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Engadget News |
- Samsung starts taking pre-orders for its Windows 8 PC lineup
- Kaspersky Labs preps its own OS to guard vital industry against cyberwarfare
- Romo's return: the cute little smartphone robot wants to steal your heart again
- Cardboard bicycle 'close to mass production': tough, green and just $20
- Apple announces 'Special Event' for October 23rd -- we'll be there live!
- ContourROAM2 debuts in red, blue, green and black garb, shoots 1080p video for $199 on October 21
- iTwin SecureBox adds hardware encryption to your Dropbox account
- Engadget Giveaway: win an exclusive Atari 2600 with PC components!
- Beats By Dre launches Executive noise-cancelling headphones, keeps 'em dapper in aluminum for $300 (ears-on)
- Beats by Dre Pill portable Bluetooth speaker officially drops, we take one per the Dr. and go ears-on
- Microsoft Surface: inside the three-year secret project to build the first great Windows tablet
- Microsoft Surface for Windows RT pricing now official: tablet starts at $499, keyboard not included
- Google nabs design patent for left-eyed Google Glass, frees southpaws from tyranny
- Microsoft reportedly building up to 5 million Surface tablets for the fall
- Boxee TV delivers dual-tuners and cloud-based DVR for $99 November 1st
- Sprint's Galaxy Note II to arrive October 25th, with LTE and $300 price tag
- Red offers 'truckload' of one-time rental Scarlet-Xs for almost $5K off each
- iPod nano hits iFixit's dissection slab, rated so-so on the repairability scale
- Foxconn admits child labor laws breached by use of underage interns
- T-Mobile to kick off Isis Mobile Wallet pilot program on October 22nd according to leaked photo
- Microsoft puts a price on Surface RT: starts at $499, or $599 with Touch Cover
- Logitech announces $200 Broadcaster WiFi webcam for iPhone, iPad and Mac (video)
- Hyundai to wire cars with Broadcom ethernet tech, put infotainment and security systems on one network
- Foursquare launches local search for all, goes after the likes of Yelp and Google
- EU regulators urge Google to modify privacy policy, offers 12 recommendations (update: statement from Google)
- ASUS PadFone 2 to hit European and Asian markets before end of December (update: European prices)
- Google revamps Developer Console for Google Play, eases tracking Android app ratings over time
- ASUS PadFone 2 hands-on in Taipei (updated with video)
- ForcePhone from Nokia Research, HIIT sends positive vibes with a squeeze
- ASUS PadFone 2 vs PadFone 1... hang out!
- Tokyoflash hides the time inside the Kisai Maze watch for you to find (video)
- ZTE to report net loss due to third-quarter slump, share price drops
- ASUS PadFone 2 unveiled in Taiwan, boasts quad-core CPU, LTE, NFC and lighter tablet (video)
- Honda sells its millionth hybrid, sits in Toyota's rear-view mirror for now
- PSA: Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard update rolling out today
- Xbox 360 Dashboard update hands-on (fall 2012)
- Microsoft airs its first Surface tablet ad, focuses on keyboard, kickstand and... dancers?
- Adobe Reader for iOS and Android updated with cloud storage support
- Korean IPTV service LG Uplus launches a Google TV-powered set-top box
- Sphero gets an improved, multifunction Drive app, we go hands-on
| Samsung starts taking pre-orders for its Windows 8 PC lineup Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:01 AM PDT
While most eyes have been focused on Microsoft finally slapping an official price tag on its upcoming Surface tablet this morning, let's not forget there other companies involved in the Windows 8 madness as well. Just a few moments ago, Samsung announced it's now ready to take your money in exchange for one of the many offerings inside its hefty PC repertoire, such as the ATIV Smart PC, Series 5 Ultra Touch, Series 7 Notebook, Series 9 Premium Ultrabook and the Series 5, Series 7 all-in-ones -- all of which will be available on that now-famed October 26th date. Naturally, pricing depends on what setup you decide to add to your cart, but chances are you'll find one that's right for you amongst this extensive PC feast from the Korean electronics giant. Samsung's Windows 8 PC Lineup Now Available for Pre-Order; In Stores October 26 New Laptops, Samsung ATIV Smart PCs and All-in-Ones Feature Exclusive Software Offering Extended Usability Options, Convergence and Apps RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, today announced details about its upcoming Windows 8 mobile PC and All-In-One product lines. Building on its leadership position in the PC and tablet market, Samsung is bringing premium computing power, elegant design and an intuitive user experience to its PCs along with seamless convergence across devices, thanks to Samsung AllShare® Play. In addition, Samsung offers a range of unique applications across devices including Samsung Quick Starter, and exclusive S Pen apps such as S Note and S Memo. "Samsung has seen extraordinary growth in the mobile PC category over the past few years, and we're now taking our success to the next level by connecting the PC to other devices in the home or office through our convergence technology, Samsung AllShare Play" "Samsung has seen extraordinary growth in the mobile PC category over the past few years, and we're now taking our success to the next level by connecting the PC to other devices in the home or office through our convergence technology, Samsung AllShare Play," said Mike Abary, senior vice president of consumer IT product marketing at Samsung Electronics America. "The launch of Windows 8 provides an inflection point in the evolution of the PC. Samsung has always focused on pushing the boundaries of design to create truly remarkable products that consumers and businesses want. We're confident that we will continue to lead the future with our thoughtful, powerful approach to the computing experience." Samsung's Windows 8 Product Lineup The Samsung Windows 8 product lineup includes a diverse range of computing solutions, from highly portable laptops and Samsung ATIV Smart PCs to sleek All-In-One desktop PCs. Each product incorporates Samsung's stylish design, intuitive hardware and premium computing components. Samsung's new product lineup includes: Samsung ATIV Smart PC 500T: Engineered for highly mobile users, this device provides enhanced content consumption and creation by allowing users to effortlessly switch between a traditional clamshell notebook PC and tablet PC. Powerful Connectivity and Applications Samsung's newest PCs feature powerful, exclusive applications that maximize productivity and ease-of-use. All of the products have the ability to seamlessly interact with other Samsung devices, such as mobile phones, tablets and TVs, through Samsung AllShare Play, fully integrating the PC into users' home or office ecosystems. Users can easily share content between their All-In-One and other Samsung devices on the same network. They can showcase photos from their phone to the larger All-In-One display, or share a document drafted on their All-In-One with their tablet and continue editing while on the road. Samsung's new PCs also feature S Manager for the latest software and drivers. Included within S Manager is Samsung's Quick Starter feature, which adds a toolbar and start button to the Windows 8 interface. This provides users with a choice of interface and offers a familiar navigation scheme. In addition, S Manager includes AllShare Play for seamless convergence across devices. The ATIV Smart PC Pro devices are preloaded with S Pen optimized apps such as S Note, S Memo and S Cloud, allowing users to fully capitalize on the S Pen that ships embedded in a slot on the device. With 1,024 levels of sensitivity, the S Pen is designed for natural and intuitive content creation, and offers features including handwriting to text conversion and varying thickness when drawing or writing, depending on the pressure applied. Looking up recipes on your computer has also never been easier than it is on the new Samsung Series 5 and Series 7 All-In-One PCs, thanks to Jamie Oliver's application Jamie Oliver's Recipes, which is exclusively pre-installed on Samsung's Windows 8 PCs. Users can enjoy delicious recipes from around the world, developed specifically for the application and displayed in an easy to follow step-by-step format, each with beautiful high-definition photographs. Pricing and Availability Samsung's Windows 8 product line is available for pre-order now at www.Samsung.com and will be available in stores October 26, 2012. The MSRP for each product is as follows: Samsung ATIV Smart PC 500T = $749.99 About Samsung Electronics America Enterprise Business Division As a global leader in Information Technology, Samsung's Enterprise Business Division (EBD) is committed to bringing meaningful innovation to businesses of all types from small/medium businesses to the Fortune 500 elite and public agencies alike. Samsung offers a complete portfolio of solutions including virtualization, printing, displays, notebook and tablet PCs and digital signage; all designed to move businesses forward while helping to reduce operating cost and the environmental footprint. Samsung EBD is a division of Samsung Electronics America (SEA), Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd. (SEC) and is among the world's largest technology companies. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/business or call 1-866-SAM-4BIZ. About Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, is a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The company markets a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance products, as well as oversees all of Samsung's North American operations including Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, Samsung Semiconductor Inc., Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, the Samsung organization is one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry. The company was ranked #19 in BusinessWeek/Interbrand "100 Best Global Brands," and named as one of Fast Company's "50 Most Innovative Companies of 2010." For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. You can also Fan Samsung on www.Facebook.com/SamsungUSA or follow Samsung via Twitter @SamsungTweets. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world's most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. * Accessible capacity varies; MB = 1 million bytes, GB = 1 billion bytes, TB = 1 trillion bytes. Please note that a portion of the hard drive is reserved for system recovery, operating system and preloaded content software. ** All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, to benefits, design, components, performance, availability and capability of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kaspersky Labs preps its own OS to guard vital industry against cyberwarfare Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:28 AM PDT
Kaspersky Labs' namesake Eugene Kaspersky is worried that widely distributed and potentially state-sponsored malware like Flame and Stuxnet pose dire threats to often lightly protected infrastructure like communication and power plants -- whatever your nationality, it's clearly bad for the civilian population of a given country to suffer even collateral damage from cyberattacks. To minimize future chaos and literally keep the trains running, Kaspersky and his company are expanding their ambitions beyond mere antivirus software to build their own, extra-secure operating system just for large-scale industry. The platform depends on a custom, minimalist core that refuses to run any software that isn't baked in and has no code outside of its main purposes: there'll be no water supply shutdowns after the night watch plays Solitaire from an infected drive. Any information shared from one of these systems should be completely trustworthy, Kaspersky says. He doesn't have details as to when the OS will reach behind-the-scenes hardware, but he stresses that this is definitely not an open-source project: some parts of the OS will always remain confidential to keep ne'er-do-well terrorists (and governments) from undermining the technology we often take for granted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Romo's return: the cute little smartphone robot wants to steal your heart again Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:59 AM PDT
