to simplify its lineup at a time when profits were falling fast. The real tragedy may not be so much the decision to axe the Lauta as the absence of a true heir to what it represented -- between Nokia's public silence and recent departures from the relevant software team, MeeGo's future is more in doubt than ever. |
| Sony posts binaries to back Googler's AOSP project for Xperia S Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:25 AM PDT When Google's Android Open Source Project lead Jean-Baptiste Queru promised an AOSP build for the Sony Xperia S, we didn't know just how much help he would get: Sony has been welcoming of the effort, but the lack of any immediate assistance didn't make for an auspicious start. Much to enthusiasts' delight, Sony says it wants to be more involved with the back-to-stock strategy than just well-wishing. The company is posting vital binaries like drivers to kickstart the process. It's also planning longer-term help by dedicating senior engineer Björn Andersson to monitoring and patching the project when needed. Sony is still wary enough not to get its hopes up, or ours -- it's not convinced that Queru's strategy will lead to a truly reliable build. All the same, the contribution is an important step towards expanding AOSP's scope beyond its usually Nexus-centric past. |
| Apple announces presumed iPhone 5 launch event for September 12th; we'll be there live! Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:04 AM PDT Apple has just invited members of the press to attend a San Francisco-based product launch event on September 12th, where the next generation iPhone is expected to be officially unveiled. As rumored, it seems as if the company's prior iPod-focused fall events may be split off into two. It's been reported that an October event may follow this one, with a miniaturized 7-inch iPad on the docket for that. This event, however, seems a lock for the iPhone 5 -- or "new iPhone," or whatever it ends up being coined -- and while CEO Tim Cook confessed at D10 that it would be doubling down on secrecy, leakers seem to have doubled down on tipping the world off on what's to come. The keynote kicks off at 10AM PT in SF, and you can bet we'll be there covering every second of it live. Didn't have any "lunch" plans for 9/12? Looks like you do now. September 12, 2012 10:00 AM PDT |
| Tesco recruits Andy McNab's e-book firm Mobcast to help win the Supermarket content war Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:51 AM PDT Hot on the heels of purchasing Blinkbox and Peter Gabriel's WE7, Tesco has purchased Andy McNab's e-book publishers, Mobcast. It seems clear that the British supermarket heavyweight is currently engaged in a phony war with rival Sainsburys, which snapped up Rovi, Global Media Vault and Anobii for its competing online content service. McNab's company is rather small, only offering around 130,000 titles in the UK, but like the earlier purchases, its infrastructure and resources will most likely be cannibalized to boost the company's forthcoming digital platform. Tesco acquires eBook platform provider Mobcast Tesco has acquired Mobcast, the award-winning digital book platform provider, to offer our customers even more choice in how they buy and enjoy books. The acquisition further strengthens Tesco's digital entertainment offer, following the purchase of movie and TV streaming service blinkbox in 2011 and personalised internet radio service WE7 in June 2012. Mobcast provides a digital book retail platform with a catalogue of more than 130,000 of the UK's most popular titles which can be bought and read on smartphones, tablets and e-readers. Mobcast offers a cloud-based service that lets customers build up an eBook library collection without being locked-in to one single device. Michael Comish, CEO Tesco Digital Entertainment, said: "We want our customers to have the widest choice in digital entertainment. We are already one of the UK's largest booksellers and Mobcast will help us offer even more choice for the large and growing number of customers who want to buy and enjoy books on their digital devices whenever and wherever they want." Tony Lynch, CEO of Mobcast, said: "Since we launched Mobcast in 2007, we have been passionate about innovation, the digital book market and allowing customers to read across their devices. We are delighted the products that Mobcast has developed will now be used to introduce the joys of eBook reading to more book lovers in the UK." Andy McNab, bestselling author & co-founder of Mobcast, said: "As an author I always thought the ability to carry your library around and read on all your personal devices would be a huge benefit to all. We have developed a product that makes this possible, and being acquired by Tesco ensures that this original vision will be available to as many people as possible." |
| Leaked photo shows Nokia Lumia 920 with five color options Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:16 AM PDT Ahead of Nokia's Windows Phone event, there's been plenty of discussion about the Lumia 920's PureView classification, and though the camera's pixel count remains TBA, we're still getting a few sneak peeks at the upcoming hardware. Yesterday, leaked press photos of a Lumia wireless charging pad suggested that the new phone will be available in yellow and red. Based on a tweet from EVLeaks today, it looks like the Lumia 920 will be available in a few additional shades: white, grey and black. EVLeaks previously tweeted pics of the Lumia 820 in seven different hues, so it looks like we're in for a (ahem) colorful event tomorrow. |
| Amazon joins up with Epix, adds thousands of flicks to Prime Instant Video roster Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:58 AM PDT Truth be told, Amazon's Prime Instant Video selection isn't the most comprehensive library on the net, but it's well on its way, thanks to a new licensing agreement with the Epix. The entertainment network, which partners with studios that include Lionsgate, MGM and Paramount, brings access to recent blockbusters like The Avengers, The Hunger Games and Thor, along with evergreen gems like Justin Bieber Never Say Never. Most importantly, it means Netflix is no longer the only subscription streaming home for those titles after its two year exclusive deal ran out. Amazon's streaming service, which includes thousands of movies and television shows, enables customers subscribing to Prime for $79 per year to stream content without additional monthly fees, in addition to benefits that include discounted shipping and a Kindle book loan program. The terms of the deal have not been announced, but the press release (available in full after the break) lists the partnership as a "multi-year licensing agreement," benefiting customers in the US. Amazon and EPIX Announce New Prime Instant Video Agreement – Prime Instant Video Selection has more than Doubled since the Launch of Kindle Fire Last Year New agreement will add popular new release movies like The Avengers, Iron Man 2, The Hunger Games, Super 8, Thor and more Over 25,000 movies and TV episodes in Prime Instant Video available on Kindle Fire, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iPad and hundreds of connected TVs and Blu-Ray players All Prime Instant Videos available to watch in seconds via instant streaming-no need to wait for download Prime Instant Video continues to expand as another benefit of Prime membership, Kindle Fire ownership and one of the many unique advantages of Amazon's content ecosystem Customers who are not yet Prime members can enjoy a free one month trial right out of the box with Kindle Fire, or sign up for a free trial at Amazon.com to enjoy on any device that streams Prime Instant Video SEATTLE & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 4, 2012-- (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Over the past 12 months, Amazon has announced agreements with every major Hollywood studio, as well as top cable networks. Today, Amazon and EPIX announce a multi-year licensing agreement in the U.S., which will add thousands of new releases, classic library titles and original programs to Prime Instant Video. Programming from the agreement includes movies from EPIX studio partners, Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, and Lionsgate. The agreement between Amazon and EPIX will more than double the number of titles available with Prime Instant Video since Amazon introduced Kindle Fire last September. Prime Instant Video now stands at over 25,000 movies and TV episodes available to watch with instant, unlimited streaming at no additional cost to Prime members. Customers who are not yet Prime members can enjoy a free one month trial right out of the box