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Engadget News |
- Ikea to sell only LED-based lighting by 2016, wants to be greener than your sofa bed
- Adobe announces Acrobat XI with tablet-friendly touchability, cloud services
- The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 2PM ET!
- Microsoft set to get back in the news business with relaunched MSN
- Slickdeals' best in tech for October 1st: Sony NEX-5N kit, SanDisk memory cards and Ivy Bridge processors
- Linux 3.6 kernel released with 'hybrid sleep' capability, experimental file system
- NTT DoCoMo preps automatic translation from Japanese through Android, leaves no one an island
- Netflix Just for Kids comes to iPad, keeps Dora exploring beyond the TV (video)
- UK regulators approve Vodafone and O2's network merger
- Engadget Giveaway: win a Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100, courtesy of IceMonkey!
- Iran unblocks Gmail, admits it only wants to restrict YouTube in the country
- Galaxy Note II available in the UK today!
- The CD celebrates its 30th birthday, recalls a time when it was cool to play music with lasers
- Apple facing European investigation into how it sells AppleCare
- AT&T to offer new $65 GoPhone monthly plan starting October 7th
- Sony Xperia TL joins AT&T's 4G LTE lineup as official James Bond phone
- Sharp begins production of 1080p smartphone displays: 443 ppi crammed into a 5-inch LCD
- Hughes updates its HughesNet satellite broadband with Gen4 service
- CyanogenMod resurrects OTA updates for latest CM10 nightly builds
- Verizon iPhone 5 update fixes mobile data use on WiFi bug
- Nominet proposes more secure .UK domain for British websites
- Sony: We are still considering Windows RT, but optimum timing is also key
- Screen Grabs: Elementary pilot has Sherlock Holmes using murder victim's Lumia 800
- Sony reveals Japan prices for Windows 8 devices, adds touchscreen to VAIO L, E14P and T13
- FreedomPop's pay-as-you-go data service launches in beta, offering 500MB of free WiMAX per month
- Lenovo intros ThinkCentre M78 with AMD A-Series APU and a starting price of $449
- HP announces the ElitePad 900, a business-friendly Windows 8 tablet arriving in January
- How would you change Nokia's Lumia 900?
- Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review
- Refresh Roundup: week of September 24th, 2012
- Slackware 14.0 now available, freshens and simplifies a Linux vanguard
- Slingbox 350 and 500 show up unannounced in Best Buy, flaunt 1080p and built-in WiFi
- Switched On: iOS 6 gets back from the app
- IRL: Dyson DC44, NUU ClickMate PowerPlus and the Galaxy S III
| Ikea to sell only LED-based lighting by 2016, wants to be greener than your sofa bed Posted: 01 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT |
| Adobe announces Acrobat XI with tablet-friendly touchability, cloud services Posted: 01 Oct 2012 10:24 AM PDT Adobe has just updated its Acrobat lineup, including Pro, Standard and Reader to version 11 -- and thrown in two new programs, FormsCentral and EchoSign, to boot. The latter two are cloud-enabled services which permit "web contracting, forms creation, data collection and analysis" according to Adobe, which didn't yet specify exactly how that works. The company has also added improved tablet capability, and portable versions of Adobe Reader will now let you sign and save forms, as well as annotate and add comments. You'll also be able to modify paragraphs, images and objects by dragging them around; save PDFs as PowerPoint, Word or Excel files; and add extra security measures to documents. The upgrades will ship within 30 days and cost $449 and $299 for the Pro and Standard versions, respectively -- so if you've no time for frivolity on that new slate, check the PR for more info. Adobe Unveils Next Generation Acrobat XI with New Cloud Services Powerful New PDF Solution Addresses Productivity Gap Across Devices and Platforms SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today unveiled Adobe® Acrobat® XI software with cloud services, a powerful new solution that rises to today's complex document challenges. The industry standard for PDF software will now feature complete PDF editing and export to Microsoft PowerPoint; touch-friendly capabilities on tablets; and newly integrated cloud services, including sophisticated Web contracting with Adobe EchoSign® and forms creation, data collection and analysis with Adobe FormsCentral. Acrobat XI additionally supports IT departments with seamless Microsoft Office and SharePoint integration, easy deployment, applications virtualization and robust application security to help provide a low cost of ownership and sound return on investment. "They need a solution that enables them to collaborate with others inside and outside the firewall while at the same time meeting IT and organizational requirements for streamlined management, application security, and secure delivery of information – all with a high ROI." Products included in this release are: Acrobat XI Pro, Acrobat XI Standard, Adobe Reader® XI and newly integrated document services, Adobe FormsCentral and Adobe EchoSign. "The compounding complexity of work has never been more pressing. As the number of mobile devices and the use of cloud services surge, information workers must be empowered to work more effectively with documents anywhere on any device," said Melissa Webster, program vice president, IDC. "They need a solution that enables them to collaborate with others inside and outside the firewall while at the same time meeting IT and organizational requirements for streamlined management, application security, and secure delivery of information – all with a high ROI." The mounting productivity inefficiencies and cost of document-based challenges are highlighted in a recent global IDC white paper. A typical company with 1,000 employees has a productivity cost of US$15.9 million annually, the white paper calls out, and addressing these inefficiencies would be tantamount to hiring an additional 213 people. With Adobe Acrobat XI, new and improved features and functionality for business professionals now include: Edit PDF files, modify paragraphs, images, and objects by simply clicking and dragging using the new, intuitive Edit Text and Images tool. Arrange and visually merge select content and multiple documents into one organized PDF file, while retaining source file integrity. The new and improved IT features and functionality now enable IT professionals to: - Standardize on an easy to use, full-featured, consistent, trusted PDF Reader now with full support for iPads and Android tablets. Additionally, deliver Acrobat XI and Reader XI as a centrally managed, touch-friendly, virtual application with new support for Microsoft App-V via Citrix XenApp. |
| The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 2PM ET! Posted: 01 Oct 2012 10:01 AM PDT Since our last podcast, Myriam and Joseph have been to all corners of the world, and Brad rode "it's a small world" at least five times (which is almost the same thing). But we're back from our extensive travels and ready to discuss the last week of mobile news -- and there's a lot for us to cover, so join us for today's podcast as we go through it all! This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft set to get back in the news business with relaunched MSN Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:49 AM PDT Microsoft isn't exactly a stranger to the news business. It founded Slate Magazine way back in 1996 as part of its then still-nascent MSN website, and it partnered with NBC that same year on the MSNBC cable news network. While it's since sold off both Slate and its stake in MSNBC, it looks like the company is now taking another big swing at producing its own news operation. As Reuters reports, Microsoft is making "big, multi-million dollar investment" to create what is being described as a "decent-sized media operation," one that will be a part of the new-look MSN that the company has also announced today. Details remain light beyond that, but Reuters says the new MSN will still "chiefly aggregate news" from traditional sources like Reuters and the AP in addition to producing its own content. As for that new MSN itself, it's unsurprisingly built with tablets (and Windows 8, specifically) in mind, with a design that's tailored for full-screen use and touch input. Its launch wil coincide with Windows 8's debut on October 26th, but you can get an early look at the link below and in the video after the break. <A data-cke-saved-href="http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&vid=22b17633-d096-468f-a6ce-31d65c93a01f&from=shareembed-syndication&src=v5:embed:syndication:&from=shareembed-syndication" href="http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&vid=22b17633-d096-468f-a6ce-31d65c93a01f&from=shareembed-syndication&src=v5:embed:syndication:&from=shareembed-syndication" target="_new" title="The All New MSN for Windows 8">Video: The All New MSN for Windows 8</A> |
| Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:36 AM PDT Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. Well friends, with a new month comes a new batch of links that are ready to accept your gadget dollars. A Sony NEX-5N kit tops the list sporting a nice discount and memory cards, Ivy Bridge processors, a 14-inch ThinkPad and a 23-inch Acer display round out the group. There's a lot to digest this time around, so we'll let you get right to it. The best part? No coupon codes or rebate forms to fuss with today. Snag a few of these over at RadioShack. This deal is available from TigerDirect. |