Last time we saw Romo, it was a fledgling Kickstarter that we gave the Insert Coin treatment to, which then went on to achieve its funding. Now, the team behind it are back with a new updated version. The latest iteration boasts an all new circuit board, plus updated software and hardware -- along with the promise of an API for developers. If that sounds cool, that's because it is, but there are even loftier plans afoot if they secure a second round of funding. Remote 2-way telepresence, Roomba-esque navigation learning skills, facial recognition and Computer vision to name a few. So if you're an iOS-owning (no Android at this time) robot fan, you'd better scoot on over to the source and be lured in by its cutsie little grin (again). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cardboard bicycle 'close to mass production': tough, green and just $20 Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:27 AM PDT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple announces 'Special Event' for October 23rd -- we'll be there live! Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:00 AM PDT
Apple has just invited members of the press to attend a product launch on October 23rd, where we assume the long-rumored iPad mini will be unveiled. The event will go down merely weeks after Apple took the wraps off of the iPhone 5 (and strangely enough, the Foo Fighters played their last show for the foreseeable future). It's quite unlike Apple to throw two product parties in the fall, but if an entirely new iPad is being revealed, it may be a scenario that becomes more familiar in years to come. At this point, we're left with far more questions than answers: will the iPad mini really ship with a Lightning port, while the Retina iPad -- which was only introduced in March -- continues to ship with the "old" Dock Connector? Will Apple really continue to refresh its two iPad products at different intervals? Will the (presumed) AT&T iPad mini actually include mobile hotspot functionality? And while we're at it, is Apple really going to throw a "one more thing" into the mix by bumping its 13-inch MacBook Pro into Retina territory? After all, tossing "little" into the invite could allude to a smaller iPad and an update to an already-small laptop. We'll be there to bring you the blow-by-blow as it happens, so feel free to go ahead and take next Tuesday off. We'll sign the approval form. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ContourROAM2 debuts in red, blue, green and black garb, shoots 1080p video for $199 on October 21 Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:58 AM PDT
The Contour+2 may well be the best digital action camcorder on the market (though Sony and GoPro would beg to differ), but the company knows not everyone wants a $400 shooter to capture their epic runs this ski season. Thus, Contour has introduced the ROAM2, a $199 model that records 1080p 30fps and 720p 60fps video on its included 4GB microSD card. Like the original Roam, it can capture clips up to one meter underwater without an external case, has a 270-degree rotating lens and a laser level to line up your shots. This new Roam, however, sports improved image quality and an aluminum skin of four colors: black, red and blue will be widely available, and green models can be had exclusively from Amazon through the end of the year (other retailers will carry it in 2013). Want one? Best Buy and other retailers will start selling them on October 21st. ContourROAM2 Makes Action Video Dead Simple Available in Color at Best Buy and Select Retailers on October 21 "Simplicity, quality, versatility, and form factor have always been at the forefront of Contour's award-winning designs and the ContourROAM2 is no exception," said Marc Barros, CEO of Contour. "The ContourROAM2 and recently launched, data-rich Contour+2 show the company's laser focus on simplicity and innovation." The ContourROAM2 features thehighest quality HD action video, lightweight design and 270° rotating lens. Additional features include: · Locking Instant On-Record switch: Simply slide the Instant On-Record switch into its locked position to immediately start capturing video · Four Crisp HD Modes: Shoot in 1080p as well as 720p at 60 frames per second · New Vibrant Colors: Selectfrom red, blue, green*, and signature black · Waterproof Design: Take the ContourROAM2 in water up to one meter without a case · Still Photo Mode: Shoot in 9 different time intervals with still photo mode · Environmentally friendly packaging: For the first time, Contour is introducing a new green packagemade of 100% recyclable materials · Versatility: Compatible with Contour's extensive collection of camera mounts Contour is also announcing a partnership with Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY), that will enable consumers to purchase the ContourROAM2, Contour+2 and Contour accessories at Best Buy stores nationwide on October 21. To see the ContourROAM2 in action, check out the launch video here: http://youtu.be/jRwIZA4Czj8and explore other amazing footage of some of the world's top athletes using Contour products on the company's YouTube channel. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iTwin SecureBox adds hardware encryption to your Dropbox account Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:49 AM PDT
"The cloud," you've probably heard about it by now. It's this vast intangible place where you can put things. Things like emails and notes and files. But you've probably also heard about how vulnerable stuff in the cloud is and about how nefarious hackers can hijack your accounts to do terrible, terrible things with your data. Well, for the paranoid out there, iTwin is offering SecureBox, a hardware-based encryption system that can sync up with your Dropbox account. After plugging in your iTwin key you'll be presented with the SecureBox folder -- simply drag and drop your files there and they'll be encrypted and uploaded. To view them again you'll need one half of the iTwin and the AES 256-bit encryption key it contains. If you're looking for even more security you can add an optional password, adding two-factor authentication to your SecureBox, which already lives behind DropBox's own two-factor authentication system. You can pick up an iTwin yourself at the source for $99 or download the feature as a software update if you already have the prerequisite USB key. iTwin SecureBox: Your Key to Secure Cloud Storage iTwin SecureBox provides hardware-key based security for Dropbox TM SINGAPORE/BOSTON - October 16, 2012 - iTwin - the company that created the iTwin 'remote file access' device - releases iTwin SecureBox, bringing hardware-key based security to Dropbox TM . Now, even the most privacy-conscious users can rest assured about putting their sensitive data in the Cloud. Cloud storage is a great way to access data on-the-go. However people are concerned about the security of their data once it leaves their computer. iTwin SecureBox has been created to solve this problem. Key benefits of iTwin SecureBox include: "With iTwin SecureBox, users can store sensitive data in the Cloud without fear", says Lux, CEO of iTwin. "They will get the best of both worlds: the convenience of the Cloud and the security of iTwin." iTwin SecureBox will be automatically pushed as a free download to all current iTwin users. iTwin can be purchased for $99 at Amazon.com and iTwin.com. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget Giveaway: win an exclusive Atari 2600 with PC components! Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:31 AM PDT
We're not going to beat around the bush here: this is one of the most exciting contests we've hosted in a long, long time, and you'll definitely want to enter. Our friends at Atari were kind enough to give us an extremely limited-edition (there are only two in existence) Atari 2600 gutted with modern PC components and signed by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell -- and one lucky soul will be able to call this beauty their very own! The gaming company is doing this to promote the 35th anniversary of the 2600's original release, as well as its latest creation, arcade.atari.com, which is an HTML5-driven, multitouch-supported hub that lets you play eight classic Atari games online (including Pong and Centipede). Not only that, the team -- consisting of Atari and the Internet Explorer team -- put together an SDK to help you build your own games on the classic platform. After you enter to win (all you have to do is leave a comment below), make sure you head over to the Arcade to spend countless more hours in the land of nostalgia. Note: For bragging rights, feel free to post your high score as your comment entry. The rules:
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| Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:30 AM PDT
Aside from announcing its entrance into the portable Bluetooth speaker category today, Beats Electronics has also launched its first new set of headphones post-Monster. Aiming to cater to the jet-setting business crowd, the company is classing things up with its (finally released) $300 Executive noise-cancelling over-ears. The design of the headphones seems to be a blend of the Mixr and classic Studios, wrapped in brushed aluminum that's complimented by dark gray leather pads and the requisite "b" on each earcup. Requiring two AAA batteries for power, these active cans (read: they don't work passively) are rated to last up to a healthy 25 hours. The Active noise-cancellation functionality is aided along by two microphones inside the headphones that automatically adjust the effect depending on your surroundings. That said, we'd be remiss not to note that ANC is always enabled, as it's tethered to the power -- you know, to help avoid making your head ring from the likes of jet engines and subway cars. A detachable 3.5mm cable is included, featuring a 3-button in-line remote and mic and a right angle jack on its end. While we're fans of 90-degree jacks, we found that this one couldn't plug into our cased iPhone 5 fully, rendering the remote useless. Lastly, you'll notice from the photo above that the earcups on this pair thankfully fold flat, allowing for easier storage that its Solo and Studio siblings in a briefcase and the like. We only had a paltry few minutes to try out the cans, but we came away with good vibes about them. To get this out of the way, the voicing from its drivers is totally colored and seems to have that typical Beats S-curve with boosted sub-bass and treble -- a stark contrast from what you'd get with a passive set like the V-Moda M-100 cans. Compared to a similar active pair like like the Klipsch Mode M40, the sound is much more aggressive and lively. Although we listened in a quiet hotel room, the ANC circuitry did seem to dampen a significant chuck of the ambient noise around us -- however, it did have a very noticeable hiss (more apparent than similar cans) from it that we'd likely become annoyed by without music. The earpads are very supple and moderately deep, and the inside of each earcup has some padding over the driver which should help you to evade the dreaded cartilage cramps. The headphones feel extremely sturdy and miles more robust the plasticky Studios, all while still retaining a light feel free of excessive clamping force on this editors head -- very similar, actually, to what we enjoyed with the Parrot Zik cans. All in all, while these aren't the first aluminum clad cans from the company, the Executive headphones really seem like they could stand to be a much better option than the Studios for overall value. Of course, we'll let you know either way when we come to our conclusion. For now, the Executive headphones are on sale today from the Beats Electronics and various retailers if you'd like to try 'em out for yourself.