with Kindle Fire. To start watching Prime Instant Video, visit www.amazon.com/PIV. This agreement between Amazon and EPIX will add new releases such as The Avengers, Iron Man 2, The Hunger Games, Transformers Dark of the Moon, Thor and Rango as well as popular favorites such as Kick Ass, Paranormal Activity 2, True Grit, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Justin Bieber Never Say Never. EPIX also brings original programming including comedy specials and concerts such as Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell and Usher: Live from London. "We are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to expand the Prime Instant Video library for our customers. We have now more than doubled this selection of movies and TV episodes to over 25,000 titles in just under a year," said Bill Carr, Vice President of Video and Music at Amazon. "We are thrilled to be able to offer our customers such popular EPIX titles, many of which were just recently in theaters. We can tell from the data that our customers love watching movies on Prime Instant Video. We think customers will really enjoy watching new titles like The Avengers, Iron Man 2 and The Hunger Games on their Kindle Fire, PlayStation 3, Xbox, iPad or any of the other of the Amazon Instant Video compatible devices." "We are excited to be working with Amazon and to bring our compelling content to Amazon Prime and Kindle Fire customers," said Mark Greenberg, President and CEO of EPIX. "This partnership is yet another great example of EPIX's ability to broaden our reach through a digital platform, underscoring the incredible value of the EPIX content offering." Prime Instant Video offers Prime members access to more than 25,000 movies and TV episodes to instantly stream and enjoy at no additional cost on Kindle Fire or any of the hundreds of compatible devices, including Roku, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 gaming console and the newest addition, iPad. Prime Instant Video is a subset of the more than 120,000 movies and TV episodes available on Amazon Instant Video, which includes new release movies and day after TV shows, for customers to rent or purchase. About Prime Amazon Prime is an annual membership program for $79 a year that offers customers unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items including books, home and garden products, electronics, video games, clothing, and much more. Amazon Prime members also get access to unlimited instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV episodes and access to tens of thousands of books to borrow for free, as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates from a Kindle device. Customers who receive free Prime shipping benefits through our Amazon Student or Amazon Mom programs can upgrade to an annual paid membership to receive Amazon Prime's digital benefits. About Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. The new latest generation Kindle is the lightest, most compact Kindle ever and features the same 6-inch, most advanced electronic ink display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight. Kindle Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with an easy-to-use touch screen that makes it easier than ever to turn pages, search, shop, and take notes – still with all the benefits of the most advanced electronic ink display. Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the line e-reader and offers the same new design and features of Kindle Touch, with the unparalleled added convenience of free 3G. Kindle Fire is the Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and web browsing with all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon's new revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch screen, and powerful dual-core processor. Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, and www.amazon.es. As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise. Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings. About EPIX EPIX is the newest premium entertainment network delivering the latest movie releases, classic library titles, plus original films, comedy, music and sports events on TV, on demand, online and on devices. Launched October 2009 as the first multiplatform premium network with online accessibility for subscribers through EpixHD.com, EPIX pioneered the development and proliferation of TV Everywhere for American consumers. EPIX was the first premium network to launch on Xbox consoles, first on Android tablets and phones, first on Roku® players and is available to authenticated subscribers on hundreds of devices including Apple® iPads®, iPhones®, Samsung® Smart TVs and Blu-ray™ players and more. Today EPIX remains the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up from new Hollywood hits to original programs on all platforms and provides more movies than any other premium network. EPIX is a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS. |
| Sony NEX-6 spotted in the wild, electronic viewfinder and mode dial in tow Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:34 AM PDT We've had furtive glances of Sony's upcoming NEX-6 before, but only in the very clinical space of a government test lab. Apparently, no mere agency can confine it: photography workshop director Vincent Kang has posted a photo of the pre-release mirrorless camera on Weibo for all to see. Posing next to 24mm and 50mm lenses, the NEX-6 looks to be very much the in-between camera we suspected it was, without as much dedicated control as the NEX-7 but still carrying an electronic viewfinder, a pop-up flash and a dedicated function key near the shutter release. The dedicated mode dial is also more conspicuous -- there's no question that Sony wants to free up controls on the back for the future camera's more experienced target audience. Between the new design and the already known inclusion of WiFi, it's looking as though the NEX-6 may hit the sweet spot for shooters who want more control than the NEX-5R without sacrificing all its newer features. We just need to wait for official launch details to make it all real. |
| Tinkermite replaces the wooden barnyard shape puzzles of yore with a tablet (video) Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:14 AM PDT When we were young, our favorite toy was slotting the right trains from Thomas the Tank Engine into a wooden shape puzzle, but times have moved on since then. Now, Jacob Sullivan wants to give those baby toys a 21st century makeover, eschewing personified trains for teaching kids the inner workings of your Tablet PC. The Tinkermite comes with Camera, WiFi, CPU, Memory and Battery "modules" that you fit into the slots, while on the flip side there's a magnetic drawing board for doodling. The project's accepting your cash on Kickstarter, we're just worried about what'll happen if your kids mistake your $500 slate for their $50 toy and get a crash course in how these devices are really constructed. |
| Samsung Galaxy Stellar available through Verizon beginning Thursday, free after rebate Posted: 04 Sep 2012 06:43 AM PDT Samsung's decidedly grounded Stellar smartphone just got the official nod from Verizon, launching on Thursday with a $50 price tag (before a $50 mail-in rebate). The "free" handset packs a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon, Ice Cream Sandwich, LTE connectivity, a 4-inch WVGA display an a rather modest image capture duo -- a 1.3-megapixel camera up front and an autofocus-capable 3.2-megapixel snapper on the rear. There's also 802.11n WiFi and support for microSD cards up to 32GB. As unimpressive as they may be, none of these specs comes as a surprise, following the smartphone's early debut on Best Buy's site last week. Still, if you're in the market for an upgrade with a non-existent equipment budget, this little Galaxy may be just what Big Red ordered. Verizon Wireless Launches Feature-Packed Samsung Galaxy Stellar™ Smartphone Features 4G LTE Connectivity, Dual-Interface Options and B2B Enterprise Solutions BASKING RIDGE, NJ and DALLAS, TX - Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announced today that they will offer the exclusive Samsung Galaxy Stellar™ starting Sept. 6 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. The easy-to-use 4G LTE enabled Samsung Galaxy Stellar is designed to be compact so it fits easily in a customer's hand and makes the first-time smartphone experience simple. The Stellar features a dual interface option so customers can choose between Starter Mode or Standard Mode. Starter Mode features a simplified home screen display with preset widgets such as Favorite Apps, Favorite Contacts and Favorite Settings for quick and easy access to frequently used apps and