| Linux 3.6 kernel released with 'hybrid sleep' capability, experimental file system Posted: 01 Oct 2012 09:13 AM PDT The last couple of Linux kernel updates have been a bit of a circus, with Android merging in the 3.3 ring and graphics integration on a (noisy) 3.4 center stage. Version 3.6 of the open source kernel has less flashy, more serene features this time, with hybrid standby, a new file system and other esoteric networking and architectural features befalling the penguin. That sleep mode, which caches the RAM contents to a disk to prevent data loss, has been available for a while now on Windows and Mac machines and will be especially handy on Linux laptops. The so-called Btrfs file system has also been added (albeit in a developmental mode) along with Google's experimental TCP Fast Open extension, additional network drivers, more virtualisation options and additional processor support. Sleepwalk to the source for the complete changelog. |
| NTT DoCoMo preps automatic translation from Japanese through Android, leaves no one an island Posted: 01 Oct 2012 08:48 AM PDT Japan's unique language makes calls to other countries a challenge: locals often don't have much choice but to brush up on someone else's language or hope there's a Japanese speaker on the other end of the line. If all goes well with NTT DoCoMo's planned Hanashite Hon'yaku automatic translation service, international calls will be as comfortable as phoning a store in Nagano. As long as a subscriber has at least an Android 2.2 phone or tablet on the carrier's moperaU or sp-mode plans, the service will automatically convert spoken Japanese to another language, and reverse the process for the reply, whether it's through an outbound phone call or an in-person conversation. The service will bridge cultures starting from November 1st, when it will translate from Japanese to Chinese, English or Korean. Indonesian, Thai and five European languages are coming later that month. If you're not that patient, NTT DoCoMo will provide a holdover on October 11th through Utsushite Hon'yaku, a free Word Lens-like augmented reality translator for Android 2.3 that can convert text to or from Japanese with a glance through a phone camera. NTT DOCOMO to Introduce Mobile Translation of Conversations and Signage TOKYO, JAPAN, October 1, 2012 --- NTT DOCOMO, INC. today announced that on November 1 it will launch the world's first commercial mobile service for translation of conversations between people speaking Japanese and other languages, called Hanashite Hon'yaku (automatic voice translation service). DOCOMO also announced today the October 11 launch of Utsushite Hon'yaku (AR translator with word recognition camera), which translates foreign menus and signage by simply placing a smartphone camera in front of text. Hanashite Hon'yaku provides translations between Japanese and the receiver's language, currently English, Chinese or Korean. Translations are provided both as screen text and voice readouts. The DOCOMO subscriber simply dials the other party using an Android app for DOCOMO smartphones and tablets running Android 2.2 or higher. Calls can be placed to any mobile or landline phone, either in Japan or overseas. Hanashite Hon'yaku also can be used for face-to-face conversations in which the two speakers share one smartphone. French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai will be added for this application in late November, raising the number of non-Japanese languages to 10. Fast and accurate translations are possible with any smartphone, regardless of device specifications, because Hanashite Hon'yaku utilizes DOCOMO's cloud for processing. The app will be available free of charge. Users pay call and data charges for phone-to-phone conversations and translation data for screen text and voice readouts. Only data charges apply for face-to-face conversations,since no call is required. Subscription to DOCOMO's "sp-mode" or "moperaU" connection service is required. Utsushite Hon'yaku translates short written text between Japanese and either English, Chinese or Korean. Translation is virtually instantaneous after the device's camera captures the text. This commercial version of Menu Translator, which DOCOMO is trialing in Japan until October 31, will translate words and phrases not only in menus, but also street signs, signboards and more. Translation from Japanese also is possible, so DOCOMO expects the app to be quite useful for foreign people visiting Japan. The Utsushite Hon'yaku app will be available free for download (data charges may apply). Usage will not incur any transmission fee since the translation process does not require network connection. It can be used on any smartphone or tablet equipped with an outer camera and running Android 2.3 or higher. |
| Netflix Just for Kids comes to iPad, keeps Dora exploring beyond the TV (video) Posted: 01 Oct 2012 08:31 AM PDT Netflix's Just for Kids portal may already be a parent's ticket to saving money on endless Dora the Explorer DVDs without keeping a constant watch on the screen, but it has so far been left to consoles and the web. That's not much help to movie-loving grownups who'd sometimes like to free the PC or TV for their own streaming sessions -- so it's likely a relief to many that the Just for Kids interface is now available on iPads. Like on bigger screens, the mobile app provides a safe zone for the under-12 set that organizes videos into sections that junior viewers will more likely appreciate, such as sing-alongs and talking animals. For now, Android tablet owners and those holding on to first-generation iPads will be left out. It still shouldn't be too long before more adults can be sure their mobile-savvy kids are watching Curious George instead of Chasing Amy. |
| UK regulators approve Vodafone and O2's network merger Posted: 01 Oct 2012 08:17 AM PDT Observing the mantra that the enemy of its enemy is its friend, Vodafone and O2 have gained regulatory approval to begin merging their cellular networks to better compete with Everything Everywhere. As such, they can begin spinning off infrastructure and towers to a new company called CTI, which will manage both company's hardware as a single network. It's hoped the new tie-up will cover 98 percent of the country and enable LTE services to roll out two years ahead of Ofcom's 2017 deadline. Worried about another awkward T-Mobile and Orange-style merger? Don't be, since in every other respect, the pair have pledged to operate as competing entities in a quest for your custom. TELEFÓNICA UK AND VODAFONE UK PRESS AHEAD WITH NATIONWIDE NETWORK UPGRADE Telefónica UK and Vodafone UK welcome the news that the regulatory authorities have given them the green light to proceed with previously announced plans to strengthen their existing network collaboration. The two companies will now pool the basic parts of their network infrastructure to create one national grid which will support two independent and competing networks delivering mobile coverage and mobile internet services to the vast majority of UK households. The scheme will deliver real benefits for today's mobile phone users, offering indoor 2G and 3G coverage to 98% of the UK population by 2015. It will also lay the foundations for two competing 4G networks*, delivering nationwide services that meet the regulatory requirement of 98% population coverage, up to two years before Ofcom's deadline of 2017. Ronan Dunne, CEO Telefónica UK said: "This partnership is about working smarter as an industry, so that we can focus on what really matters to our customers – delivering a superfast network up to two years faster than Ofcom envisages and to as many people as possible. One physical grid, running independent networks, will mean broader coverage and, crucially, investment in innovation and better competition for the customer. We look forward to Ofcom's spectrum auction and the release of 800 spectrum." Guy Laurence, CEO Vodafone UK said: "This is excellent news for British consumers, businesses and the wider economy: we are promising indoor coverage for 98% of the UK population across all technologies within three years. We will bring the best mobile coverage that this country has ever enjoyed to more people than ever before. Our existing customers will benefit on the devices that they have today and we will lay the foundations for the real 4G network they will want tomorrow." |
| Engadget Giveaway: win a Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100, courtesy of IceMonkey! Posted: 01 Oct 2012 08:01 AM PDT The giveaways just keep coming and there's nothing you can do to stop it. But why would you want to? For this edition of your regularly scheduled contest, IceMonkey is handing out a Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100, complete with a 20.2MP Exmor CMOS sensor (valued at roughly $650). IceMonkey is a colorful site that offers discounted electronics and other home goods on a first-come / first-serve basis, and every order gets shipped free. If it sounds like your cup o' tea, head over to check them out -- but don't forget to leave a comment below first. The rules:
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| Iran unblocks Gmail, admits it only wants to restrict YouTube in the country Posted: 01 Oct 2012 07:48 AM PDT Iranians who lost access to Gmail on September 24th should now be able to access their emails again after the government relaxed its ban. Telecommunications minister Rezi Miri conceded that the internet filter used couldn't distinguish between the eponymous email service and YouTube, which has been banned for distributing inflammatory materials. Officials have said that, at least initially, its own proprietary intranet will exist alongside the internet, but didn't go into specifics. [Original Image: Wikimedia Commons] |