BEATS ELECTRONICS SETS NEW STANDARD IN WIRELESS SPEAKERS WITH INTRODUCTION OF THE "BEATS PILL" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:30 AM PDT
It's official. Aside from letting loose its first set of headphones post-Monster for the Executive types, Beats Electronics has set its sights on nabbing the portable Bluetooth audio crown from Jawbone's Jambox. You'll recall this hitting the FCC a bit ago, but today the Dr. is officially ready to offer you it's remedy for on-the-go wireless audio with its $200 Pill, an NFC-equipped portable Bluetooth 2.1 speaker. Coming in your choice red, black or white, the cylindrical system is loaded with a quartet of 1-inch drivers, and supports codecs including Apt-X and AAC. An internal battery is said to provide about seven hours of listening at around 75-percent volume (80 decibels), and the unit can be charged via its Micro-USB input. Notably, an auto-off feature turns the unit off after 30 minutes if no audio is streamed to it. As you'd expect, the Pill features a front-facing on-board mic for use as a speakerphone, physical volume buttons and power button, as well as a 3.5mm input if you'd like to play sans Bluetooth. We're also pleased to notice that the diminutive system also features a 3.5 output if you'd like to send the audio out to another audio ware. The Pill comes with a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, a USB to Micro-USB cable for charging with an included wall adapter and, lastly, a carrying shell case that can be hooked to a bag. We've been able to spend about an hour with the system, and we've frankly come away very impressed. The unit feels very sturdy, with a stiff metal grille and soft-touch coating around the rest of its exterior. It feels very comfortable to hold in a hand, and will easily fit in a jacket pocket. Actually, one of our only initial complaints is that the included carrying shell doesn't leave any room for the included cables. All of the buttons have a soft, slightly clicky tactility, which also aids to its premium feel. Using it initially alongside one of Beats' on-hand Jamboxes in a wired A/B comparison, the Jambox came out sounding like a distorted, rumbling mess up against the pill -- we even had a rep bring out a second unit confirm that it wasn't a dud. If that wasn't enough, the Pill also managed to get much louder, staying fairly clean (in comparison), and without rumbling on the table as the Jambox did very slightly. As a triple-check measure, we later came up with a similar outcome with our in-house unit of Logitech's $99 UE mobile boombox -- a speaker we find comparable in sound, if slightly better, than the Jambox. In what could be viewed as slightly ironic, the Pill has a voicing that edges toward the flatter side of things, rather than pumping out exorbitant amounts of bass. It's not to say that it can't reproduce bass at all, it's just not the focus here. This flatter output seems to be a big part of what keeps it from distorting, but we should be clear, that the audio here is many times better still on the Pill. Pleasantly, the speakers are also angled up slightly, which makes for a noticeably more natural listening experience. Our only other concern for the time being is that the Bluetooth connection with our iPhone 5 did crackle occasionally like a vinyl record, but it's too early to say if the issue will be consistent during future use. We're still a ways off from being able to definitively give you a thumbs up on the Pill, but -- at least, initially, it seems like it's easily blowing the Jambox and similar speakers out of the water. Like the Executive headphones, the Pill is available today at Beats stores and other retailers -- check out our video hands-on after the break for a better look.
BEATS ELECTRONICS SETS NEW STANDARD IN WIRELESS SPEAKERS WITH INTRODUCTION OF THE "BEATS PILL" The Company Also Officially Unveils The "Executive" Premium Headphone With Focus on Quality, Comfort, and Design New York- Tuesday, October 16, 2012- Beats Electronics LLC, the leading audio brand co-founded by legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine, today announced the expansion of the company's global product offering with the introduction of the Beats Pill, a portable wireless speaker with built-in patented Beats Audio, and the Executive premium headphones. Beats currently owns over 56% of the $100+ premium headphone market in North America according to data from NPD, and these two new products will continue to raise the bar across form, function, design and most importantly, sound quality. "The introduction of the Beats Pill and the Executive is the perfect beginning to a truly autonomous Beats as we transform into a freestanding consumer electronics company this year, " said Beats By Dr. Dre President & COO, Luke Wood. "These products demonstrate our total commitment to design, technological innovation and premium sound experience." Introducing The Beats By Dr. Dre Beats Pill Wireless Speaker At Beats, sound is king. From the placement of the drivers to the materials of the grill, the Beats Pill is specifically designed to optimize sound quality and maximize volume. The Beats Pill is the first product to be fully integrated with the company's patented Beats Audio algorithm and also features exclusive speaker modules to provide the highest quality portable listening experience. The Beats Pill is also the first wireless speaker to hit store shelves with tap-to-pair NFC and apt-X technology for easy and instant Bluetooth audio. More features include: The Beats Pill will be available in the Beats by Dr. Dre signature colors black, white and red with additional color options coming soon. The Beats Pill retails for $199 and is available today at The Beats Store as well as authorized Beats resellers and will also be available at HYPERLINK "http://www.beatsbydre.com/"www.beatsbydre.com. Introducing The Beats By Dr. Dre Executive Headphones The Executive represents a new distinctive, sophisticated design for the Beats By Dr. Dre brand that focuses on craftsmanship using premium materials such as aluminum alloy, stainless steel and leather. The soft leather headband and comfortable ear cups are designed for long wear and a unique folding design make Beats Executive headphones easy to carry on-the-go. The Executive has superior Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) performance, tuned for uninterrupted listening enjoyment at 35,000 feet and everywhere in between and with the iOS compatible microphone cable, it offers full phone functionality including answer/end, call waiting, call switching and voice command. The Executive comes in a classic silver and retails for $299. The Executive line of headphones is currently available for purchase at the Beats Store, authorized Beats resellers, as well as at HYPERLINK "http://www.beatsbydre.com/"www.beatsbydre.com. Additionally, Today Beats Electronics is expanding its in-ear product offering with the launch of the new urBeats. These new earphones were specifically designed to be a substantial upgrade from the headphones that come with your music player: more durability, better sound, and a chance to do real justice to your music. urBeats provide the premium sound quality that has become synonymous with the Beats by Dr. Dre brand. The new urBeats earphones are available in Black, White and Gunmetal and retail for $99. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Surface: inside the three-year secret project to build the first great Windows tablet Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:00 AM PDT
The scene: two dozen journalists file into a small auditorium on Microsoft's Redmond campus. Steven Sinofsky, head of the Windows division, and Panos Panay, general manager of Surface, make their way on stage, each with a tablet in hand. In every audience seat, an elementary-school-style desk with a wrapped parcel placed on top. Inside: a Wonka bar, along with a golden ticket. It's the day before Surface for Windows RT goes up for pre-order, and in addition to sharing some key pricing and availability details, the company is about to give these lucky reporters a tour of the proverbial chocolate factory, the halls where Surface was conceived and tested. It's an apt analogy, when you think about it: the company's testing chambers and design studios are generally forbidden to people without corporate badges. Even then, relatively few Microsoft employees were aware of the Surface before it was announced to the public. On this day, we're told we'll be turned into giant blueberries -- or, at least, escorted from the premises -- if we wander off or take photographs around the building. There won't be any first-hand recordings today, and no fresh hands-on material. There are more than 200 custom-made parts inside the Surface, say Microsoft reps, and nothing is there by accident. We're here to learn more about the specs, as always, but also to get some insight into how Surface came to be: what compromises were made, and what design ideas were abandoned along the way. If gadget porn is what you're after, you can revisit our first look from June. But if things like display technology and hinge design float your boat (and why wouldn't they?) you'll want to meet us after the break for a more detailed explanation of what Microsoft was trying to achieve. Hardware decisions
As Sinofsky tells it, Surface was in development for three years before its official reveal at an LA press event last June. This was in the summer of 2009, when Microsoft was putting the finishing touches on Windows 7 and just starting to shift its development efforts to Win 8. For those keeping score at home, there wasn't even an iPad to compete against; Microsoft already knew that Windows 8 would be touch-friendly, and that it needed a solid tablet as a vehicle for showing off its next-gen OS. What followed were hundreds of iterations: some large, some small, some light, some quite heavy. Though the company ultimately settled on a 10.6-inch screen, it experimented with both 10.1- and 11.1-inch form factors. An 11-inch tablet, they decided, would have been too unwieldy. A 10.1-inch panel, at least, would have been easy to procure -- the netbook boom had seen to that. The problem was, if Windows 8 was to make room for a narrow multitasking pane on the side of the screen, 10.1 inches would have been too cramped. A 16:9, 10.6-inch display, however, would have enough room real estate for a 4:3 window and a second app running alongside it. What's more, that extra half-inch over a 10.1-inch screen would allow for a more spacious keyboard, along with a trackpad. One hitch: 10.6 inches isn't a standard size, so Microsoft couldn't have ordered these screens in bulk from suppliers. So, it made the display itself. All told, the final product is comprised of more than 200 custom-made parts, a series of components that includes everything from the kickstand to the dual MIMO antennas. The chassis, too, was the subject of much obsessing. Though Surface's look and feel is now final, the team's design room remains papered in blown-up photos, a mix of renderings and inspirational objects -- things like a slim Moleskine notebook. Many of the concept devices had sharper corners than the final version; in fact, Microsoft says it made some slight changes to the silhouette even after announcing Surface earlier this summer. The company also experimented with many build materials. Before settling on magnesium, Microsoft considered aluminum, among other options, taking into account cost, flexibility and manufacturing logistics. That magnesium chassis, as you may have heard, is made through Microsoft's own VaporMg process, which involves pushing out excess air to help minimize the device's