settings. Starter Mode also features a quick dialer icon that allows customers to make phone calls directly from the home screen. Standard Mode provides customers with a more conventional layout and gives customers the traditional Android™ experience. The Stellar also includes a Help app that features guided tours and tips for changing settings and more, so customers can master their devices. Samsung Galaxy Stellar customers can take advantage of blazingly fast 4G LTE connectivity to access an array of convenient and multimedia rich apps. A suite of Amazon apps is included that offers customers easy ways to discover content such as watching movie trailers on the IMDB app, downloading audio books with the Audible app, and one-click ordering with the Amazon shopping app. The Stellar also offers a variety of premium TV and film content for rent or purchase through the Samsung Media Hub. The Galaxy Stellar is a SAFE™ (Samsung Approved For Enterprise) approved device featuring on-device AES 256-bit encryption, enhanced support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® and support for industry-leading Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to make working on the go secure. Additional features: 4G LTE – customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE coverage areas 4-inch WVGA display (800 x 480) Suite of Amazon apps includes Kindle, Shopping, MP3, Zappos, IMDB and Audible 1.2 dual-core GHz Snapdragon™ application processor Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11 a/b/g/n) microSD™ card slot with support for up to 32 GB Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich – support for Google Mobile™ Services including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Maps™ and access to more than 600,000 apps available to download from Google Play Front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat and 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with auto focus Backup Assistant Plus – media management and online storage service designed to help customers store and access media content such as music, videos, pictures, documents and contacts. Business features: Samsung's SAFE enterprise mobility solutions provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently while on–the-move. Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® (EAS) – communicate directly with your Microsoft Exchange Server enabling push email, calendar and contacts Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) Support from Industry-Leading Solutions Providers – supports industry-standard VPN protocols to help users efficiently tap into VPN networks and MDM capabilities that allow IT departments to effectively safeguard employees' mobile devices and corporate data. On Device Encryption –SAFE helps prevent unauthorized access to mobile data by leveraging the AES 256-bit encryption standard, encrypting all data, including app-specific internal data and internal/external memory. Pricing and availability: The Samsung Galaxy Stellar will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Sept. 6 for free after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. Customers purchasing the Galaxy Stellar will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless data plan. Share Everything Plans allow customers to add the Stellar to their account for $40 monthly access. For additional information, customers should go to www.verizonwireless.com/shareeverything For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. |
| Pantech Flex coming to AT&T on September 16 for $50, offers ICS and new 'Easy Experience' mode Posted: 04 Sep 2012 06:30 AM PDT We've already been alerted to the existence of a Pantech phone by the name of Flex, but we only got teased with the fact that it's heading to AT&T and will offer LTE connectivity and few (if any) other details. Fortunately, both the manufacturer and carrier are now ready to make the phone official, complete with images, pricing and availability. As you can see, the Flex is the device we leaked last week as the Magnus -- and it's actually much more unique than even the outer design would have us believe. First, the juicy specs: the Flex uses a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display and will run Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0). It'll be powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 SoC, and we'll be able to enjoy 8GB onboard storage, a microSD slot, 2MP front-facing cam and an 8MP rear camera capable of taking 1080p video. Finally, powering the device is an 1,830mAh battery. The Flex, which weighs 4.6 ounces and will be available beginning September 16th for $50 after a two-year commitment, also has another clever feature: dual Android skins. While the main UI should be standard fare for Pantech devices running ICS, the secondary skin is a simplified system dubbed the "Easy Experience" mode, which has pretty much the same type of feel as Verizon's Pantech Marauder. According to the press release, the new system is meant to appeal to new smartphone users hoping to ease into the transition from featurephones without too much trouble, though going back and forth between modes shouldn't be terribly difficult. The announcement doesn't go into much detail pertaining to what you'll be able to do in Easy Experience (or exactly what makes it easier, aside from "[prioritizing] apps on the home screen in an easy-to-read format"), so we'll choose to remain intrigued until we hear more from Pantech or AT&T on how it works. In the meantime, we have a few press shots below showing off the new UI as well as a press release past the break.
NEW PANTECH FLEX FROM AT&T PROVIDES ADDED First 4G LTE Smartphone to Feature "Easy Experience" Mode Runs DALLAS, Sept. 4, 2012 – The first smartphone at AT&T to offer customers the option to choose between the traditional Android operating mode and a more simplified version ideal for new smartphone users, the Pantech Flex will be available exclusively from AT&T* online and in company-owned retail stores for $49.99 with a two-year agreement, beginning Sept. 16. The Pantech Flex offers a unique dual experience system that runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The standard Android format is available for the customer who wants instant access to a wide range of their favorite features – social media sites, email, video and more. In addition, Flex provides the "Easy Experience" mode which prioritizes customers' apps on the home screen in a clearly organized and easy- to-read format. Easy Experience users can enjoy an intuitive experience without sacrificing any the latest in smartphone technology. By switching simply between traditional and easy modes, depending on preferences, Flex is a very customizable device. In addition to its dual operating systems, Flex weighs only 4.6 ounces and has a slim design that makes it easy to slip into a pocket or purse. Flex features a full touch 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display for a vibrant picture and a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. The intelligent Pantech SwiftKey technology makes typing a breeze by minimizing key strokes by learning a user's natural language for more accurate word predictions and corrections. Flex also features an eight-megapixel rear facing camera with 1080p HD video recording capabilities and a two-megapixel front facing camera. "The Pantech Flex is a great phone because of its versatility," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices and Developer Services, AT&T Mobility. "This phone simplifies the smartphone experience and allows someone who has been hesitant to buy a smartphone a chance to get familiar with it at their own pace, and still leaves open the possibility of having the more traditional experience." "Flex is a smartphone that's truly for everybody," remarked Wyatt Whaley, vice president of product planning at Pantech. "With the option to alternate between the traditional Android interface and Pantech's proprietary Easy Experience, Flex is ideal for users of all ages looking for an intuitive and flexible mobile experience." |