| Galaxy Note II available in the UK today! Posted: 01 Oct 2012 07:33 AM PDT Well, Korea might have beaten the UK to the punch, but England's carriers are getting Samsung's latest super-sized phone ahead of the US. As promised, the Galaxy Note II is hitting shelves today at Three UK, O2 and Vodafone. So far, only Three has made the launch official with a press release, but we're sure O2 and Vodafone will follow in short order. The privilege of running the 5.5-inch monstrosity on Three will cost you €69 up front with either a €34 or €36 a month contract, while pay-as-you-go customers will have to fork over €499. If PR is your thing, it's awaiting you after the break. Samsung Galaxy Note II – available now on Three. The Samsung Galaxy Note II is now available online at www.three.co.uk and in all Three stores. The Samsung GALAXY Note II with it's massive 5.55" Super AMOLED HD display helps to unleash your creative side by letting you discover information faster, capture ideas, and express them more efficiently. Using the new S Pen allows you to be more precise and gives a writing experience that feels like writing with pen and paper and with Air View you can hover the S Pen over emails, picture and video galleries to preview them. The Galaxy Note II also brings features such as Smart Stay and Best Picture from the Galaxy S III. This means that the phone will know when you're reading an ebook or browsing the web and keep the backlight on. Additionally when you're using the 8MP camera you can snap multiple shots and the Galaxy Note II will choose the best one for you. Available in marble white and titanium grey, the super-fast Samsung Galaxy Note II comes with a powerful 1.6GHz quad-core processor and because the Galaxy Note II is HSPA+ compatible, you're able to enjoy faster internet speeds and quicker downloads. Plus with a longer-life 3100mAh battery you can stay glued to your phone for longer. Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three said, ""With its range of cutting edge features, the Samsung Galaxy Note II is perfectly suited to those looking for innovation without compromise. Coming to life on the only network that was built for the internet, the Galaxy Note II combines the productivity of a PC in a handy smartphone size." The Samsung Galaxy Note II is available for £34 a month with an upfront cost of £69 on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan with a guarantee of no surprise out-of-bundle data charges or £36 a month with an upfront cost of £69 on The One Plan. The device is also available on Pay As You Go for £499.99 plus a top up. All in One 15 costs £15 and gives 30-day access to all-you-can-eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or All in One 25 costs £25 and offers 500 minutes, 3,000 texts and all-you-can-eat data for a 30-day period. Key features: • 5.5" HD Super AMOLED HD display |
| The CD celebrates its 30th birthday, recalls a time when it was cool to play music with lasers Posted: 01 Oct 2012 07:16 AM PDT Like so many other technologies, it's tough to pin down an exact birthday for the compact disc. If we're tracing things back to the world of LaserDisc as a potential commercial product, we're talking years or decades earlier. As far as laboratory testing is concerned for the tech as we've come to know, love and subsequently abandon, the we're going back to the mid-70s in our journey. For the sake of simplicity, let's go with the first commercial record to be released on the format. That would be 52nd Street by one William Martin Joel, a release that came a few years after the album's issuing on vinyl, to coincide with the Sony's CDP-101, which let audiophiles do more than just stare in wonder at the shiny plastic disc they just bought. |
| Apple facing European investigation into how it sells AppleCare Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:51 AM PDT Ever hemmed and hawed over buying AppleCare with your shiny new gadget? European chiefs are worried that you don't know all of your rights. They're concerned that Cupertino's warranty-selling practices hide the fact that all customers are entitled to a statutory two-year warranty to fix defects present at sale. The company has already had to open its checkbook to Italian regulators, but pointed out that the protection plan is there to remedy issues that may crop up after you've taken your new toy from its perfectly-engineered box. Nevertheless, commissioner Viviane Reding is pushing for a Europe-wide inquiry into the company, contacting all 27 member states to look into the matter. In the meantime, we're left working out how many times we're likely to drop our new device in the next three years. |
| AT&T to offer new $65 GoPhone monthly plan starting October 7th Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:35 AM PDT Shared data's not for everyone, which is why AT&T's continuing to augment its prepaid offerings with additional GoPhone options. Announced today, the carrier's new $65 monthly plan is geared specifically towards smartphone users, combining unlimited talk and text with a 1GB allotment of data. And in tandem with this new package, the operator's also releasing the Fusion 2: a white-labeled Android device that's slated to retail for $99 -- no contract strings attached. Both are set to launch this October 7th, so if you're commitment-averse and in need of a new device, this could be the plan for you. Hit up the break for the full presser. AT&T LAUNCHES NEW, AFFORDABLE PREPAID SMARTPHONE RATE PLAN DALLAS, Oct. 1, 2012 - Beginning Oct. 7, AT&T* GoPhone® smartphone customers will have a new rate plan option. The new Monthly Unlimited Plan with Data offers unlimited talk and text, with 1 GB of data for $65 per month. Unlimited text messaging to Mexico, Canada and over 100 other countries is also included. This new plan is specially designed for smartphone users, and saves them $10 per month compared to previously available options. The $50 monthly plan with unlimited talk and text and the $25 monthly plan with 250 minutes and unlimited nationwide text with optional data packages will continue to be available to smartphone customers. Launching in conjunction with this new smartphone rate plan is AT&T GoPhone's newest Android device, AT&T Fusion™ 2, which lets customers enjoy the convenience of a smartphone with email, apps and web access for only $99. "As more of our prepaid customers choose smartphones, we wanted to offer them a rate plan that meets their needs while still being an excellent value," said Judy Cavalieri, vice president – Voice and Prepaid Products, AT&T. "We're excited to offer this new option to our growing base of smartphone customers to give them a better smartphone experience while keeping their budget in check." AT&T operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network** including more than 30,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers, and provides access to more than 220,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers, including Fusion 2 customers, get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn't count against customers' monthly wireless data plans. More information on AT&T GoPhone prepaid rate plans can be found at http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/prepaidplans.html. |
| Sony Xperia TL joins AT&T's 4G LTE lineup as official James Bond phone Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:35 AM PDT Strange, but true: it seems James Bond is an Android man and the Xperia TL, his phone of choice. Well, at least that's the marketing tie-in made possible by Sony's corporate synergy. Regardless, the company's latest smartphone flagship has found a new stateside home on AT&T's 4G LTE network. The 4.6-inch device, unveiled at IFA 2012, reps a 720p HD Reality display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine, 13-megapixel rear module capable of "sleep to snap" fast capture and runs a skinned build of Ice Cream Sandwich atop a dual-core 1.5GHz S4 CPU. It also comes loaded up with three of the Japanese outfit's media apps -- Walkman, Movies and Album -- a bevy of exclusive content (e.g. ringtones, wallpaper, etc.) from the next Bond film, Skyfall, and packs one SmartTag in the box for use with the handset's NFC chip. There's no official word on when this black beauty's set to hit retail shelves -- or pricing, for that matter. But if the imminent arrival of its galactic stablemates is any indication, expect to see it in "the coming weeks." Official PR after the break. Dallas, Texas, October 01, 2012 AT&T* today announced plans to offer Xperia TL, the latest Sony smartphone bringing Sony's best HD experiences, easy connectivity with 'One-touch' sharing enabled by NFC (Near Field Communications) and award-winning** arc design. This 4G LTE smartphone takes connected entertainment to the next level with new Sony media applications. Photo enthusiasts will delight in the impressive images taken with Xperia TL's 13-megapixel primary camera that brings even the smallest of details to life. This high resolution camera captures quality images swiftly with its quick launch feature, going from standby mode (sleep) to first shot in just 1.5 seconds,1 making sure