thickness. This, too, required not just custom parts, but custom manufacturing equipment. "We made a decision that there would be no downtime, ever." At 1.5 pounds, the Surface isn't the lightest 10-inch tablet. It's not even the thinnest, at 0.37 inches. Still, Microsoft claims that it feels lighter than other 1.5-pound devices, though we're not sure how that's possible. According to company reps, the magnesium helps make it feel lighter than it is (or maybe lighter than you'd expect?), while the battery is evenly spread out inside the chassis, making for some more balanced weight distribution. (We'll wait until we have a review unit of our own to weigh in on that one.) The thickness, meanwhile, brings its own set of tradeoffs: as a productivity tablet, this had to include a full-size USB port. What's more, the magnetic power port is larger than the standard micro-USB socket you'll find on most other ARM-based tablets. It's a proprietary standard, which will annoy some users, but Microsoft defends it thusly: the Surface is said to recharge in a little over two hours. Ultimately, says Panay, it once again comes back to productivity. "We made a decision that there would be no downtime, ever." The Surface's built-in kickstand threw another wrench into the design process, as did the magnetic hinge used to attach the keyboard covers. According to Panay, the stand had to be not just sturdy, but easy to flip in and out. "You can't scare the people using it," he said. To that end, the company added a notch on one side, that makes it easier to lift the stand away from the rest of the chassis. The hinge itself is comprised of three pieces: one on either side of the tablet, and one tucked underneath the stand. (Yes, these are custom-made, too.) Of these, two control the feel of the kickstand, while the other enables that smooth clicking sound -- a pert "click" assuring users that yes, they're using the stand correctly and no, they haven't broken it. You can tell Microsoft is especially proud of this detail: the first Surface ad emphasizes that feature to the point where Windows RT's various features more or less take a backseat. The magnetic hinge, meanwhile, utilizes a mix of alignment and clamping connectors, which are exactly what they sound like. By design, it should be impossible to miss when you try and attach a keyboard cover to the Surface. At the same time, the connection couldn't be so strong that the keyboard would be difficult to remove. (Hence the Moleskine comparison: the designers wanted a book-like cover that users could easily peel away.) Presented that way, it sounds like a compromise, but Microsoft seems pleased with the results. In a demonstration before a group of reporters, various company reps dangled the tablet by the Touch Cover. The tablet never fell to the floor, though the company did perform a separate drop test inside a controlled chamber, in which the Surface continued to record video even after plummeting three feet. It's the same testing equipment used on Microsoft's Chinese manufacturing line. About that display In brief, it comes down to modular transfer function, a calculation that takes into account both contrast and resolution. In layman's terms, says Microsoft, the eye is not equally sensitive to all spatial frequencies, and our ability to register contrast eventually starts to drop off after the resolution hits a critical point. What the company's design team is arguing, then, is that for this particular device, a 1,366 x 768 panel allows Microsoft to create a sharp-enough picture, while staying within that curve of easy readability. It doesn't hurt that many websites are formatted for 1,366 x 768 anyway. Then there's the touchscreen. That, in and of itself, is a compromise: touch panels will always introduce some visual noise. But, like many handsets, the Surface's screen is at least optically bonded, meaning the LCD and touch panel comprise a single layer. A thinner screen helps minimize the tablet's thickness, as you can imagine, but Microsoft also argues that there are fewer opportunities for light to refract. Additionally, Surface makes use of company's ClearType technology, which uses subpixel rendering to help smooth rough edges. Curiously, the Surface team seems to be courting comparisons with the iPad: as part of its lab tour, the company made a series of pointed comparisons with Apple's tablet, highlighting differences in reflectivity, color temperature and readability. You could say it was a blind comparison, of sorts, as both products were covered, save for their displays. (Though when one tablet appears to win most of the rounds, it's obvious which tablet is which.) It's a lovely display, and we said so the first time we saw it, but again, this isn't a day for hands-on time. Touch Cover Hands-off The truth is, we didn't need a tour of Microsoft's facilities to feel intrigued by Surface: our appetites were already piqued enough. Still, it remains slightly worrisome that after a splashy launch event and a privileged peek at the company's labs, we still haven't gotten much hands-on time with Microsoft's Windows 8 halo device. As promising as Surface for RT seems (and it absolutely looks well-crafted) we're eager to test out everything -- the hinge, the kickstand, the display -- for ourselves. Hopefully, it won't be long before we get that chance. Images courtesy of Microsoft. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Surface for Windows RT pricing now official: tablet starts at $499, keyboard not included Posted: 16 Oct 2012 08:00 AM PDT
With Surface for Windows RT going on sale in just 10 days, Microsoft is finally ready to talk about pricing and availability -- not to mention, some technical details it left out when the tablet debuted back in June. After the Surface product page prematurely went live on Microsoft's site a few hours ago, the company just officially announced that the 10.6-inch, ARM-powered slate will go up for pre-order at 9AM PT today, starting at $499 for the 32GB version. The 64GB model will cost $599. To be clear, these prices do not include that snazzy Touch Cover with the flat, pressure-sensitive keys. Rather, it'll be sold separately for $120. Ditto for the more traditional Type Cover keyboard, which is priced at $130. If you already know you want the packaged deal, however, you can buy the 64GB tablet and Touch Cover as a bundle for $699. Lastly, when Surface starts shipping on October 26th, you'll be able to buy it on Microsoft.com or at a Microsoft Store (if you happen to have one in your neck of the woods). If you're hankering for hands-on photos, we'll redirect you to the first look we published the day Surface was announced. Hopefully, though, we'll soon get a review unit so that we can supplement our preview with meaty, real-world impressions.
Microsoft Announces New Surface Details Ahead of Oct. 26 launch, Microsoft outlines pricing, market availability and special limited quantity pre-order. REDMOND, Wash. - Oct. 16, 2012 - Microsoft Corp. today released new details about its highly anticipated Microsoft Surface, a tablet PC designed to be the ultimate stage for Windows. In addition to pricing and market availability, the company announced a special limited-quantity pre-order for Surface with Windows RT available 9 a.m. PDT. Those who want to learn more or pre-order can visit http://www.Surface.com. Surface delivers the power of amazing software and the feel of premium hardware in one exciting experience. Originally unveiled in June, Surface with Windows RT will initially be available in three SKUs: a 32GB version priced at US$499, a 32GB version bundled with a black Touch Cover priced at US$599, and a 64GB version bundled with a black Touch Cover priced at US$699. A variety of accessories will also be available, including Touch Covers in five vibrant colors - black, white, magenta, cyan and red - priced at US$119.99 so customers can express their personal style. Customers will also have the option to purchase a Type Cover in black for US$129.99, which adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel. Surface will be available for purchase beginning Oct. 26, 2012, at all Microsoft Store locations in the United States and Canada, including in all 34 new holiday stores. In addition, Surface will be available for sale online in eight markets across the world: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States. See Surface.com for more details. Additional Product Information - Surface With Windows RT Software Exterior Storage CPU Wireless Cameras Audio Ports Sensors Power Supply Warranty Apps (included) Those interested in learning more or pre-ordering can visit http://www.Surface.com or follow Surface on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Surface and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/surface. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google nabs design patent for left-eyed Google Glass, frees southpaws from tyranny Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:47 AM PDT
No more shall lefties wanting Google Glass toil under the oppression of right-handed overlords. Not if Google's newly granted design patent is an indication, at any rate. The filing simply puts the eyepiece on the other side for those who are either naturally left-inclined or just that much opposed to the optical status quo. There's no guarantee Google will be so accommodating when Glass reaches the general public, although we're hopeful: when early adopters are already paying a small fortune to leap in, it wouldn't hurt to produce a batch for left eye use and give the more committed southpaws among us the freedom they've craved since Google I/O. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft reportedly building up to 5 million Surface tablets for the fall Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:13 AM PDT
Just how confident is Microsoft that its Surface tablets will take off? To the tune of 3 to 5 million units shipped in the fall alone, according to the Wall Street Journal's supplier contacts. While that wouldn't be much when Apple already ships more than three times as many iPads, even discounting the supposed 10 million tiny iPads coming this fall, it would represent a strong start for a company that's only just dipping its toes into own-brand computing. Microsoft isn't confirming any numbers at this stage, but the large production volume might explain that Busby Berkeley-style TV ad -- you'd want a full song and dance routine if you had that many Surfaces to sell. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxee TV delivers dual-tuners and cloud-based DVR for $99 November 1st Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:00 AM PDT
The Boxee Box -- that sucker had a ton of hype behind it, but things don't always work out. After two years of fighting Roku, Apple TV and, to a lesser extent, Google TV for market share, Boxee has drastically rethought its approach. The $99 Boxee TV marks a new chapter for the company with a focus on live TV and a streamlined consumer experience. Baked right inside the matte plastic case is a dual tuner capable of pulling in unencrypted basic cable channels and over-the-air HD broadcasts. There's a slick guide to help you navigate but, most importantly, the slimmed down software sports DVR functionality. The Boxee TV has no internal storage, however, instead all your recordings are stored online in a "No Limits" DVR. For $15 a month you'll be able to save as many shows as you want and watch it on your TV or on your computer, tablet or phone through an HTML5 webapp. The DVR service will be rolled out to New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington DC to start, with other markets set to come online in 2013.