| LG Intuition with Verizon 4G LTE gets official: $200 on contract starting September 6th Posted: 04 Sep 2012 06:11 AM PDT Just as rumors predicted, the LG Intuition for Verizon has been made official in time for a September 6th launch date. The phone, which is essentially the Optimus Vu with the carrier's 4G LTE connectivity thrown in, will be available for $200 on contract on Verizon's website starting tomorrow, and it will hit stores on September 10th. To jog your memory, the handset runs Android 4.0 on a 5-inch display, with a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor under the hood. The phone features the LG Tag+ app, which uses NFC to control phone settings, and two reprogrammable NFC stickers are included. Check out the press release for more info. VERIZON WIRELESS AND LG BRING TABLET PRODUCTIVITY AND SMARTPHONE FUNCTIONALITY WITH THE INTUITION™ BY LG o 4:3 aspect ratio to fully use the screen size and eliminate dead space o 650 NIT display provides excellent legibility and sharp details even in direct sunlight · The Notebook app turns the Intuition into a virtual notepad for creating documents which, can include text, drawings, images, annotations, video and voice clips · Business ready with enterprise grade security, corporate data encryption with Data-at-Rest Encryption (DARE), secure multi-headed VPN for corporate network connections, remote wipe capability and more · 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chatting · Enhanced camera features include voice commands to take a picture, continuous shot to take 6 shots with one tap and panorama shot to merge horizontal shots. · Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich · SmartShare – Share media wirelessly to DLNA®-enabled devices · As an online only promotion, customers who purchase Intuition by LG at www.verizonwireless.com between Sept. 6 and Sept. 10 will also receive a LG Tone Stereo Bluetooth® headset at no additional cost · Customers purchasing the Intuition by LG will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless data plan. Share Everything Plans allow customers to add Intuition by LG to their account for $40 monthly access. For additional information, customers should go to www.verizonwireless.com/shareeverything · For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. |
| Editorial: Physics and politics stand in the way of true mobile Posted: 04 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT Progress is lumpy. The future is attained in a series of epochal strides, each followed by a lot of relatively inconsequential shuffling forward. The invention of the internet (and especially the consumer-friendly web) was a rare giant step that motivated immense adoption of computers and digital lifestyles. A global marketplace of online citizens spawned gadgets, software apps, corporate gold-rushing and other feverish shuffling. Even with the opulent gadgetry we admire and enjoy, the whole expanding tech bubble seems to be reaching for something beyond itself. The incremental improvements of personal technology don't thrust into the future as much as push against constraining walls of the present. Sharper screens and thinner computers are delightful results of corporate development cycles. But we are tethered to the present, which one day will seem primitive in retrospect, by two unglamorous bridles: power and connectivity. Technology is pushing toward this: complete and frictionless integration of digital and organic life. If that sounds like a forecast of electronic implants, it might come to that. (My dogs have embedded ID chips under their skins.) But I'm really talking about a future in which we do not drag the internet around with us, but are as immersed in it as we are in the offline realm. It is not an "Other" that we go to, but an "Also" that is always at hand. Mobile represents the internet's true venue and destiny. I am not predicting the demise of computers sitting placidly on tables; I only partly believe in the Jobsian post-PC paradigm. I do believe that the internet is meant to be free in the most important sense: free of impedance and artificial damming. That means flowing with equal current at home, on the road, at a desk, in a park. Two things ground this ideal in the US like ropes holding down a primed hot-air balloon. One is batteries and the other is the torn and expensive patchwork of connection services outside the home. Fixing the power and connectivity problems will place society into a future containing a changed human relationship to digital realities. The Battery Problem Freedom and tethering are not bedfellow concepts. Mobile devices have liberated people from desks to a certain extent, starting with laptops (my first was a Compaq Portable, which traveled as a bicep-busting suitcase) and evolving to smartphones and tablets. But the dependence of our mobile devices on quality time with power outlets is a reality check on how mobile our tech really is. We have a biological affinity for recharging batteries, inasmuch as we recharge our bodies with food and sleep. In that context, our metabolic batteries are more pathetic than those of a 10-pound laptop. My iPad lasts longer than I do most days, and my BlackBerry is likewise heroic. Still, the battery levels of my many unplugged devices are always on my mind. A bit of badly timed forgetfulness can stop me from working or playing or making a phone call. The migration of our digital lifestyle to mobile is untrustworthy in this regard. The issue of mobile power is a race along narrowing lanes. Power-hungry components are shrinking as devices become smarter, more capable and more necessary. Batteries cannot shrink at the same pace, or at all, and putting extra batteries into freed space adds unwanted weight. The challenge is to create endurance at no cost to usability. In labs around the country, new research into improving existing battery benchmarks looks promising, if not paradigm-changing. We can realistically hope for strong incremental improvements in lithium-ion stamina, perhaps along the lines of eight to 10 times current battery life. I don't know whether laptops, phones and tablets with a useful unplugged time of a week would worsen my forgetfulness problem, or solve it. I would prefer a year, but I've probably read too much science fiction. The WiFi Problem Between the times when our devices are sullenly leashed to power outlets, we are out and about in a ragged realm of patchwork connectivity. In the US the tethering is complex, expensive, erratic, frustrating and primitive. High-end solutions, like 4G cards, are expensive and spotty. Whether relying on telecom networks or WiFi hotspots, staying connected is just as worrisome as staying powered up. There is a "haves vs. have-nots" aspect to universal connectivity; just as income and population are concentrated around urban cores, so is cell and WiFi service. The antidote to a capitalist maze of competing internet on-ramps is municipal service. Government-supplied connection transforms the mobile internet from a premium product to a utility. Countless municipal initiatives have started, withered and died on the vine in the last decade. Chicago intended to ramp up city-wide WiFi in the middle of this decade, and abandoned the project in August 2007 for lack of public financing. This year mayor Rahm Emanuel is reviving a scaled-down effort to connect the downtown city area with free WiFi. The hyperlocal blanket is probably the best replicable model for moving past connectivity gridlock. At the other end of the scale is the northern European nation of Estonia, which implemented a national plan soon after its liberation from the USSR in 1990. As described by The Guardian, border-to-border internet has put a tiny nation far into the future of the digital lifestyle. Estonian citizens vote online, file nearly all tax returns online, educate nearly all their children in connected environments and receive all their medical prescriptions electronically. Entrenched telecom incumbents want nothing of the sort to take hold in the US at a national or local level. Recently South Carolina buckled to corporate interest when it passed a telecom-lobbied bill that all but prevents municipalities from competing with private companies in the WiFi service space. Residents are the losers. In states which have not hampered municipal solutions, town-specific WiFi and even neighborhood WiFi -- the hyperlocal blanket -- might offer an effective Band-Aid. After all, people live most of their lives locally and hyper-locally. For many, the practical meaning of "mobile" is outside the home, but close by. The list of local municipal networks is small, but pointing in the right direction. How Far the Future? Imagine this as a test of whether we have achieved true digital mobility. You walk out your front door in New York, grab your bike and pedal to Los Angeles. Your backpack holds a few clothes, a toothbrush, an ultralight laptop, a tablet and a smartphone. No power cords or commercial connection cards. If you can stop every half hour along the entire route and check into your digital life on any device, that'll be when you know the present has become the future. In the meantime, battery researchers wrestle with physics, and hotspot evangelists wrestle with politics. I don't know who faces the steeper climb. Brad Hill is the VP, Audience Development at AOL. He is the former Director and General Manager of Weblogs, Inc. |