life's unexpected moments are not missed. Plus, both the rear and front-facing cameras deliver HD recording capabilities for vivid video capture on the go. Xperia TL gives you the ultimate in HD with a superb 4.6-inch HD display (1080 x 720), powered by the Mobile BRAVIA® Engine for razor sharp clarity and brilliance. The viewing experience on Xperia TL is accentuated by a stylish, slim form factor that emphasizes the display. For those looking to take their content from their smartphone screen to the TV screen, Xperia TL connects through MHL or wirelessly through DLNA. To make enjoying content across devices even easier, Xperia TL supports 'One-touch' connectivity through NFC. Now, you can conveniently and instantaneously enjoy your music and photos across an array of NFC enabled devices by simply touching one to another to establish a wireless connection without a cumbersome pairing process. To get started with experiencing NFC, Xperia TL comes with one Xperia SmartTag in box. Using near field communication technology, SmartTags let you store device preferences for a variety of locations and situations – like opening and controlling volume on the music player if you head out for a run, turning on GPS and Bluetooth in the car or turning on your alarm and silencing your ringer at night. Xperia TL includes three preloaded Sony media applications, Walkman, Movies, and Album, introducing a consistent user interface across Sony devices. Album will be especially appealing to photo takers with features such as: Geo-mapping in satellite and traditional map views 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. Key Specs for Xperia TL: 4.6" HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA® Engine *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. ** Xperia arc S and Xperia arc are winners of the EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) award for European Camera Phone 2011-2012. Xperia arc is also the winner of the prestigious red dot Product Design Award 2011. Xperia arc was announced at CES in January 2011 followed up by the announcement of Xperia arc S announced at IFA 2011 ***4G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network. Sony Entertainment Network services are subject to availability by region, please see www.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com for more details. Legal 1) Facts and features may vary depending on local variant. 2) Operational times are affected by network preferences, type of SIM card, connected accessories and various activities e.g. playing games. Kit contents and colour options may differ from market to market. The full range of accessories may not be available in every market. 3) Actual size of screen is approximately 4.55". Camera capabilities are accurate as the date of this release. Sony "make.believe" and Bravia are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation. "PlayStation is a registered trademark or a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xperia is a trademark or registered trademark of Sony Mobile Communications AB. Android™ is a trademark of Google Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available. Deployment ongoing. Compatible device and data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network. |
| Sharp begins production of 1080p smartphone displays: 443 ppi crammed into a 5-inch LCD Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:41 AM PDT Layoffs and loans may be dominating our Sharp coverage at the moment, but that just makes this type of news all the sweeter. The company has announced its LCD panel type 5 -- a 5-inch full HD (1,920 x 1,080) display packing a Retina-busting 443 ppi (just trumping LG's similar 440 ppi LCD). An outcome of its layer-reducing CG-Silicon technology, the smartphone-targeted screen goes into full-scale production this month and will be shown off at CEATEC Japan this very week. We'll try to give it eyes-on treatment at the show, but you can rub your hands together sinisterly in the meantime and just think about the glorious devices which will bear it. |
| Hughes updates its HughesNet satellite broadband with Gen4 service Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:00 AM PDT On the same day that Dish's new satellite broadband service kicks off, partner Hughes is upgrading its own offering with even faster speeds. HughesNet Gen4 offers downloads of up to 15 Mbps to the 19 million (or so) Americans who can't get high-speed fixed-line broadband services. $50 a month will get customers 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload with a 20GB data cap, while $80 a month offers a 30GB limit and 2 Mbps upload -- but for high-rolling hermits, $100 a month gets you the full 15 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up and a 40GB allowance. Current users wanting in on the action aren't excluded from the program, and can register their interest at our More Coverage link. HughesNet Gen4 Satellite Internet Service Goes Live with Speeds up to 15 Mbps New Fourth Generation Satellite Internet Service Offers Dramatically Improved Speed and Performance HughesNet Gen4 delivers dramatically increased speeds (up to 15 Mbps, depending on the plan) and greater download capacity, enabling customers to do more online than ever before. With HughesNet Gen4, customers can experience all the benefits of the online world and stay connected with friends, family and colleagues. It is ideal for those living in areas in which high-speed landline connections are just not available. In addition to a better web surfing experience, HughesNet Gen4 delivers the performance required to support high-bandwidth applications, including social media and video and music streaming. HughesNet Gen4 is available in a variety of new, affordable Power plans to suit customer's specific requirements. Hughes is offering an upgrade program for existing customers. "Our new fourth generation high-speed satellite Internet service is an industry game changer, allowing customers to do more of what they love online, from shopping and social networking to movies and music," said Mike Cook, senior vice president, North American Division at Hughes. "Hughes pioneered the satellite broadband industry, and HughesNet Gen4 continues our long tradition of innovation to bring the many benefits of high-speed Internet access to people everywhere across America-no matter where they live or work." HughesNet is the nation's #1 high-speed satellite Internet service and Gen4 is built on the industry's most advanced network of high-capacity satellites and on-the-ground equipment, including the new EchoStar® XVII satellite with JUPITER™ high-throughput technology. About Hughes Network Systems Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) is the world's leading provider of satellite broadband for home and office, delivering innovative network technologies, managed services, and solutions for enterprises and governments globally. HughesNet is the #1 high-speed satellite Internet service in the marketplace, with offerings to suit every budget. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 2.8 million systems to customers in over 100 countries, representing over 50 percent market share. Its products employ global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI and ITU organizations, including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A, and GMR-1. Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes operates sales and support offices worldwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), a premier global provider of satellite operations and digital TV solutions. For additional information about Hughes, please visit www.hughes.com. |
| CyanogenMod resurrects OTA updates for latest CM10 nightly builds Posted: 01 Oct 2012 04:28 AM PDT CyanogenMod ROMs give Android users the latest Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean treats to their otherwise-neglected smartphones, and it's mostly open-source except for one piece: the boarded-off ROM Manager. To remedy that, the modding organization is bringing its OTA updater back from the CM5 and 6 graves, letting users pull updates straight to their devices. Notice we say "pull," because pushing would require the Google Apps framework, which the CM updater won't have. However, as the screen above shows, you'll be able to set a timeframe to check and grab the latest versions directly from CyanogenMod's servers, and after flashing yesterday's CM10 ROM, we can confirm that the software is working on our Galaxy S. That'll bring a much-needed dose of simplicity to upgrading CM firmware and make all that modding slightly more mainstream. |
| Verizon iPhone 5 update fixes mobile data use on WiFi bug Posted: 01 Oct 2012 03:43 AM PDT Verizon customers received an unexpected bonus when they opted for the latest iPhone, but in an unfortunate case of carrier Karma, the necessary sacrifice was their mobile data. An update has been issued to fix a Verizon-specific bug which, "under certain circumstances," used cellular data when connected to WiFi. To plug the potential leak, you'll need to head to the About screen in the phone's Settings, General menu, where you should find a update prompt. Install, then -- importantly -- reboot, and if "Verizon 13.1" shows as your carrier in that same About tab, you know you're safe. We'd also recommend checking your data allowance with crossed fingers -- for what use is LTE if you've already hit your monthly cap? |