The selection of apps is not quite as robust as it is on the legacy Boxee Box, but CEO Avner Ronen has settled on a quality over quantity approach. Netflix, VUDU, Pandora, YouTube and Vimeo will come preinstalled on the Boxee TV and other apps will follow. But we wouldn't expect to see Know Your Meme or PornHub on there anytime soon. Some of the other losses are a little harder to swallow for fans of the original hardware. The move from Intel to a Broadcom SOC means the streaming options for locally stored media are much less robust. There's DLNA support, but many other networking protocols have fallen by the wayside. The beloved QWERTY remote has also bitten the dust, replaced with a much simpler device that sports dedicated Netflix and Vudu buttons. Even the distinctive "sinking cube" design has been replaced with a basic rectangle that's barely distinguishable from other settop boxes. You can sign up for more info at the Boxee site where you'll also be able to preorder the Boxee TV ahead of its November 1st launch. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sprint's Galaxy Note II to arrive October 25th, with LTE and $300 price tag Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:28 AM PDT
Fancy being more than just a statistic on a Japanese balance sheet? Come October 25th, you can be a statistic and the proud owner of a stylus and an accompanying Note II to scrape it against. The Now Network just announced that it'll make the handset available to new customers and upgrade-eligible folk for $299.99 on a two-year contract, in either marble white or titanium gray. Expect to pay a significant monthly sum too, especially if you eventually want to exploit that Sprint-flavored LTE we keep hearing about. OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), October 16, 2012 - Sprint (NYSE:S), the only national carrier with Truly UnlimitedSM 4G LTE data, text and calling to any mobile, today announced an availability date for Samsung Galaxy Note® II. Beginning Oct. 25, it can be purchased for $299.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement (excludes taxes and surcharges) for either color option – Marble White or Titanium Gray. Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile), the No.1 mobile phone provider in the United States, Galaxy Note II will boast several firsts for Sprint – first to launch with Android™ 4.1.1, Jelly Bean; first smartphone display larger than 5 inches; and first device to launch with a quad-core processor. With the latest HD Super AMOLED™ screen technology powering the device's 5.5-inch 720p display, images are bigger, clearer and brighter than ever. Performance and power are built-in on Galaxy Note II with Samsung's Exynos™ 1.6GHz quad-core processor, a long-lasting battery, blazing fast 4G /LTE network speeds, and international voice and data capable compatibility with GSM/UMTS/CDMA networks. Galaxy Note II comes with a built-in S Pen™ that is longer, thicker and ergonomically designed for the perfect grip. Its advanced features also provide enhanced capabilities to capture ideas and inspirations instantly and to combine handwriting with any digital content directly on the screen. Galaxy Note II features an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera with HD video recording. The camera's powerful features include Buddy Photo Share, Burst Shot and Best Photo, which were introduced on Galaxy S III in June. With the diverse mix of mobile devices being used in the workplace, companies must be assured about the security of corporate data and applications available on the devices. Earlier this year, Sprint introduced a designation for select smartphones, including Galaxy Note II, that deliver enhanced security, device management and Exchange Active Sync capabilities to business customers, Sprint Professional Grade. Following the same business-friendly path, Galaxy Note II is a SAFE™ (Samsung for Enterprise) device, providing the ability to securely sync corporate email, calendars, contacts and sensitive information. SAFE provides a comprehensive approach to making Android devices more secure and manageable for business users. With a thorough quality assurance process in place to test and confirm the Note II enterprise capabilities, SAFE systematically meets the rapidly evolving needs of IT and the growing number of businesses allowing employees to "bring your own device" (BYOD) to work. Enjoy Data without Limits Samsung Galaxy Note II customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint's Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones – a savings of $20 per month versus Verizon's comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web (excludes taxes and surcharges). With Sprint's Everything Data and other plans that include Truly Unlimited data, Sprint is continuing its history of data leadership by making it easy for its customers to use data in all the ways that are useful to them, such as news, email, music, TV and GPS navigation, without worrying about data overages on their monthly bill. Sprint 4G LTE is available in 24 cities and is expected to be in more than 100 additional cities in coming months. Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and expects to have largely completed the nationwide build-out by the end of 2013. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint's 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE. Sprint will host the 12th annual Open Solutions Conference Oct. 24-25 at the San Jose, Calif., Convention Center, offering developers, ecosystem partners and executive attendees an up-close view into the latest app developing tools and capabilities, keynote presentations from Sprint CEO Dan Hesse and other industry leaders, breakout sessions, coding sessions, event sponsor exhibits, and business-critical networking opportunities. Registration is open at http://developer.sprint.com/OSC2012. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Red offers 'truckload' of one-time rental Scarlet-Xs for almost $5K off each Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:22 AM PDT
If you were thinking of getting a Red Scarlet-X 4K baby cinema cam for that pet film feature, but were on the fence because, well, $11,900 is a lot of cash -- there's good news. The company just announced they would be selling "a whole truckload of Scarlets" for $7,100 each instead, as they had been used on a rental for a "pretty special 3 second shot." As such, the camera body has less than a minute of recording time, and would come with an SSD module, Canon mount and full warranty for that sum -- along with the option to change out the MX sensor to Red's upcoming Dragon model, presumably. Bear in mind that you'd still lack the SSD drive, LCD, batteries or charger needed to shoot, but even with all that would still be under the regular basic price -- meaning you might be able to stop saving up and start shooting. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iPod nano hits iFixit's dissection slab, rated so-so on the repairability scale Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:55 AM PDT
Tearing down a device the size of an iPod nano is definitely not for the faint of heart (or shaky of hand), but none of that deters iFixit, who just tackled Apple's latest pint-sized player. We called it the best nano so far, but if the tiny iPod with newfound Nike+ functionality calls it quits, can you do something about it yourself, or will it need to be binned or go back to the repair depot? iFixit is torn on the device, saying that it's easy to take apart and replace the LCD or digitizer glass, but that the battery is glued solidly to the chassis, and other important parts like the Lightning connector are soldered together. That makes the replacement of those components nigh-on impossible, resulting in a repairability score of 5/10 for the device -- not that we'd be brave enough to crack it open ourselves. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foxconn admits child labor laws breached by use of underage interns Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:49 AM PDT
Foxconn has admitted that it employed underage interns in breach of China's child labor laws. An internal investigation at its Yantai factory found some of the young trainees were aged 14- and 15-years old (16 being the legal minimum). In a statement received by CNET, the company advised that "this is not only a violation of China's labor law, it is also a violation of Foxconn policy and immediate steps have been taken to return the interns in question to their educational institutions." This comes as a further blow to the firm's employment record, after recent riots breaking out and strikes over iPhone 5 quality standards. These interns were sent to the facility from schools, with Foxconn carrying out full investigations with the relevant educational bodies to try to work out how this was allowed to happen. The tech manufacturer has been keen to accept responsibility for its part in the situation, advising strong action will be taken against any full-time members of staff found to have played a part in the breach. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T-Mobile to kick off Isis Mobile Wallet pilot program on October 22nd according to leaked photo Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:32 AM PDT
Mr. Blurrycam has struck again, and this time he brings us a launch date for T-Mobile's Isis Mobile Wallet pilot program by way of TmoNews. According to the image (which you can catch after the break), the Isis app will arrive on Google Play come October 22nd for folks in Salt Lake City, Utah and Austin, Texas to take for a test drive. Another image reveals that those who activate their mobile wallet could snag $10, and an additional $15 if they convert their Isis Cash card into a reloadable prepaid card. Call one of the two cities home and can't wait to put the NFC payment solution through its paces? You'll need an Isis SIM card and a Samsung Galaxy S III, S II or Relay 4G to partake in the festivities. For those outside the lucky cities, there's still no word on when Isis will fully launch. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft puts a price on Surface RT: starts at $499, or $599 with Touch Cover Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:11 AM PDT
With a stamp from the FCC on its passport, and some fancy new TV ads, the smell of Microsoft's Surface tablet is thick in the air. Until now, however, price has been a mystery. Microsoft has just revealed, via its own store, that if you want a slice for yourself, you can do so starting from $499. That price will get you the 32GB version, without the touch cover, with pre-orders available now, penciled in for a 26th of October delivery date. If you must have that cover, it'll set you back another $100, and the same amount again if you want to hop up to 64GB of memory. With the current status of the larger-memory version showing as out of stock though, those with a thirst for storage still might have to wait a little longer. Update: It looks like Microsoft might have pulled the listing for now. Perhaps the pages weren't meant for prime-time just yet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Logitech announces $200 Broadcaster WiFi webcam for iPhone, iPad and Mac (video) Posted: 16 Oct 2012 04:43 AM PDT
After trying (and failing) to surreptitiously shepherd it through the FCC, then seeing it leak out anyway, Logitech has formally outed the HD WiFi Broadcaster webcam. The 720P shooter (not 1080p as we hoped) allows wireless transmission from 50 feet away to any Mac computer, iPhone or iPad, instant broadcasting on Ustream and the ability to toggle between your device or computer's built in camera with a button push. The hard plastic carrying case with a magnetic lid doubles as a stand to elevate the cam, which Logitech says will "play nicely" with apps like iMovie, Final Cut Pro and FaceTime. Broadcaster is already up for preorder for $200 in the US and €180 in Europe, so if you want to show that you're doubly beautiful with a multi-cam Skype call, the PR and video are after the break. New Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam Adds Sophistication to Traditional Webcam Videos Logitech Webcam Gives You the Flexibility to Roam, Shoot, Stream and Chat from Virtually Any Angle NEWARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Logitech (SIX:LOGN) (NASDAQ:LOGI) is expanding the ways in which you can stream and create videos with its new Logitech® Broadcaster Wi-Fi® Webcam. Made for video professionals, bloggers and hobbyists, this new webcam gives you flexibility to do more than other webcams, including live streaming, shooting videos from two different angles or video chatting on your favorite Mac® computer. The Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam makes it easy to create professional-looking high-definition videos from your Mac, whether you're a professor recording a lecture or a musician demonstrating how to play the guitar. You can stream live video directly to Ustream®, and use an iPad®, iPhone® or Mac to control and preview the video. The Logitech Broadcaster can also act as a second video camera, adding a complementary perspective to capture content beyond your Mac's embedded webcam. And, its wireless connectivity gives you the ability to shoot from virtually any angle you want. For richer and more dynamic video content, you can easily capture the two views and stitch them together. "The Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam lets you stream and record like a pro," said Mike Culver, vice president of brand development for consumer computing platforms at Logitech. "It helps you make the most out of your existing Mac OS and iOS video setup for more dynamic live streaming, recording and video chatting. It goes where a built-in webcam can't, and with one press of a button, it's easy to switch between your built-in webcam and the Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam, so your friends and audience can enjoy a standard view or move around the room with you." Enhancing mobility and creativity, the Logitech Broadcaster is also compatible with popular Mac video applications. You can record video with QuickTime® or Photo Booth®, edit and view videos with iMovie® or Final Cut Pro®, and video chat with FaceTime®, iChat® or SkypeTM. Pricing and Availability The Logitech Broadcaster Wi-Fi Webcam is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in October 2012 for a suggested retail price of $199.99. For more information, please visit www.logitech.com or our blog. About Logitech Logitech is a world leader in products that connect people to the digital experiences they care about. Spanning multiple computing, communication and entertainment platforms, Logitech's combined hardware and software enable or enhance digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI). Logitech, the Logitech logo, and other Logitech marks are registered in Switzerland and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information about Logitech and its products, visit the company's website at www.logitech.com. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 16 Oct 2012 04:08 AM PDT