| Popcorn Hour launches A-400 streamer for €289 with 'studio-quality' 3D video processing Posted: 04 Sep 2012 05:37 AM PDT If you're a streamer who shuns plastic disks and their ilk, but still wants 3D, there's good news: Syabas has announced the Popcorn Hour A-400 network media player. Thanks to a dual-core video processor, the box can mulch through 3D Blu-ray content (ripped, presumably), while also supporting studio-level features like detail enhancement and debanding. Like its A-300 predecessor, the streamer can dock a hard disk for content storage, and connects to your network via ethernet or optional WiFi. Other connections include an SD card reader, HDMI 1.4, eSATA and USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 (pending confirmation). On top of giving you access to your own content, the Syabas Apps Market brings YouTube, BBC's iPlayer, and 90 or so other free or premium channels. It'll hit stores in October with a €289 price tag, so if that sounds like your bag of popcorn, see the PR for more info. Syabas Introduces the new Popcorn Hour A-400 network media player Penang, Malaysia, September 03rd 2012 – Syabas Technology Inc., a leading The Popcorn Hour A-400 is the first player to utilize Sigma Design's Dual Core Studio-quality VXP® video processing is included, offering fully adaptive With support for Blu-ray 3D-Video, Full-HD video, several audio and photo codec's The Popcorn Hour A-400 will include some exciting features to enhance the media The NMJ navigator provides an even more comfortable remote control via a 2nd The Popcorn Hour A-400 can be upgraded with an internal 2.5 or 3.5-inch hard disk "With Popcorn Hour A-400 we once again set a milestone in the media player The MSRP for the Popcorn Hour A-400 will be !289 in the European Union The innovative products by Syabas enable consumers to enjoy a wide assortment of About Syabas Syabas is headquartered in Penang, Malaysia with facilities in China, Hongkong, |
| Nokia Music free streaming service comes to US, available exclusively for Lumia handsets Posted: 04 Sep 2012 05:09 AM PDT Nokia Lumia owners on the other side of the pond have been rockin' out to the company's streaming service ever since Music launched during last year's Nokia World, but users in the US of A are about to get access as well. The Windows Phone handset maker just announced that Nokia Music will be available for US-based Lumia devices beginning today, with a US-based team of "musicologists" running the show. Users will have access to more than 150 playlists that span all major genres as part of an all-you-can-eat pro bono offering. There's also an option to create custom playlists with a Pandora-like feature that pulls in songs based on a selected artist and plays them back in random order, without advertisements popping in every few minutes. Playlists can be downloaded for offline listening as well. Officially, the app supports Lumia 900 and 710 handsets, and it can be downloaded from Marketplace today. Full details are in the PR after the break. Nokia debuts free music streaming service in the USA NEW YORK, NY - Nokia today announced the launch of its free music streaming service Nokia Music in the USA. Nokia Music is a free mobile experience exclusive to Nokia Lumia handsets, providing consumers with a simple and delightful way to discover and enjoy music. Consumers can stream music from a suite of over 150 exclusive playlists that are curated and kept up to date by an expert team of US based musicologists. The playlists span a wide spectrum of musical genres from underground Detroit house tracks to New York Philharmonic favorites. Nokia Music also offers playlists created by global artists such as Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga and Rihanna. Beyond the curated playlists, music fans can create their own personal soundtrack by selecting the Nokia Music 'CREATE' function that taps a library of millions of songs and generates a playlist based on, and inspired by, the artists they love. Completely advertisement-free, and requiring no registration or subscription, Nokia Music lets consumers immerse themselves in the dulcet tones of their favorite artists without being disrupted. For maximum convenience, Nokia Music playlists can also be enjoyed offline so consumers can listen to their favorite playlists anytime, anywhere - perfect for a long flight, journey to work or train ride. To enhance their music experience further, consumers can use Nokia Music's 'GIG FINDER', which locates a consumer's position and pinpoints live concerts, gigs and shows taking place in their local area, taking their level of interaction with their favorite artists beyond the playlist and Nokia Music's mp3 store. "The USA is the most vibrant and competitive digital music market in the world - by a wide margin. We have worked extra hard to ensure our service meets the expectations of the demanding, active and inspired music fans in the USA. I would like to challenge everyone to try Nokia Music and see just how easy and enjoyable the service is to use," says Jyrki Rosenberg, VP of Entertainment at Nokia. Consumers who already own a Nokia Lumia 900 or Nokia Lumia 710 can download the Nokia Music app for free from Marketplace. A separate announcement today will unveil a collaboration between Nokia Music, AT&T and Green Day around the band's new album Uno. The promotion will see Green Day perform an exclusive concert and provide exclusive playlists to Nokia Music for AT&T consumers. |
| Nano-SIM for next iPhone makes appearance ahead of launch? Posted: 04 Sep 2012 05:02 AM PDT First we saw a supposed leak of the next iPhone's nano-SIM tray, and now we're seeing alleged photos of the nano-SIM itself. iFun posted an image of what it says is a new T-Mobile nano-SIM that has just started arriving at the German carrier. The package apparently came with a message telling carriers that these SIMs are for smartphones about to go on the market, and that they're not to be given to customers -- yet. Cupertino, of course, tweaked its nano-SIM design earlier this year, and this photo does come ahead of an Apple announcement event rumored for next week. |
| Xbox LIVE down, Microsoft working on a fix (update: it's back!) Posted: 04 Sep 2012 05:00 AM PDT Well, bad news gaming addicts, Xbox LIVE is temporarily out of commission. We received a deluge of tips this morning from readers saying the service is down and now Microsoft has updated its support page confirming the outage. The cause behind the issue isn't clear yet, but the fine folks in Redmond are aware of it and actively working on a fix. User accounts are inaccessible from both the console and Xbox.com, but hopefully things will be back up and running soon, and you can return to your regularly scheduled programming of underwear-clad Black Ops II. Update: And everything is back to normal. Our short lived national nightmare is over. |
| Researchers tout progress with brain-controlled robotic legs Posted: 04 Sep 2012 04:45 AM PDT While some mind-control technologies may not amount to much more than gimmicks, there's also plenty of serious research being done in the field -- particularly when it comes to artificial limbs. So far, the majority of that work has focused on robotic arms, but a team of researchers from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Long Beach, California have now made some progress with a robotic leg prosthesis controlled by EEG signals. As you might expect, things remain a bit limited at this point -- not amounting to much more than the ability to start and stop -- but the researchers say they've been able to achieve a 100 percent response rate with no "false alarms," and that the results are promising enough to begin tackling additional degrees of freedom like turning and sitting. What's more, while the system has so far only been tested on able-bodied individuals, the researchers hope that it will eventually be able to aid those with spinal cord injuries and aid in rehabilitation. You can get a quick look at it on video after the break.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| TV Catchup for Android arrives on Google Play Posted: 04 Sep 2012 04:01 AM PDT TVCatchup, our favorite and most-used TV-watching service has brought its app over to Android. The service, which we've found to be much more reliable than the BBC's live streams on our flaky connection, lets you watch nearly 60 free-to-air channels available in the UK. The ad-supported app is available for free on Google Play right now -- as long as you've paid your license fee, folks. |