| Nominet proposes more secure .UK domain for British websites Posted: 01 Oct 2012 02:44 AM PDT Nominet is considering a .uk internet domain for users who can't bear to type the extra three characters necessary for .co.uk. The body is lobbying for the new domain in time for ICANN's next TLD expansion, which includes new entries like .shop, .play and .home. Nominet has promised tough entry requirements for the system, with only businesses (or persons) that can prove a UK presence being eligible to register. It'll also be around four times more expensive, with the extra charges going to pay for daily malware scanning to prevent domain spoofing and a donation to a trust to improve web security. If you're an interested party, you can offer your tuppence-worth at the organization's official public consultation which runs until January 7th 2013. |
| Sony: We are still considering Windows RT, but optimum timing is also key Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:45 AM PDT In the Q&A session at today's Sony VAIO event in Tokyo, a spokesperson expressed that while his company has yet to officially give Windows RT a whirl, it is still under consideration for future VAIO products. The rep added that he believes there's an optimum timing for picking up this ARM-friendly version of Windows 8, but he didn't elaborate further. Perhaps Sony's just getting all too comfortable with Android. |
| Screen Grabs: Elementary pilot has Sherlock Holmes using murder victim's Lumia 800 Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:07 AM PDT Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com. Whether you're a fan of CBS's Elementary spin on Sherlock Holmes or not, it sure gave a nice amount screen-time to cellphones in its pilot. While there was prominent use of iPhones in the episode, we're highlighting a seemingly forced Nokia Lumia 800 cameo -- you'd think it would at least be the 900 being an American series. The camera takes a tight shot of Sherlock swiping through photos on a murder victim's black Lumia twice, highlighting the Nokia logo and Windows Phone 7.5 gallery interface. Here's your clue to see it for yourself: check around the 8-minute mark at the source link below. |
| Sony reveals Japan prices for Windows 8 devices, adds touchscreen to VAIO L, E14P and T13 Posted: 30 Sep 2012 11:29 PM PDT With Windows 8 finally launching in less than four weeks, it's only a matter of time before the web is flooded with prices of upcoming PCs, the first among which this month hail from Sony VAIO's Japan branch. Starting with the Duo 11 slider PC, it's expected to go for about ¥150,000 ($1,930) when it launches in Japan on October 26th (alongside Windows 8), and it'll come with a 1080p display, 1.7GHz Core i5-3317U, 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM and WiMAX. Then we have three flavors of the Tap 20 portable all-in-one which will range from about ¥140,000 ($1,800) up to about ¥180,000 ($2,310) come November 3rd, with the main differences being the CPU (1.8GHz Core i3-3217U, 1.7GHz Core i5-3317U or 1.9GHz Core i7-3517U) and the RAM (4GB or 8GB), but all three will feature the same 20-inch 1,600 x 900 display and 1TB hard drive. Also announced at the Tokyo event are Japan prices for three more existing VAIO models that now feature a touchscreen: ¥130,000 ($1,670) for the T Series 13 Ultrabook with Core i5-3317U, ¥150,000 ($1,920) for the VAIO E Series 14P laptop with Core i5-3210M, and from ¥210,000 ($2,700) to ¥240,000 ($3,080) for the VAIO L Series 24-inch all-in-one with Core i7-3630QM and 1080p display. The two laptops will be available in Japan from October 26th, whereas the all-in-one will join in from November 3rd. There's no indication as to whether the US prices will match their Japanese counterparts (the former are usually a lot cheaper), but hey, stay tuned here and you'll know as soon as we do.
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| FreedomPop's pay-as-you-go data service launches in beta, offering 500MB of free WiMAX per month Posted: 30 Sep 2012 10:00 PM PDT It was almost a year ago that we first heard about FreedomPop, a startup built on the manifesto that every American (yes, you) should have access to free wireless broadband. Ten months later, the pay-as-you-go service is launching in beta, with "free" meaning 500MB of data per month. For the time being, the touted 4G service will come courtesy of Clearwire's WiMAX network, but FreedomPop says it will switch to Sprint's LTE spectrum sometime in early 2013. In the meantime, though, you can expect speeds anywhere between 4 and 10 Mbps down, and 1 to 2 Mbps up. To take advantage of the service, you'll need to either buy or rent some compatible hardware. Your options include the "Freedom Spot" hotspot capable of serving eight devices simultaneously, or the "Freedom Stick," a USB dongle. Both of these are free, but require that you put down a refundable deposit ($89 for the hotspot and $49 for the stick). As we previously reported, too, the company will be selling $99 iPhone and iPod cases that double as hotspots, though these won't actually be available for another four to six weeks. The iPhone version, in particular, does triple-duty as a charging case. If you do venture past that 500MB data cap you'll pay $10 for every subsequent gigabyte. Packaged deals will also be available. As we had heard, though, FreedomPop is hoping to recoup the costs of that free data by selling premium services, with three to start and more coming later. At launch, these add-ons will include device protection (24/7 customer service and replacement service within 48 hours) and notification alerts if you're about to hit the data cap. You can also pay for speedier 4G, though the company's claim of "up to 50 percent faster" performance is a vague one, given that the range of possible speeds is so broad to begin with. There's one last piece about how FreedomPop works, and it might help if we drew a comparison to Dropbox, or Zynga, even. As you would in Farmville, you can earn extra
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| Lenovo intros ThinkCentre M78 with AMD A-Series APU and a starting price of $449 Posted: 30 Sep 2012 09:01 PM PDT There's never a bad time for computer makers to update any part of their extensive PC lineup, and today marks Lenovo's turn to introduce a new tower as part of its voluminous M Series. With the addition of this ThinkCentre M78, the Chinese outfit is touting the adoption of AMD's hot-off-the-press A-Series processors as one of the desktop's main features, plus there's also the inclusion of four USB 3.0 ports, the ability to add up to 32GB of DDR3 memory and support for as many as three monitors simultaneously -- all of which, according to Lenovo, make for a very "reliable PC with powerful performance, a high level of security and energy efficiency." Better yet, perhaps, is the ThinkCentre M78's decent starting price point of 449 bucks, with units expected to start shipping this month from Lenovo's own website and other third-party retailers. Lenovo ThinkCentre M78 Delivers Big for Business with Advanced Processing Power Affordable desktop packages performance, security and energy savings RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – October 1, 2012: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced the latest addition to its flagship M Series desktop PC line – the ThinkCentre M78 - designed for medium to large businesses. Featuring the latest AMD A-Series Accelerated Processing Units (APUs), the ThinkCentre M78 gives business professionals a reliable PC with powerful performance, a high level of security and energy efficiency. "Professionals in medium to large businesses need dependable, productive and secure desktops to meet the day-to-day rigors of workplace demands," said Su Lijun, executive director, global desktop marketing, Lenovo. "We built the ThinkCentre M78 to last, equipping it with great performance, security and energy- saving features in one device." Equipped with the latest AMD A-Series APUs and up to 32GB DDR3 memory, the ThinkCentre M78 improves productivity in the workplace with accelerated performance for quicker web browsing, smooth video playback/ video conferencing and multitasking of software programs and applications. Available in a traditional tower or small form factor, the ThinkCentre M78 features Lenovo's RapidBoot HDD Accelerator, for speedy boot up times. Other productivity enhancements on the M78 include support for up to three independent monitors so users can run multiple programs simultaneously. The desktop can easily transfer data with four native USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports, which delivers 10x the data transfer rate of Hi-Speed USB1. The ThinkCentre M78 also provides users world-class security and dependability. It includes USB port disablement to defend against data theft and TPM 1.2 with enhanced data protection to help keep proprietary work files safe. With its Intelligent Cooling Engine, the ThinkCentre M78 operates quietly and stays cool to offer extreme reliability, ultimately helping to extend the PC's life. Rated for Energy-Savings Pricing and Availability About Lenovo Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a $US30 billion personal technology company serving customers in more than 160 countries, and the world's second-largest PC vendor. Dedicated to building exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, Lenovo's business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com. |