Cars wired with ethernet may conjure thoughts of roving internet hotspots, but that's not what Hyundai and Broadcom have in mind in this case. Traditionally, infotainment consoles, safety systems and the like are built on multiple in-car networks, but the duo will rig vehicles with modified ethernet cables to unify some of the disparate systems on a single network. Dubbed BroadR-Reach, the tech uses a single pair of unshielded wires to offer 100Mbps connection speeds and could scale up to 1Gbps. Though Hyundai and other automakers joined with Broadcom's standards group for the technology last year, the firm is now the second car manufacturer to pledge that its autos will get the tech. As of now, there's still no word on which models will be lined with ethernet or when they'll roll off assembly lines. Broadcom and Hyundai Motor Power Next-Generation Connected Car Joint Development Enables Advanced Infotainment and Safety Features in Hyundai Vehicles DETROIT, Oct. 15, 2012 News Highlights:
Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced a joint development agreement with Hyundai Motor to power the next-generation connected car. The collaboration will integrate infotainment, telematics and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features such as surround view parking and lane departure warning into Hyundai vehicles. Together, the companies aim to deliver robust features and faster connectivity to a broader number of drivers. Visit www.broadcom.com to learn more. Based on Broadcom's BroadR-Reach® Ethernet technology, the single high-bandwidth in-vehicle network will deliver cost-effective, lightweight 100Mbps connectivity to advance integration of safety applications in the vehicle. Broadcom will showcase the technology at SAE Convergence in Detroit, October 16-17. As members of the AVnu Alliance and OPEN Alliance (One-Pair Ether-Net) Special Interest Group (SIG), Broadcom and Hyundai Motor have partnered since 2011 to drive wide-scale adoption of Ethernet-based automotive connectivity. Ethernet enables an open, scalable network for powering in-vehicle infotainment and ADAS, while supporting faster implementation of next-generation technologies and multiple networks, improving the ability to share data from a common source to the entire network. BroadR-Reach Ethernet also supports the IEEE 802.1 Audio Video Bridging (AVB) standard, a key technology for achieving high quality audio and video transmission in automotive by providing guaranteed quality of service (QoS), frame synchronization and timing necessary to stream professional-quality audio and video traffic. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foursquare launches local search for all, goes after the likes of Yelp and Google Posted: 16 Oct 2012 03:31 AM PDT
Foursquare just launched a redesigned desktop interface that everyone, not just members, can use for local listings and business recommendations. The company has been on this trajectory for awhile now, especially with the latest Explore map that provides a more tailored search experience for logged-in users. This is all in line with co-founder and CEO Dennis Crowley's promise that Foursquare is more than just a simple social service; that it serves as a discovery and recommendation engine much like Yelp or Google. Leveraging over 3 billion check-ins and 30 million tips from its community of nearly 25 million members, the New York-based firm is confident it can offer reliable recommendations to the general public. It's still beneficial to join up -- you get personalized filters and access to that handy mobile app -- but it's no longer necessary if you just want know where to get a quick sushi fix. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:56 AM PDT
It wasn't all that long after Google consolidated most of its privacy policies before people wanted clarification on what this meant to users. Even then, EU regulators weren't satisfied, asking the search giant to hold up a little while it took a proper look at the implications for European citizens. The result of that investigation? Well, Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding previously declared it to be in breach of European law, and now the EU is commanding that it be reexamined. The assertion comes in a letter to Mountain View from the EU's data protection regulators, who feel that consolidating so much personal data into one place creates untenable risks to privacy, and was signed by 24 member states (plus Liechtenstein and Croatia). The regulators also outlined 12 recommendations for Google to follow to bring its policy back to the favorable side of the fence. No official word from Google at this time, but we've reached out for comment. Update: Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy counsel issued the following statement: "We have received the report and are reviewing it now. Our new privacy policy demonstrates our long-standing commitment to protecting our users' information and creating great products. We are confident that our privacy notices respect European law." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASUS PadFone 2 to hit European and Asian markets before end of December (update: European prices) Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:15 AM PDT
At the PadFone 2 launch event in Taipei, ASUS let out some details on worldwide availability for its latest phone-and-tablet combo. A handful of countries in Europe and Asia will actually get to buy it before the end of December this year, including these: Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan (which we already know), Thailand and U.A.E. Don't worry if you're not on the list, as ASUS says more will be announced at a later date, so stay tuned. Update: Jonney Shih just announced in Milan that for Europe, the PadFone 2 tablet bundle will be priced at €799 ($1,040) for the 32GB model, and €899 ($1,170) for the 64GB model. Without the tax, these figures aren't too far off from their Taiwanese counterparts, but the subsidized prices, if any, will obviously be a lot more attractive than these. Live Life Intuitively with ASUS PadFone™ 2 Quad-core smartphone with incredible battery life and a thinner, lighter PadFone 2 Station deliver the ultimate mobile flexibility. Milan, Italy (October 16, 2012) - ASUS, a global leader in the new digital era, today announces the PadFone™ 2. Building upon the successful PadFone combination of an Android smartphone and dockable tablet for incredible mobile flexibility, PadFone 2 consists of a higher-specification quad-core smartphone and a completely redesigned tablet. ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled PadFone 2 in front of the world's media at a press conference in Milan, Italy. "Our relentless drive to innovate through Design Thinking has empowered us to create PadFone 2. It's beautiful, it's fast, it's seamless and, best of all, it's intuitive," said Mr. Shih. PadFone 2 is a fully featured 4.7" Android™ smartphone with industry-leading specifications that docks with the unique PadFone 2 Station to become a lightweight, but fully featured, 10.1" tablet. Apps are seamlessly optimized on-the-fly to support both tablet and phone modes, with an instant transition between smartphone and tablet screen sizes. Enlarge and Charge ASUS' world-renowned Design Thinking philosophy has significantly reduced PadFone 2 Station's thickness and weight. At just 649g, the combined weight of both PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station is now lighter than most tablets on the market, and the dock mechanism has been redesigned to require just one swift step to use. PadFone 2 has also been subtly refined to increase its screen size to 4.7", while reducing its thickness and weight to just 9mm at its thickest point and 135g, respectively. A 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM ensures incredible PadFone 2 performance in both smartphone and tablet modes. The new 4.7" 1280 x 720 HD Super IPS+ display uses scratch-resistant Corning® Fit Glass and delivers sharp, detailed images with accurate colors, ultra-wide viewing angles and 550 nits brightness for stunning outdoor visibility. Easy to Share, Easy to Save With capacities up to 64GB and 50GB of ASUS WebStorage provided free for two years, PadFone 2 offers endless possibilities for storing data. Data syncing between devices is also a thing of the past, since PadFone 2 storage is used by PadFone 2 Station when the two are connected. Shared mobile data connectivity between smartphone and tablet also means just one data plan is needed for both devices, while support for up to 42Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ and 100Mbit/s LTE delivers super-fast web browsing and downloads. User-friendly enhancements PadFone 2 also features a new version of the SuperNote app that instantly converts handwritten notes made in multiple languages into editable text. Its Instant Translation tool also translates any word, phrase or sentence in an email, web page or app at a touch, without the need for a third-party translation tool. Availability PadFone 2 will be launched before the end of December in Europe (Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden) and Asia (Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, U.A.E). Availability in other countries will be announced at a later date. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google revamps Developer Console for Google Play, eases tracking Android app ratings over time Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:31 AM PDT
Android developers need as much tender loving care for their interfaces as the users, don't they? Google thinks so, as it just reworked Google Play's Developer Console to offer a more direct, faster loading design. Along with scaling elegantly to let app writers see and manage many releases at a glance, the makeover gives developers a much more refined historical breakdown of app ratings. Creators can filter the star count through Android versions, carriers, countries, language, updates and even specific devices -- if you're convinced adding Kyocera Echo support was the ticket to improved ratings, you might have a chance to prove it. For anyone who isn't that determined to keep everyone happy, there's still a simplified publishing process and automatic translations for app descriptions in the store. Developers comfortable with a few limits on APK bundles can try the new console in a rough but mostly ready state ahead of its wider launch in the near future. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASUS PadFone 2 hands-on in Taipei (updated with video) Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:09 AM PDT
Well look at this! Our lucky buddies over at Engadget Chinese managed to get an early hands-on with the brand-spanking new PadFone 2 from ASUS. As we mentioned earlier, the bulkiness of the original model is totally gone and we're still blown away by the combo's new weight. But first, the phone: in our hands, it really just feels like an enlarged version of the original PadFone, especially with the ripple pattern on the back, as well as the plastic chin at the bottom along with the slightly tapered aluminum bezel. We do love the new and larger Super IPS+ screen, which is much sharper than the old PenTile Super AMOLED display, and it no doubt has better outdoor performance as well. Additionally, the Android soft keys are no longer virtual -- you can access them below the screen at any time, and we dig that. While docking the phone into or pulling it out of the PadFone Station is hardly a challenge, there's some sort of magic that keeps the phone tucked into the bay no matter how hard our pals shook the tablet upside down (please don't try this at home) -- the geared rubber grip along the two sides of the bay are somehow responsible for this. The back of the PadFone Station has a rubbery texture that's essentially identical to its predecessor's, making it just as comfortable to hold, but only time will tell how durable the coating is. Software-wise it's just as snappy on the tablet as it is on the phone, and we noticed the switch between phone mode and tablet mode is now a tad quicker as well. It'll probably be easier to see once we have our English hands-on video, so stay tuned. Update: We've finally managed to upload our hands-on video -- it's right after the break. Watch how we kept shaking the PadFone Station upside down and the phone still stayed inside its bay (again, don't do this at home, kids!). Also, we have a demo of the phone's Instant Dictionary feature. It's very handy. Update 2: We've just been informed that the magical grip mechanism in the docking bay took over two years to develop. Nice one, ASUS!
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| ForcePhone from Nokia Research, HIIT sends positive vibes with a squeeze Posted: 16 Oct 2012 12:43 AM PDT
Most device vibration technology is used as pure feedback -- either confirmation that you've pressed something or that you've come across an obstacle. If a prototype developed by Nokia Research and the Helsinki Institute of Information Technology ever translates to production, however, it'll be as much a part of personal phone conversations as a soft voice or a cheeky text message. The modified N900 attaches a resistor that responds to a squeeze at four different pressure levels, and doles that out during a traditional or Skype-based call as a vibration on the other end. As you'd imagine, the aim is to give family, friends and lovers the closest they'll get to a hug (or the occasional frustration) when the distance is just too great for an in-person visit. Don't hold your breath for an extra-lovable Lumia anytime soon: there's no mention of any near-term production plans, and any adoption would require a platform switch just to get started. But if we ever see "reach out and touch someone" become a lot more than a slogan, we'll know where it came from. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASUS PadFone 2 vs PadFone 1... hang out! Posted: 16 Oct 2012 12:09 AM PDT
While getting their hands dirty with the ASUS PadFone 2, our guys over at Engadget Chinese also had the chance to compare it with the OG PadFone, and they came back with a generous batch of side-by-side shots. Here you can see how the phone itself is almost just a scaled-up copy of its predecessor, while the new PadFone Station slate loses some body fat by shedding the original docking bay cover, and we're certain that the battery has become denser and lighter as well to achieve this amazing diet -- we're talking about losing just over 200g here! Also apparent is the new 13-pin dock connector (MHL plus concurrent data, display and power) at the bottom of both the phone and the tablet. For the rest, we shall let your eyes do the work in the gallery below. Enjoy!