| Final Fantasy Ultimate Box goes from PSOne to PS3: All 13 games for $450 Posted: 04 Sep 2012 03:08 AM PDT To mark 25 years of dungeon crawling (and soft-resetting), Square-Enix has packaged together all of its core Final Fantasy titles for this elaborate fan-baiting package. Alongside discs for Final Fantasies I through XIII, the games-maker has packaged a numbered presentation plaque -- replete with new artwork from renowned character artist Yoshitaka Amano -- alongside a two-disc soundtrack and commemorative DVD. The price of a limited-edition slice of Final Fantasy heritage? A total of 35,000 |
| NFL Game Rewind apps for iOS and Android tablets appear with coaches film and telestrator features Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:33 AM PDT While inclusion of the "eye in the sky" All-22 game tape and condensed games the squeeze every play into a 30 minute football-fest are nice features for the NFL Game Rewind package, those looking to get their John Madden on can do so thanks to its apps for tablets. The telestrator feature is only mentioned in the notes for the iOS version so far, however the Android app shares in its ability stream the tape delayed games in HD, complete with stats and big play markers to jump straight to the key plays. While the apps themselves are free, you will need a paid subscription to the service at $34.99 to follow a single team, $39.99 for the entire league, and $69.99 for the Season Plus package that brings along the All-22 cam and telestrator features. Hit the source links for more info on the packages and exactly when the games are available for viewing, if you're more of a Monday Morning QB than real-time NFL Red Zone / Sunday Ticket aficionado, they may work for you. |
| Freesat launches 'Free Time' TV Guide to help you waste yours Posted: 04 Sep 2012 02:19 AM PDT Freesat is launching a revamped TV guide to pull together content from your satellite dish and the Internet. Free Time has a unified now and next view that lets you search backwards for shows you've missed that are available on-demand. It currently supports BBC iPlayer and ITV player, with 4OD and Demand 5 due to be added before Christmas -- and while it's still a rumor at this point, we're expecting Netflix to arrive on the platform at some point in the future. The guide will form the centerpiece of the next generation of Freesat hardware, which will be available for £280 when it arrives later this month. Freesat launches its smart new TV guide called < Free Time> Satellite TV, so good you won't believe it's free Freesat, the UK's free-to-air digital satellite television provider, today launches a new smart on-screen TV guide, available in its next generation Freesat+ boxes. Called the service offers new features in a single, simple and easy to use guide: - A backwards TV guide letting you turn back time and watch programmes that have already been on, but you may have missed - An 'at a glance' Now & Next view to show what's on the minute you sit down - A new Showcase section that offers recommendations on programmes to watch tonight, in the coming week and on demand - On Demand TV from BBC iPlayer and ITV Player with 4OD and Demand 5 launching before Christmas - Improved recordings that make it even easier to record TV at a touch of a button and find episodes automatically filed into series – just like a DVD boxset The next generation Freesat+ boxes join the existing range of Freesat digital satellite HD boxes and integrated HDTVs and will be available to buy from John Lewis, Currys, Comet and other retailers and online later this month. Set top box manufacturer Humax is producing the first new box with and will be priced at £279. Boxes from Sagemcom, Philips and Manhattan will follow. Connecting the box to home broadband will power the backward TV guide, give access to On Demand and the full Showcase. Freesat is also planning to launch additional movie and music services in the future. Developed using widely adopted European open standards for hybrid TV including elements of OIPF, HbbTV and HTML 5 browser technology, will offer additional services and features in the future, including a companion app for smartphones and tablets to create remote control and remote record capability away from the traditional remote. Emma Scott, Managing Director of Freesat said: "TV is a simple pleasure that technology can make even better, not more complicated. Our new boxes with give satellite viewers everything they get with freesat today and so much more in a single, simple and easy to use on screen guide. We want to help viewers find something great to watch the minute they sit down, so they can spend less time searching and more time watching the TV they love." "Having now exceeded 2.6m Freesat sales we're thrilled to be launching today and offer satellite homes more quality, choice and value without a subscription." |
| Baidu launches mobile web browser, wants a bigger slice of China's mobile Internet Posted: 04 Sep 2012 01:50 AM PDT Being the biggest search engine in China just isn't enough for Baidu, which has revealed its new mobile internet browser. The Internet company already dominates desktop-based internet search but has to spar with the likes of UCWeb and Tencent for attention on smartphone platforms. Baidu says its new browser will improve browsing speeds and offer access to its other web-based apps. The program will also augment Baidu's own mobile OS, which launched back in May, with the company aiming to get its browser pre-installed on 80 percent of smartphones sold in China by the end of the year. |
| Nokia invites you to stay tuned, offers augmented reality teaser (updated) Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:24 AM PDT With just a day to go, Nokia has pushed out another brief teaser, this time pointing towards more map-based contextual functionality. It looks like whatever the company's got up its sleeves, alongside any new Lumia hardware, should include some map-based social network chops and City Lens features -- not much of a shocker given that the latter has just shed its beta status. Update: Nokia's throw out another video -- which reveals that its good-looking star does manage to find those shoes. Phew. We've added it after the break.
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| Tokyoflash Kisai Zone watch tells time in hexagons Posted: 04 Sep 2012 12:00 AM PDT Tokyoflash omits function-based bells and whistles on its timepieces in favor of style, and if none of its previous designs have left you smitten, maybe the Kisai Zone will. The hook on this particular model is its hexagonal number display, which is surprisingly easy to read, given some of the company's other offerings. The stainless steel strap and body comes in silver and black, with blue, green, purple or black options for the always-on LCD face completing the custom look. The watch is available now for a two-day introductory price of $99, which then jumps to $139. If your bare wrist is in need of further persuasion, then check out the video walkthrough below.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Hulu marks its first year in Japan by opening up access on Apple TV Posted: 03 Sep 2012 11:39 PM PDT It's been a year since Hulu launched its streaming video service in Japan, and to celebrate it's released its app on Apple TVs there. It hasn't all been roses for the last twelve months, with a price drop in April -- and we're not seeing any celebration of subscriber figures in the blog post -- despite including things like HBO that it seems unlikely we'll see on Hulu domestically. Just like the Apple TV app that popped up over here, Japanese users should simply find it on their devices, while prospective subscribers are being enticed with one month free subscriptions if they sign up via their hockey puck. |
| ThinkGeek's Power-Up brings the arcade controls to your room's light switch Posted: 03 Sep 2012 11:19 PM PDT Sure, you could get one of Think Geek's iCade controllers to play actual arcade-style button mashing games -- or you just bring the nostalgia of the joystick to your light switch for $30 with its recently introduced Power-Up Arcade light switch plate. The unicatonsville replace any standard light switch plate, turning it into a faux gaming control panel. A traditional joystick replaces your old switch nub to control the lights, while its two action buttons enable "pew pew" sound effects when pressed. If all that wasn't enough, the Power-Up also acts as a nightlight after you use it to