| HP announces the ElitePad 900, a business-friendly Windows 8 tablet arriving in January Posted: 30 Sep 2012 09:01 PM PDT Remember those hazy days of summer when HP ran an ad during the Olympics, slipped in a a shot of an unannounced tablet and thought we wouldn't notice? (P'shaw!) Well, you can finally lay your speculation to rest, as HP just formally unveiled the mystery tab, along with a slew of accessories. It's called the ElitePad 900 and, as rumored, it's a 10-inch Windows 8 slate meant for business users, with features like pen input, drive encryption and optional 3G / 4G. Like HP's high-end EliteBook laptops, the ElitePad has a premium look, marked by a machined aluminum back cover and 400-nit IPS display coated in Gorilla Glass. Also similar to the EliteBooks, it meets the military's MIL-spec 810G durability requirements, and can withstand three-foot drops, among other accidents. All told, it weighs 1.5 pounds and measures 9.2mm thick. Going by weight, that's more along the lines of what you'd expect from a larger, 11-inch tablet, but 1.5 pounds is still manageable, especially considering how armored this thing is. On the inside, it runs an Atom-based Intel Clover Trail processor, buffered by up to 2GB of RAM. Like so many other systems with this kind of chip, it promises about 10 hours of runtime -- a clear improvement over similar devices packing Core i5 CPUs. Storage-wise, you'll have your choice between a 32 or 64GB SSD. The screen has a resolution of 1,280 x 800, making it the one feature likely to disappoint power users. Take a tour around the device and you'll find an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1080p shooter up front for video chats. Hidden behind a service door on the back are two slots: one for microSD cards, and another for 3G / 4G SIMs. And how 'bout those accessories? In addition to the tablet, HP will be selling two so-called SmartJackets, cases that do a little more than just shield the device from wear and tear. One of them, for instance, has two USB ports, HDMI output, a full-size memory card slot and room for an optional battery slice. That battery, by the way, has a capacity of about eight hours, so while the case does add some heft it could be worth it if you need a PC that will last through a flight from New York to Tokyo. As for the second case, its defining feature is a built-in keyboard, which plugs directly into the tablet. Though HP announced the ElitePad 900 today, the tablet won't go on sale here in the US until January. Hopefully we'll also get a final price as we get closer to that launch date. Luckily, we've already gotten a chance to play with it, so meet us after the break for hands-on photos and a short walk-through video detailing our first impressions.
Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.
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| How would you change Nokia's Lumia 900? Posted: 30 Sep 2012 07:17 PM PDT While this regular feature is called How Would You Change, in the case of Nokia's Lumia 900, it seems more apt to change the question to "What Killed It?." The flagship was designed to break the US from its traditional indifference to the company, yet only 600,000 users took the plunge. Firstly, despite its low price and smooth performance, it had mediocre specs and a middling display, while customers were outraged when the incompatible Windows Phone 8 and the Lumia 920 supplanted it half a year later. This week, we're asking you to play armchair Elop and tell us what you'd have done differently if they'd asked you. |
| Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review Posted: 30 Sep 2012 06:00 PM PDT More InfoIf you had told us at roughly this time last year that the e-reader race would be heating up going into the 2012 holiday season, we would have disagreed. If anything, 2011 seemed like the beginning of the end. Spurred on by the tablet explosion, companies like Amazon, Barnes & Noble and even Kobo were looking toward that space for inspiration, introducing flagship devices on which reading was just one of many features. Heck, even the readers themselves started to look more tablet-like, with many abandoning of physical keyboards in favor of infrared touchscreens. But here we are at the end of September, and this product category has never been more exciting. Back in May, Barnes & Noble captured our hearts and midnight reading marathons with the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, a wordy name for a great little device that made reading in bed at night a little easier. (A problem, according to Barnes & Noble, that was tearing the country's families apart.) But don't let it be said that Amazon doesn't believe in the American family. Earlier this month, the company launched the Kindle Paperwhite, the latest addition to a product lineup that has more or less become synonymous with the term "e-reader." At that launch event, CEO Jeff Bezos described the four years of R&D that went into the front light technology powering that bright screen. It was clear from our hands-on time with the device that, although Amazon is placing extra emphasis on the Fire line these days, it still has a lot invested in the e-reader fight. The sharpened, illuminated text is impressive, and Amazon has gone so far as to describe this as the Kindle it's always wanted to build. That's all well and good, but how does it compare to similar offerings on the market? Is this worth the $119 asking price (with ads)? Let's find out. Hardware Even when it was first released in 2007, the first-generation Kindle was a bit dated -- a big, bulky thing cluttered with keys and buttons. By the time the sleek third-gen model came out, it was clear that industrial design had moved up on Amazon's list of priorities. With last year's Kindle Touch, Amazon ditched the QWERTY keyboard, and now it's taking things a step further with the Paperwhite. There's a stark minimalism on display here: two buttons were clearly one too many, and as such, the company lopped off the menu button on the lower bezel, and replaced it with a lowercase Kindle logo. Only a single button remains: a small, lonely power button nestled on the bottom of the device. We've bemoaned Amazon's aversion to physical buttons in the past, particularly in the case of the physical page turn buttons that used to sit on either side of Kindle e-readers. After all, touch is fine for most things, but an E Ink reader can freeze up, leaving the screen unresponsive to touch input. And then there's the fact that single-handed reading is a risky proposition, as anyone who gets to work on the subway will happily tell you. You'll also notice that Amazon ditched the last-gen model's silver coloring in favor of an all-black design (much like the rest of the industry, we might add). The bezels on the front are made of the same hard plastic as the previous model, with a soft-touch material wrapping around the back. The material's becoming a bit of an industry standard on these devices, and we can see why: it feels nice beneath the fingers and offers some friction to help ensure you won't accidentally lose your grip during a particularly saucy "Fifty Shades of Grey" passage (not that we'd know). About a third of the way down the rear side you'll find another, larger Kindle logo. At the bottom are all the requisite FCC stats. For obvious reasons, Amazon has ditched the metal tabs used for connecting those optional reading light cases. There are also no speaker grilles here, and the headphone jack has disappeared altogether, taking the dream of multimedia playback with it. On that bottom lip, you're only going to find the micro-USB slot (for charging and syncing with your computer) and the power button, which you'll primarily be using for waking the reader up from sleep (the battery life is just that good). Of course, it will also come in handy on those occasions when a screen freeze necessitates a full reboot. Display Top to bottom: Kindle Touch, Kindle Paperwhite (light off), Kindle Paperwhite (light at top setting) The thing is, you won't really have to worry about how the text appears with the light off. If Amazon's numbers are to be believed, you'll be spending all of your time reading with the light on, nighttime or no. The company says it paid special attention to selecting LEDs that didn't wear down the device's battery. By Amazon's own estimate, it's done a pretty solid job on that account: it rates the battery for eight weeks of reading time with the light on (at a little less than halfway, with the WiFi off, by Amazon's own caveats). And if you had any doubts about how much confidence the company has in its estimates, note that the device's light turns on the minute you pull it out of the box and fire it up. That bodes well, we'd say. Of course, results will vary depending on what settings you've chosen. We were rocking it at full blast for a while (save for when it automatically shuts off to go to sleep, of course) with 3G turned on, and we did experience some perceptible battery drain. What's also remarkable about the display is how evenly the light is distributed. Given the attempts we've seen at front-lit e-readers in the past, we were fairly impressed even with what Barnes & Noble was able to do with its patent pending GlowLight technology. But, place it next to the Paperwhite and the difference is night and day. A quick look at the Nook shows a much brighter top, making it immediately apparent where inside the device the light is coming from. Just in case you're still unsure, give the Nook a tilt and you'll see it clearly coming from beneath the bezel. Amazon, on the other hand, has managed to significantly reduce the gap between the bezel and the display. If you look for it, you can see the light source, but unless you peer closely, the light appears to be coming from all sides. Look carefully and you'll also see spots at the bottom of the display -- when on a white page, with the light turned up to full blast. Under those conditions, you might notice some unevenness toward to bottom. On the whole, however, the light distribution is far, far more even than on the GlowLight. Left to right: The Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight and the Kindle Paperwhite (each set to maximum brightness). Also immediately apparent is the "White" part of the this whole Paperwhite proposition. While the GlowLight's display has a bluish tint, the Kindle Paperwhite deserves more of a Timex comparison. Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but you get our point: the new Kindle's lighting allows for significantly whiter pages than what you'll find on the Nook and most E Ink displays, frankly. Above, an explanation of Amazon's front light technology. How did Amazon achieve such a feat? According to the company, the lighting technology was the result of nearly four years R&D (i.e., this isn't something the company just cooked up when it heard about Barnes & Noble's GlowLight). In explaining how the technology works, Amazon has described the setup as an optical fiber laid flat across the display, above the screen, accompanied by a nano-imprinted light guide that allows for even light distribution. Of course, even with that hurdle overcome, the Paperwhite does still retain some of the issues we're used to encountering with E Ink displays. For one thing, we did encounter a bit of ghosting -- more so than we've experienced on the Nook, even, but not quite as much as on the most recent Sony Reader. You still get a full page refresh every six pages or so, which has been the industry standard for about a year now. Still, as you'll notice in the above video, full refreshes can be a lot more frequent in some cases. Software For the default home screen, Amazon's relying a lot more heavily on images, taking advantage of that increased pixel count with a row of three book covers, each of which represent your recent picks. Fresh downloads bear a "New" sash and take up a bit more screen real estate. You'll also notice a small dotted progress bar for a quick measure of how far you've read. You can access the rest of your download library by clicking just below these, and you can also mix things up and view by title, author or collections. Below this, you get a selection of "Singles," short stories that Amazon thinks you ought to buy for $2 a pop. These sit just above a small Special Offers banner ad -- always be selling, Amazon, coffee is for closers. At the top of the home screen, you'll see a black toolbar featuring your Kindle's name ("Brian's 3rd Kindle" for me -- I'd have preferred something with more zest like BattleBook), your wireless connection (3G, suckers), battery life and the time. Below that is a row of browser-like buttons, including icons for Home, Back, Store, Search with various settings (like View Special Offers!) and adjusting the Light settings. Amazon has done a really nice job with that last one, offering up a sensitive dimmer switch with 24 notches, and a reminder to use a high setting for brightly lit rooms and a low setting for dark rooms, as unintuitive as that might sound. Farther down are two links that let you toggle between books you've downloaded and titles stored in the cloud, a pretty great addition that makes it much easier to access anything you've purchased but haven't yet downloaded to your new reader. Here, you get a library of big book covers. Clicking on one will start the download to the device, which has 2GB of non-expandable storage. As for the store itself, the experience hasn't changed very much. Amazon's borrowed the browser-like toolbar from the home screen, whose large icons push things down the page a bit. The store looks a bit cleaner, too, as the company removed the gray borders between sections. What really counts, however, is selection, and Amazon's certainly got one of the best libraries. Amazon has always been cagey about giving hard numbers, though. Take a look at the company's press materials and you'll find fairly meaningless stats like, "over a million titles less than $9.99." And what of this reading experience we've heard so much about? We're glad you asked. As ever, it's all about the words: the text monopolizes a good chunk of the page. In the bottom-right corner, you'll still find the percentage of the book you've read thus far (we still prefer actual page numbers -- though you can access those in the menu). On the lower left, however, the obscure location number has been swapped out for the new "Time to Read" feature, which is exactly what it sounds like: an estimate of how many minutes it will take you to finish the book. The feature starts with an average number and then adjusts as it learns your reading habits. All told, a terrific new addition. As mentioned above, the increase in resolution and pixels means that the company can offer up even more font sizes and styles, making the text readable even at the smallest setting. This latest Kindle features eight text sizes, seven font sizes (hellooooo, Helvetica) and three settings for both line spacings and margins. Text size can also be adjusted with a pinch gesture, though the motion is hardly fluid. Plenty of features have been carried over from the last-gen model as well, including X-Ray, which lets you find characters, places, topics, etc. spaced throughout the book by searching on a given term. Setting a bookmark is as simple as tapping the upper-right corner of the screen. To highlight, hold down and drag. From there, you can add a note, look up words in The New Oxford American Dictionary, translate through Bing translation or share passages on Facebook or Twitter. Amazon's still referring to its built-in browser as "experimental," and it's easy to see why. Surfing the web on an e-reader is still kind of a last-ditch solution, something you might do should your computer, tablet and phone all explode simultaneously. To use the browser, you'll have to turn on the WiFi, even on 3G devices -- Amazon will pay for you to download all the books you want, but it ain't shelling out for you to surf the web. Between the display limitations and the stuttering required to scroll up and down a page, there aren't a lot of nice things to be said here -- and in that case, it's not all that different from browsers on competing devices. We will say this: the addition of the large toolbar from the home screen is a nice touch. As per usual, the device can display PDFs and docs. Here, it takes advantage of Amazon's handy Send to Kindle feature. Just install the application on your device and you can drag and drop files, which get sent to whichever Kindle tied to your account you specify. Amazon's estimate of "a few seconds" is a bit optimistic, but it did take less than a minute before a PDF we sent ourselves popped up on our homepage. Once it arrived, we used the touchscreen to zoom in and scroll across the document -- handy features for those who need to read word documents on the go, but don't want to rely on their tiny phone screen. Amazon's also built in some parental controls here, accessible in the Settings menu. From there, you can restrict access to the browser, Kindle Store and the Cloud, requiring all users to enter a password to utilize that functionality -- simple, but no doubt effective for parents looking to keep their kids out of monochromatic trouble. Wrap-up Left to right: the Kindle Paperwhite and the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight. So, do all of these features add up to the best e-reader out there? In a syllable: yep. Amazon was clearly focused on creating the best possible reading experience with the Paperwhite, and it's delivered. The screen adjustments are great -- everything from the evenly distributed front light to the improved contrast. Meanwhile, the new Time to Read feature, coupled with X-Ray, Whispersync and Send to Kindle, further round out the experience. And, of course, there are perennial favorites like optional 3G and Amazon's vast catalog of content. The Kindle's still far from perfect, though. For starters, it's simply not as pleasant to hold as the Nook Simple Touches -- it ultimately sacrifices comfort for some aesthetic niceties. There's also the Kindle lineup's continued lack of expandable storage, though the on-board 2GB might well be enough for you, especially with unlimited cloud storage at the ready. And then there's the whole special offers thing. Amazon, can we stop pretending that ads are a bonus feature? It's great that you're able to shave the price down to $119 for the WiFi version and $179 for 3G, and these ads certainly aren't as intrusive as some might suggest. Still, with the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight now priced at $119 without ads, it's hard to get behind paying $20 for an ad-free experience. Those caveats aside, though, the Kindle Paperwhite has once again made Amazon's e-reader the one to beat. |
| Refresh Roundup: week of September 24th, 2012 Posted: 30 Sep 2012 05:06 PM PDT Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Official Android updates
Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery
Other platforms
Refreshes we covered this week