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| Tokyoflash hides the time inside the Kisai Maze watch for you to find (video) Posted: 16 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ZTE to report net loss due to third-quarter slump, share price drops Posted: 15 Oct 2012 11:04 PM PDT
A week after the U.S. Congress slapped ZTE with a 'do not trust' allegation, the Chinese company gets another bitter dose of bad news. It's about to report a net loss of between 1.65 billion and 1.75 billion yuan (US $263 million to $279 million) for the first nine months of 2012, which pales in comparison to the 1 billion yuan profit it reported during the same period in 2011. This has resulted in a sharp 15.8 percent drop in ZTE's share price on the Hong Kong stock exchange, where it now sits at HK$10.56. The financial hit came exclusively in the third quarter (that's July through September), where revenues are reported to be 13 percent lower than the same period in 2011 -- 18.23 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) versus 20.95 billion yuan ($3.34 billion). The equipment vendor blames global trends, low-margin contracts, project delays and procurement changes for the downward turn, and hopes to implement some cost-cutting measures to ensure better margins. However, it says it won't stop its current deals in North America and Europe, and will continue to invest in China's LTE market. In an analyst call, executives said they hope to break even this year, and that it has cut its smartphone sales target from 26 to 28 million to around 25 million. Still, it doesn't look good for China's second-largest maker of phone equipment, and just when it was getting started in the Windows 8 arena, too. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASUS PadFone 2 unveiled in Taiwan, boasts quad-core CPU, LTE, NFC and lighter tablet (video) Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:40 PM PDT
Today's no doubt a big day for ASUS: while chairman Jonney Shih is gearing up to introduce the PadFone 2 in Milan later today, we just saw CEO Jerry Shen wowing the crowd with the same phone-in-tablet combo back in Taipei. Just as the recent leaks have shown, ASUS' surprisingly quick follow-up to the original PadFone is simply bigger and better in many ways, notably with a screen upgrade to 4.7-inch 720p Super IPS+ panel (with up to 550nits brightness thanks to Sharp's IGZO technology), Qualcomm's awesome quad-core APQ8064 SoC instead of its dual-core sibling, 13-megapixel f/2.4 BSI sensor from Sony, 1.2-megapixel front camera, and a much slimmer PadFone Station slate -- partly because it no longer features a docking bay cover! New owners will be greeted by Android Ice Cream Sandwich, but ASUS promises a Jelly Bean upgrade soon. There's much more than meets the eyes so read on to find out more.
The aforementioned camera isn't just about the megapixels, as it also supports 1080p at 30fps, 720p at 60fps and up to 100 continuous shots at full resolution! Also thrown into the package are 2GB of RAM, Corning Fit Glass (as used on the Nexus 7 to save weight), NFC, 2,140mAh fixed battery, 50GB of ASUS WebStorage for two years (which we assume is the company's way of justifying the lack of microSD expansion), and WCDMA 900/2,100MHz (DC-HSPA+ supported) plus LTE 800/1,800/2,600MHz radios for the global model. Feeling left out by these network bands? Fret not, as our brethren over at Engadget Chinese heard that there will also be models compatible with North America, Japan and Australian networks (including LTE), but no dates have been announced just yet -- we'll probably hear more from the Milan event in this regard. Speaking of which, the PadFone 2 will be using micro-SIMs instead of the common mini-SIMs, and be sure to keep a paper clip handy for the SIM tray at the top of the phone. Now, the tablet part. You'll still get a 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800 IPS display on the PadFone Station, but its original 6,600mAh battery's been slimmed down to 5,000mAh which we're totally OK with, given the now 514g weight. Adding the phone's 135g, the total of 649g is significantly lighter than the old 854g combo (724g without the phone), and hey, it's also lighter than the new iPad -- both WiFi and 3G flavors! Another big change here are the plugs and sockets: gone are the old 40-pin connector and dual-plug arrangement, and instead, you'll get a weird 13-pin connector on both the phone and the tablet that handles all the data, video, power and radio signals between the PadFone 2 and the new PadFone Station. Don't worry, the 13-pin socket's compatible with micro-USB as well as MHL. As for availability, we bring you good news: folks in Taiwan can grab hold of the black PadFone 2 as early as next week, while the white version will be released at a later date. Like its predecessor, the PadFone 2 can be purchased either on its own (which is totally fine given the competitive specs) or together with the PadFone Station. The former ranges from NT$17,901 to NT$21,901 (about US$610 to US$750) unsubsidized for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB flavors, while the slate bundle is simply an additional NT$6,000 (about US$210) for each price point -- much cheaper than buying the PadFone Station separately for NT$8,990 (US$310). Our brethren over at Engadget Chinese heard that Hong Kong is also in the first wave of the launch, but there's no solid date just yet. Stay tuned as we sniff out for more detail. Update: Sorry guys, looks like there's no keyboard for the PadFone 2. Bummer. Update 2: We now have details on general availability in Europe and Asia.
Live Life Intuitively with ASUS PadFone™ 2 Quad-core smartphone with incredible battery life and a thinner, lighter PadFone 2 Station deliver the ultimate mobile flexibility. Milan, Italy (October 16, 2012) - ASUS, a global leader in the new digital era, today announces the PadFone™ 2. Building upon the successful PadFone combination of an Android smartphone and dockable tablet for incredible mobile flexibility, PadFone 2 consists of a higher-specification quad-core smartphone and a completely redesigned tablet. ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled PadFone 2 in front of the world's media at a press conference in Milan, Italy. "Our relentless drive to innovate through Design Thinking has empowered us to create PadFone 2. It's beautiful, it's fast, it's seamless and, best of all, it's intuitive," said Mr. Shih. PadFone 2 is a fully featured 4.7" Android™ smartphone with industry-leading specifications that docks with the unique PadFone 2 Station to become a lightweight, but fully featured, 10.1" tablet. Apps are seamlessly optimized on-the-fly to support both tablet and phone modes, with an instant transition between smartphone and tablet screen sizes. Enlarge and Charge ASUS' world-renowned Design Thinking philosophy has significantly reduced PadFone 2 Station's thickness and weight. At just 649g, the combined weight of both PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station is now lighter than most tablets on the market, and the dock mechanism has been redesigned to require just one swift step to use. PadFone 2 has also been subtly refined to increase its screen size to 4.7", while reducing its thickness and weight to just 9mm at its thickest point and 135g, respectively. A 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM ensures incredible PadFone 2 performance in both smartphone and tablet modes. The new 4.7" 1280 x 720 HD Super IPS+ display uses scratch-resistant Corning® Fit Glass and delivers sharp, detailed images with accurate colors, ultra-wide viewing angles and 550 nits brightness for stunning outdoor visibility. Easy to Share, Easy to Save With capacities up to 64GB and 50GB of ASUS WebStorage provided free for two years, PadFone 2 offers endless possibilities for storing data. Data syncing between devices is also a thing of the past, since PadFone 2 storage is used by PadFone 2 Station when the two are connected. Shared mobile data connectivity between smartphone and tablet also means just one data plan is needed for both devices, while support for up to 42Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ and 100Mbit/s LTE delivers super-fast web browsing and downloads. User-friendly enhancements PadFone 2 also features a new version of the SuperNote app that instantly converts handwritten notes made in multiple languages into editable text. Its Instant Translation tool also translates any word, phrase or sentence in an email, web page or app at a touch, without the need for a third-party translation tool. Availability PadFone 2 will be launched before the end of December in Europe (Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden) and Asia (Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, U.A.E). Availability in other countries will be announced at a later date. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Honda sells its millionth hybrid, sits in Toyota's rear-view mirror for now Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:16 PM PDT
Honda's hybrid cars just haven't achieved the same cachet as Toyota's without a poster child like the Prius to drive demand. Nonetheless, the automaker has something to crow about with word that it has sold over a million hybrids worldwide as of the end of September. The milestone comes almost 13 years after the first Japan-bound Insight changed hands in November 1999, and after a significant expansion that includes more specialized cars like the CR-Z coupe you see here. Americans represent almost a third of the total at 318,000 vehicles that are split mostly between the Insight and the Civic Hybrid. Hitting seven digits gives Honda some eco-friendly credibility in a crowded field, although the firm might not want to brag too loudly: Toyota has sold four times as many to date and expects to sell one million hybrids just in 2012. Worldwide Sales of Honda Hybrid Vehicles Reach One Million Units 10/14/2012 - TOKYO Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that cumulative worldwide sales of its hybrid vehicles surpassed one million units as of the end of September 2012. This milestone was reached 12 years and 11 months after the start of sales of the first generation Honda Insight in Japan on November 1999, which achieved a fuel economy rating of 35km/liter1, then rated as the world's most fuel efficient vehicle among all mass-production gasoline-powered vehicles. Honda began hybrid vehicle sales in U.S. in 1999 with the 2000 Honda Insight – the first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle sold in America. Cumulative sales of Honda hybrid vehicles in the U.S. market have now reached over 318,000 units, predominately sales of the Insight and Civic Hybrid. Capitalizing on the unique features of Honda's original lightweight and compact IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid system, Honda has been enhancing its hybrid vehicle lineup and currently sells eight hybrid models in approximately 50 countries around the world, including four distinct models in the U.S. In May 2012, Honda began to produce hybrid models in regions outside of Japan starting with the Acura ILX Hybrid2 in the U.S., followed by production of the Jazz (Fit) Hybrid in Thailand. Honda will also begin production of the Jazz Hybrid in Malaysia at the end of October in an effort to deliver hybrid vehicles with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions for customers in Asia where demand for fuel-efficient vehicles is expected to grow in the future. In addition to further advancing the current hybrid model offerings equipped with the one-motor IMA hybrid system, Honda is introducing new hybrid systems for mid-size models that will be equipped with a two-motor hybrid system. Additionally, a highly-efficient and high-output three-motor hybrid system, the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® (Super Handling All Wheel Drive), offering both superior dynamic handling and fuel efficiency, will be applied to the Acura NSX and RLX Sport Hybrid model, as well as the successor model of the Legend, scheduled to be introduced in Japan. Under the global environmental slogan of "Blue Skies for Our Children," Honda will continue its efforts to further market penetration of hybrid vehicles to realize a low carbon society. History of Honda's Hybrid Models Year Honda's Cumulative 1999 November: First generation Insight 2001 December: Civic Hybrid 2004 December: Accord Hybrid (North America only) 2005 April: 100,000 units 2007 May: 200,000 units 2009 February: Second generation Insight August: 400,000 units 2010 February: CR-Z December: 600,000 units 2011 June: Fit Shuttle Hybrid (Japan only) December: 800,000 units 2012 May: Acura ILX Hybrid (USA, Canada only) September: 1000,000 units 1Measured in 10･15 mode with a 5-speed MT vehicle; roughly 82 m.p.g. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PSA: Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard update rolling out today Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:12 PM PDT
Your chance to shout voice commands at Engadget is coming today, as Microsoft is rolling out its Fall Dashboard update to the Xbox 360 today, headlined by the inclusion of Internet Explorer. The update also adds a version of its popular "pinning" functionality, a variety of specialized sports apps (NBA, NHL, and Monday Night Football from ESPN), the ability to recommend and rate content, and some UI tweaks across all of the 360 Dashboard's categories. Xbox Music is also in there, as is SmartGlass support, though the latter won't have any functionality until October 26, according to Microsoft's Major Nelson. The update may not come immediately, as it's being rolled out gradually across various regions. 3 million folks get in this week, while others may not see it until a week or two from now, says Microsoft. We've got a full hands-on right here for you to read in the meantime, of course. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xbox 360 Dashboard update hands-on (fall 2012) Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:00 PM PDT
Is it Fall again already? Must be time for another Xbox 360 Dashboard update. Every year Microsoft Drops the console a little bit of code to match the descending leaves, delivering new features, interface tweaks and additional content to hide behind the Xbox Live Gold paywall. Redmond's latest update isn't quite the overhaul it gave the gaming rig last year, but minor changes can have big effects. Join us after the break to see the machine's latest update, and what it means for you.