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| CyanogenMod tops up CM10 Jelly Bean jar with SMS pop-up, quick reply features Posted: 03 Sep 2012 10:44 PM PDT On top of bringing Android flavors to devices that would otherwise never get them, CyanogenMod has added SMS options to its latest CM10 Jelly Bean ROM -- features the stock version lacks. First, the team introduced QuickMessage, which displays a pop-up when you get an IM, allowing you to view or reply to it on the spot. Then, after hearing feedback from users, a "quick reply" option was appended as well, letting you disable the pop-up and reply from the notification bar instead. We took a quick whirl with the latest nightly and saw that it works as advertised, giving you the speedy options while appearing as a regular setting in the stock messaging app. So, if you're like most of us and drop everything when you get a text, check the source links for more details. [Image credit: CyanogenMod] |
| Blackmagic Design starts shipping Cinema Cameras in limited quantity Posted: 03 Sep 2012 09:32 PM PDT Remember that $2,995 Blackmagic Cinema Camera that shoots full-res |
| BlackBerry 10 L-Series all-touchscreen phone caught on camera Posted: 03 Sep 2012 08:42 PM PDT If you can't wait until next year to see the future for RIM, N4BB has obtained what it claims is a picture on the BlackBerry 10 L-Series, aka London. The screenshot shows a launcher pane full of app icons including BBM, Facebook, Maps and StoryMaker, which could be an iMovie-style video editor. Other leaks, including one from a video posted by BlackberryItalia.it (embedded after the break), indicate it could pack a removable 1800mAh LS1 battery and will be gunmetal colored. Of course, we don't know how far along the software is on this unit compared to the ones we had hands-on experience with, but if you're committed to sticking with the team from Waterloo then any news is likely welcome. Update: CrackBerry has a more revealing version of the image now seen above, which surfaced in its forums and on Instagram. |
| BMW and Thermaltake's Level 10 M gaming mouse is real, costs $100 Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:46 PM PDT Thermaltake and BMW DesignworksUSA's Level 10 M gaming mouse has made the transition from concept to reality. Unlike its teasing appearance in January, the unit now has some real-world specifications, including five programmable keys and a Z-key that'll change your gaming profile on the fly. The optical unit's DPI was a closely guarded secret, but the companies have confirmed it'll default to 5,000, but can be tweaked up to 8,200 if you need it. Sweaty-palmed gamers will appreciate the holes drilled in the top, preventing your secretions from loosing your grip from the handset. It's available right now for $100, just make sure you've worked out if you're gonna call it a "Beemer" or "Bimmer" before you buy -- and yes, we're resolutely in the former camp. Update: Well, this is odd. The image above was supplied by BMW (give or take the odd creative addition), but Thermaltake's version, included after the break, makes the unit look very different indeed. Computer Mouse designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA revolutionizes the world of gaming. A futuristic piece of High Tech gives a boost to electronic gaming / Global product launch of Thermaltake´s Level 10 M Mouse in August 2012. Munich/Taipei. Totally focused and oblivious to his surroundings, the young man speaks urgently but quietly into his headset. One hand hovers above the keyboard, the other on the computer mouse. On the monitor screen in front of him a virtual figure is chasing through a labyrinth of alleys and dead-ends, veering off, flattening itself against walls, reacting to opponents - all this happening at split-second commands. The speed with which these cyber scenes unfold is breathtaking. It's like being taking along for a spin with a Formula One pilot. This is Kai "Kaii" Schäfer, one of the best German professional gamers, at work. Together with Thermaltake, renowned provider for electronic gaming accessories and based in Taiwan, BMW Group´s think tank of creative specialists, DesignworksUSA, has developed a high-end computer mouse specifically for tech pros like Schäfer and all those dedicated amateurs hoping to match their wits against the lightning-fast best. You need a speedy mouse for this. Support from the Gaming Pro. This piece of technology, resembling a tiny racecar, has about as much to with those grey plastic shells scooting over mouse pads like a family van does with a high performance supercar. Niko von Saurma, the director of the Munich studioof DesignworksUSA, takes up one of the three prototypes and handles it with the care afforded a rare artifact. And that is what this sleek concoction, outfitted for the rigors of professional computer sports, is set to become. Officially, this latest innovative example of industrial design is called Pro-Gaming Computer Mouse Level 10 M. Anyone who's ever tried their hand at a computer game knows that Level 10 is reserved for the very, very good. Someone like the pro-gamer "White Ra", who shared his first-hand experience during the developing process. Level 10 M has the potential to become a "game changer", says Tony Liu. For the director of T t esports, the gaming division of Thermaltake, "the mouse is an extension of the player´s soul". It is no less than the conduit into the game. Just like a basketball shoe, a golf club or a cockpit, a professional´s mouse needs to be customized to meet the competition needs of tech's best athletes. Design a new ingredient for digital athletic top performance. DesignworksUSA´s mighty mouse does indeed fulfill the mantra of every designer: form follows function. It is a two-part construction, with the upper half seeming to float above the base. Made of an alloy also used in aeronautics and architecture, Level 10 M is both lightweight and immune to corrosive effects. The top part, where the gamer´s hand would be resting for hours during competitions, can be individually adjusted for height and lateral inclination. The mouse is also outfitted with a number of keys, which a gamer can set to meet specific demands. The software packed into the stunning hardware is also able to read out DPi-rates for gaming visuals. The drilling in the upper shell serves to ventilate a player´s palms during the game - even top-seeded gamers break into a cold sweat at heart-stopping moments. As a special highlight this mouse can even be illuminated in different colors. This has now been the second project where Thermaltake and DesignworksUSA pooled their respective resources. The first was the Level 10 computer chassis, which made a huge splash in gaming circles. With a computer up and running and a mouse set to go, both companies are contemplating enlarging the Level 10 gaming portfolio of must-haves. The blogosphere was buzzing with anticipation when the designers and Thermaltake together presented their high-tech mouse at the international computer fair CEBit in Germany in the spring of this year. Equally at COMPUTEX Taipei in the early summer the mouse received a lot of praise and positive feedback in the web as well as the "COMPUTEX Design and Innovation"-Award. Key Role for Ergonomic solutions. The Level 10 M Mouse is an ingeniously designed piece of High Tech. The greatest challenge for the designers was to translate the geometric language of the lead product, the Level 10 Computer chassis onto a piece of equipment which naturally asks for ergonomic solutions. DesignworksUSA profited from its vast work for a great variety of industries far from the automotive world in which the designers discover trends, new phenomena and design developments in order to create world class creative solutions for its mother company BMW Group as well as for other clients outside the automobile field. Game or Sports? The New Formula 1 of Tomorrow? Two of the most popular electronic games at the international meets drawing pros are car racing and football. To compete at a high level in computer and video games demands the same set of skills as spending off-time with a Nintendo or Playstation set-up at home: hand-eyes coordination, reaction time, spatial awareness, control and tactical acumen. Except that these talents have been honed to the expertise that separates a weekend golfer from a Masters champion. In this business success is a matter of split seconds. Professional gamers, especially those qualifying for the annual World Cyber Games, train as seriously and assiduously as their more physically oriented counterparts in the real world. Putting in six to ten hours per day, immersed in the augmented reality of their virtual game scenario, navigating mouse and keyboard at the blink of an eye, is necessary in order to compete against the best in this brotherhood. But these computer athletes also need to train physically to have the stamina for twelve-hour bouts and often spend time