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| Slackware 14.0 now available, freshens and simplifies a Linux vanguard Posted: 30 Sep 2012 04:15 PM PDT When it comes to Linux distributions, Slackware could well be called the archetype. It's not just one of the longest-serving releases at nearly 20 years old -- it's designed to be "pure" and cut back on customized apps, many graphical interface assistants and the requirement to download anything during the installation process. Pat Volkerding and team have nonetheless given us a bit of a break with the launch of Slackware 14.0. While many open-source fans will be downloading a copy for the more recent Linux 3.2.29 kernel and other updated packages, ease of use is the guiding principle for the new build: there's now a graphical NetworkManager interface to manage wired and wireless connections, for a start. In tandem with the newer kernel, updated versions of the KDE and Xfce desktop environments also result in much broader hardware support than many veteran users will remember. Slackware is now much more savvy about removable storage, accelerated 3D video, SATA and other features that have sometimes demanded command line trickery. Anyone can download the revamped distribution for free, including for ARM-based devices like the Raspberry Pi, although we'd consider springing for the $33 subscription to CD-based copies of Slackware to fund Volkerding's long-term efforts. |
| Slingbox 350 and 500 show up unannounced in Best Buy, flaunt 1080p and built-in WiFi Posted: 30 Sep 2012 03:33 PM PDT You might say Dave Zatz just had a happy accident. While he was hunting for the as yet unofficial Logitech Harmony Touch in Best Buy, he discovered the Slingbox 350 and 500 -- two more living room gadgets that have yet to receive an official introduction. The placeshifting hubs both look to be major improvements over the aging Slingbox Pro HD and Solo, making 1080p streaming available as long as the connection is up to snuff. Those who spring for the 500 should also get long overdue support for WiFi without having to use a wireless bridge, although they may miss the Pro HD's ATSC tuner. Outside of the networking, Sling Media is making expansion its upsell angle: the 500 supports USB media sharing and HDMI, while the 350 has to make do with whatever can pipe through its component and composite jacks. Zatz was unfortunately foiled in an attempt to buy one of the new Slingboxes and couldn't get final pricing, but Best Buy's suggestion to try again around mid-October hints that we won't have long to wait for a much-needed upgrade to our remote TV viewing. |
| Switched On: iOS 6 gets back from the app Posted: 30 Sep 2012 02:30 PM PDT Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Apple's App Store has more smartphone apps than those of its competitors. But the sheer size of the library is not the only source of consternation for Google or Microsoft, which would both readily concede that it's also important to obtain the kind of key apps, optimized apps and platform-first apps the iPhone enjoys. The iPhone's commanding marketplace lead is due to several factors. These include the huge number and historical affluence of its users and the ease of its App Store. The iPhone, though, was not the first phone to have apps. In fact, in its early days, it didn't have apps at all as the company urged developers to create optimized web apps for the platform similar to what Mozilla is now advocating for its streamlined mobile operating system Boot2Gecko. Apple originally put its efforts into creating archetypical apps for tasks such as calling, browsing, email and mapping. Rather than open the iPhone to third-party developers at first, it handpicked partners for various features, such as Google for maps and Yahoo for weather and stocks. As the number of apps has exploded, though, relatively few have taken Apple's smartphone in bold, new directions. There have been many excellent -- and many more mediocre -- games. There have been websites and services -- including Amazon, eBay, Facebook and apps from a range of banks, stores and other institutions -- that have gone native. There have been some beautiful reference and educational titles. And there have been apps that have plugged past holes such as voice memos and turn-by-turn navigation. But the apps that have turned the iPhone into a more useful tool -- be it as simple as a flashlight or as sophisticated as a language translator -- have been relatively rare. Developers must share some responsibility for this, but they can do only what Apple allows them to do, and the business model for something well understood and with potential universal appeal like a game can be far more lucrative than a guitar-tuning app. Apple still highlights the quality of iPhone apps, trotting out graphically dazzling games to illustrate the increased horsepower of the handset. But the next chapter of its iPhone experience wraps up guided transactions in a package of core first-party apps that are again working with handpicked partners. Take, for example, the process of preparing for going out to a movie. With Siri, someone can inquire about what's playing in theaters nearby, navigate to that theater using Apple's Maps app and present the ticket stub from the lock screen, all invoking Apple's app working with its selected partners. It's doubtful that Apple will fully open up Siri to third-party developers anytime soon. As the number of topics and tasks grow, it becomes increasingly difficult for Siri to answer appropriately. But there may be other ways to tap into the more closed parts of iOS via Maps or Passbook. The larger question for the enterprising developers isn't what you have the freedom to code on the iPhone, but how you can profit from it. Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is principal analyst at Reticle Research, an advisory firm focused on consumer technology. Views expressed in Switched On are his own. |
| IRL: Dyson DC44, NUU ClickMate PowerPlus and the Galaxy S III Posted: 30 Sep 2012 12:15 PM PDT Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.  Can't get more random than this, folks: in this week's edition of IRL, we have Darren recommending a vacuum cleaner, Dan Cooper continuing his search for a backup phone charger and Jon Fingas putting the Galaxy S III to the test against his beloved HTC One X. Dyson DC44 Animal Enter the DC44 Animal, a new cordless machine that's absolutely perfect for city dwellers. It feels a bit like holding a flamethrower (I'm guessing -- promise!), with a battery pack and a trigger on one end, and the suction apparatus on the other. In testing, I found a full charge to last for around 15 to 20 minutes, while a recharge took between one and two hours. It ships with a variety of useful attachments, and the ball pivot at the bottom makes cornering a breeze. Like any Dyson, it picks up an insane amount of rubbish. Pet hair, dust you didn't know existed, old Doritos -- you name it. Sadly, the $400 price tag makes it unreasonable for most. It just does. It's also fairly impractical for larger homes, where you'd need to recharge once or twice just to cover all of your floors. But if you're interested in keeping your posh Upper East Side apartment spotless -- and money ain't a thang -- there's nothing better. (Due to popular request, here is the animal I have to clean up after. His name is Gangster.) -- Darren Murph NUU ClickMate PowerPlus The 1,600mAh battery is robust enough for a second full charge, which should be sufficient for nearly two days of non-stop use. Those familiar with the Logic3 PowerSleeve will be elated to see the micro-USB port being integrated perfectly into the base rather than jammed in as an afterthought, and it aggregates far less pocket lint as a consequence. In fact, the only niggle we have is that the default option is set to "on," rather than off, but given that it's a single button press to remedy the situation, we're going to let that one pass. -- Dan Cooper Samsung Galaxy S III Technically, it's superb. How can you not like that giant screen, the 19Mbps downloads that I got on Rogers' LTE network? While I do prefer the HTC One X among giant Android phones from a pure design standpoint, the Galaxy S III's plastic shell has its own charms. The pebble blue color is at once distinctive and endearing, if a bit smudge-prone. Some credit also has to be given for a few key TouchWiz additions: I really like the quick settings in the notification bar as well as the burst shot and Smart Stay extras, even if those last two aren't switched on by default. However, Samsung's phone wouldn't be my first pick. It's just. Too. Big. I have normal-sized hands and don't have much trouble with the 4.65-inch Galaxy Nexus, but the 4.8-inch Galaxy S III somehow breaks my limits. It really needs two hands, and I found myself accidentally launching apps with my palm if I reached too far with one hand. Say what you will about the iPhone 5's smaller screen and resolution, but I'd pick that if I were regularly carrying a bag in one hand while checking Twitter from the other. When you include the slightly sub-par camera quality, some questionable features (S Voice pales in comparison to Google Now or Siri) and the usual questions surrounding timely updates for customized Android builds, it's no wonder I'm a bit disillusioned. Forget the removable battery and microSD slot: for non-stock Android, I'd pick the better-built, more practical One X over the Galaxy S III, every time. -- Jon Fingas |
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