in a kind of boot camp to prepare for the big events. Contrary to the geek image of gaming, players aren´t generally loners, however, but form teams that are financed and outfitted by sponsors such as the Apollos, that sport the T t esports colors. In gaming circles these groups are called clans, based on a legendary computer game called "Quake". Phenomenon with high prize money. What draws the young gamers to this form of sport is not just the thrill of performing at Level 10. By now there is big money involved. Winners can easily cash into a million dollars, much like the top poker stakes, not least because big-name sponsors like Nike and Pepsi-Cola have discovered the hip allure of e-sports for themselves. A good professional can earn up to 250 000 dollars a year. Within Asia there are special stations televising the competitions, with the US and Europe following lead. For these TV shows, the pro teams get trained, styled and coached for the public show down. There are gaming stars in this locked-in world of halls full of busy computer screens just as there is the usual media hype. It is only really since the eighties that the fledgling virtual world began offering a state of play. Ever since the advent of home computers, the rise of the Internet and faster and more powerful broadband technology has electronic gaming evolved into that - still somewhat hidden - mass phenomenon. Tony Liu pointed out, that at times up to 15 million people are online to play a game. Which is also why it was a real-time, real-world disaster when Sony´s online gaming platform was hacked, disclosing account holders' data. The features of the Level 10 M Mouse: 3D Steering Axis Movement: The Mouse is divided into lower and top part which seems to float over the base. This part which is also the essential steering element of the mouse can be adjusted in regards to height and angle. The 3D dimensional character of the mouse provides for new and highly sufficient axis movements in various directions and makes the mouse fit as many gamers' preferences as possible. Solid Aluminum base: Commonly used in the aerospace industry and in architecture, this material is characterized by its high resistance to corrosion. It ensures that the user's Level 10 experience is durable and resilient to mouse-gliding movement. Air-Through Ventilation System: Additionally the Mouse is fitted with exquisite texture - a perforated surface which provides for a better air and temperature exchange as a means of passive ventilation, solving issues due to heavy use and direct touch of gaming equipment and the rise of temperatures of the hand. Intelligent Software Application: The Level 10 M Mouse is a programmable gaming mouse capable of using the most comprehensive software application to customize settings based on user's needs. The Mouse has 2 regular keys on top and 5 additional keys at the side. Each key is programmable by software application by a single press with the finger. The so called "Z" key is especially designed for 5 different commands. There is a total of 11 programmable command keys on Level 10 M Mouse while the "Z" key offers another function: During the gaming mode this key can switch between up to 5 gaming profiles. In addition, the polling rate and the 7 lighting-effect colors of the Mouse are also customizable. The Level 10 M Mouse is equipped with 8200 DPI, adjustable from 800, 1600, 3200 to 5000 (default setting), and customizable by software application up to 8200 DPI. The Function-Lock Mechanism also serves to avoid accidental error command by locking side keys during gaming mode. Level 10 Mouse in the market. As of August 27th, 2012, the mouse will be available at most major retailer stores and online stores in the US, in Europe and Asia. The Level 10 M Mouse will also be displayed at Tt eSports' website at www.ttesports.com Available in four colors: Diamond Black, Iron White, Military Green and Blazing Red. Sales price will be around 99 US Dollar. |
| New York bookshop launches rescue mission to digitize out-of-print sci-fi titles Posted: 03 Sep 2012 06:26 PM PDT Singularity & Co aims to rescue near-extinct 20th century sci-fi titles to ensure they still exist in the next one. Established from a Kickstarter campaign, the small team has already digitized and published A Plunge Into Space and The Torch, both with new cover art, while its third title required a thousand-mile journey to scan its contents from a university archive. While Mr. Stranger's Sealed Packet is out of copyright, many education establishments weren't willing to let anyone scan its edition of such rare books. Talking to Ars Technica, Ash Kalb added: "If you're part of that university or that consortium then you have access to that book. If you don't then you don't." The republishing group, which ensures it doesn't tread on any existing copyright toes, also offers up a better deal to authors and author estates, in addition to reviving interest in long-gone books. Singularity and Co's now opened its bricks-and-mortar doors in Brooklyn, or you grab more details and updates on their progress at the source below. |
| BBC iPlayer for iOS update coming with downloads and offline viewing, on Android soon Posted: 03 Sep 2012 05:50 PM PDT The BBC has revealed that an update arriving Tuesday for its iPlayer app on iPhone and iPad will add the ability to download shows for viewing offline, instead of being streaming only. First reported by The Guardian, it will let those with paid up TV licenses load their phones and tablets with plenty of programming to view when and where (including abroad) they want, for up to 30 days or within 7 days of being watched. Those restriction will keep viewers from building up libraries they can truly keep with them indefinitely, and it should be noted that the app will only let users download shows over WiFi for now, not surprising when we remember how long it took to add 3G streaming. Also interesting is the Beeb's decision not to charge extra for downloads, but we'll have to wait and see if competitors like ITV follow suit. The app is not live in iTunes yet, but we'll keep an eye out and let our UK based friends know when it's available to download. That here in the US we're (still) waiting for global iPlayer access hasn't made us jealous at all. Update: Version 2.0.0 is out, check the gallery for screenshots or the BBC's blog post for a few more details and stats on how people are using iPlayer. |
| Windows Phone companion surfaces for Windows 8, could take over syncing duties Posted: 03 Sep 2012 04:29 PM PDT It's tough to ignore that the Zune era at Microsoft is quickly winding to a close. That doesn't mean you'll necessarily be out of options for syncing a Windows Phone's contents by the time the Zune desktop app fades away, however. A tip to The Verge has shown a companion app for Windows 8 users that will reportedly load the first time a Windows Phone 8 device syncs up, giving a fully Metro-friendly place to transfer any media. Windows 7 would get its own parallel, just in case some of us aren't willing or able to upgrade our PCs in concert. The replacement desktop apps could be available at about the same time as the Windows Phone 8 launch, if the claims are at all accurate -- which might leave less than two months before one more vestige of Microsoft's MP3 player days goes away. |
| Must See HDTV (September 3rd - 9th) Posted: 03 Sep 2012 03:33 PM PDT After college football got its season under way last week, now it's the professional's turn. But the NFL isn't all we have for you, while a light TV schedule is supplemented by a long list of high profile Blu-ray sets arriving this week. Of course, none of them are bigger than the 32-disc Harry Potter collection pictured above, check after the break for some video of what's inside. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Harry Potter Wizard's Collection NFL 2012 Basketball Hall of Fame Blu-ray & Games
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| Modder builds $150 open-source thermal imaging camera to help insulate his house (video) Posted: 03 Sep 2012 02:50 PM PDT Modder Andy Rawson thinks he's found the secret to turning smartphones into super-cheap thermal imaging hardware. Inspired by his quest to find leaks in his old home and the high cost of professional gear, he set about building his own. A 64-zone temperature sensor connects to his iPhone via the dock, overlaying the data onto his camera display. He's planning to open-source the $150 hardware, and an Android variant of the hardware is currently in the works -- although details for both are currently thin on the ground, you can see his announcement video after the break. |
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