User Interface Last year, Microsoft kitted out the Xbox 360 with its then-budding (and recently renamed) Metro interface – flattening out the Dashboard's cross-bar style navigation into a series of panel-laden channels that offered their primary functions on single page layouts. It looked good, it presented more information to the user at a glance and it was more efficient than its predecessor. So, what does the Dashboard's 2012 Fall update bring to the table? Even more trademark tiles, of course – though more isn't necessarily better. The various sections that make up the Xbox experience now feature between nine and twelve tiles per category,each serving up a mish-mash of system functions, product advertisements and recommended content. Of the nine panels on the Dash's new home screen, for example, three were essential, five were advertisements and one was dedicated to a Kinect-specific sub menu. To be frank, there's a lot going on here, and not all of it is useful. So, what happened? Microsoft simplified a specific piece of the Xbox Dashboard, resulting in a more cluttered desktop – it shed its pseudo live tile. The live-updating panels that Windows 8 and Redmond's mobile platform utilize were never truly present on the Xbox 360, but last year's update offered a passable facsimile in the form of a rotating "featured" tile that cycled through select content. There was one on almost every channel, each offering up to five rotating spots for advertisements or recommendations – the new Dashboard instead deals this content out individually, granting each item its own dedicated panel. At first, this almost seems like a better use of space – serving users all available items simultaneously, rather than making them wait (or trigger) a carousel to digest more information – but since the majority of the information available is advertisement, it comes off as a bit of a marketing mess. Admittedly, these are harsh words, but our true frustration is rooted in the lost potential of these extra tiles. It all stems from the updated Dashboard's poor implementation of "pinning." On Windows Phone and Windows 8, pinning snags favorite apps, content or shortcuts and "pins" them to the home screen, letting users kit out their device's landing page with their most used items – across both platforms this is a fairly uniform action, and adds a lot of personality to the user's work environment. Pinning on the Xbox doesn't work like that – yes, items can be "pinned," which adds them to a special "My Pins" sub menu, but pinned items don't take up residence in any of the Xbox's tile-laden channels. The feature uses the same terminology as its desktop and mobile cousins, but fails to deliver the same functionality. This nonconformism teases a feature that would have allowed users to make use of all those extra tiles, customizing unique home screens that was representative of not only their own use, but of Microsoft's entire design aesthetic. While the pin menu does offer quicker access a list of favorites, its halfhearted implementation robs the plentiful panels of their full potential. The update also tweaks and rebrands the "quickplay" item that was introduced just last year -- removing the app launcher from the Xbox guide, and renaming it to "recent" on the console's home screen. This is a minor, but notable tweak for users who strive to navigate their console from the guide exclusively. Fortunately, recently used items can still be accessed through the guide's "Games & Apps" menu. The additional ad-space is handled better in some channels than others. Music, for instance, offers Finally, it's worth noting that while the music and video channels in the beta shed the Zune moniker, the apps themselves had not changed. Microsoft told us that the new Dashboard was little more than a minor branding tweak, as far as the media services went, and that it wasn't representative of the future of Xbox Music and Video. We'd be willing to bet that TV and Movie ratings will come in the official update, as will some additional branding swaps: we still found a few Zune logos hiding in the deeper levels of the new Dashboard. Internet Explorer Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg once described web browsing on a TV as a poor experience, explaining to Edge Magazine that the Xbox 360 simply wouldn't be getting a web browser. "Sure, you can go on the PS3 and go to Facebook and try to navigate" he argued, "but it's an absolute nightmare." Foot, meet mouth. The web browser Microsoft announced at E3 is finally here, regrettably living up to Greenberg's predictions. It just isn't a good experience. Internet Explorer on Xbox 360 is a temperamental and often sluggish browser. Some sites, like The Onion, load with nary a hitch -- playing videos, scrolling smoothly and loading at a decent clip. Sadly, America's finest news source is the exception, not the rule. More often than not, Xbox's flavor of IE will drag its way through the web, strolling through your high-speed connection at dial-up speeds. Some sites -- like Fox Sports, one of the browser's default featured sites -- won't even scroll smoothly while fully loaded, stuttering their way across the screen. Even in best case scenarios, most pages have trouble keeping up with the user's movement, and are very obviously loading as you scroll. Most of the sites we tested averaged somewhere between a jittery stutter and a quick render, usually leaving us to wait for a few seconds while a new portion of the page loaded. The browser is also notably incompatible with most streaming video, and lacks the plugins required for the much web's richer multimedia experiences. Xbox's own website and the Onion's streaming content played fine, but YouTube, Viddler and most embeds we came across either wouldn't load at all or asked us to download Flash. Microsoft's own Silverlight is equally impotent, so don't get any cocky ideas about loading up Netflix on the 360's web-browser. HTML5, on the other hand, hobbled along at a workable pace (see the above mentioned video content), but not necessarily a strong one. Contre Jour, for instance, limps at a jittery and uneven framerate -- offering a playable, but not entirely enjoyable experience. This certainly isn't the fast, fluid, more beautiful web Redmond has been waxing poetic about recently. The browser isn't particularly easy to use, ether. Entering a URL, for instance, requires pulling up an on-screen keyboard -- hardly a departure for text entry on a console, but this keyboard requires you to click on each letter using an analog controlled cursor rather than the traditional locked-gird hunt-and-peck setup consoles have trained us to expect. Dragging the virtual mouse over the letters is awkward and imprecise -- often missing the desired key. The left-analog controlled mouse works well enough once you get to page, as does the scrolling action of the right stick, but beyond basic navigation the browser's control scheme feels incomplete. One thing that is nice about the 360's version of Internet Explorer is the Web Hub. Tapping the Y button brings up the URL bar and a horizontal list of featured, recent or favorite web pages. It has a minimalist design that fits right in with Microsoft's new standard aesthetic flair, and it looks great. Sadly, it too is plagued by an underutilization of control, requiring the same awkward cursor to manipulate most of its functions. Both the keyboard and the greater hub could have used a toggle to switch between a cursor mode and a item-based navigation method similar to how the main Dashboard itself responds to gamepad input. At least the hub has the saving grace of Kinect -- allowing you to navigate most of its features through voice control. Even so, the motion sensitive cursor Kinect brings to the Xbox Dashboard is oddly absent here, which seems like a missed opportunity. The more time we spent with the Xbox's awkward browsing experience, the more it seemed clear that it's missing a vital component: SmartGlass. We peeked around the settings menu and found a cursory mention of the upcoming cross-platform control setup, but Microsoft told us what we found was mostly groundwork and branding changes. SmartGlass is coming, but it isn't here yet -- and its second-device control could make all the difference for the console's web browser. The compatibility issues, on the other hand? Well, let's just say we're looking forward to regular patches. Wrap up Is the Xbox 360's 2012 update worth its weight in bandwidth? Maybe not. Despite introducing an fairly fun and entertaining ratings and suggestion engine, the new Dash's plethora of panels leaves it looking like a messy billboard. The new Pin feature could have alleviated some of this mess by allowing a form of desktop customization, but instead only manages to pass as a rebranded favorites menu. The new features are handy, but the cost is visually aggravating. And the web browser? It's tolerable for some light browsing, but fails to surpass the convenience and overall better experience of simply loading the same content on a smartphone. It stands as evidence for Microsoft's old argument: some experiences just aren't made for the TV. That said, it has some potential -- at least after Microsoft launches SmartGlass apps for Android, iOS and Windows Phone. In the meantime, we doubt you'll have any trouble ignoring the sub-par browsing experience. If you somehow need tips, find a friend with a PS3. They'll tell you all about that browser they never use. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft airs its first Surface tablet ad, focuses on keyboard, kickstand and... dancers? Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:24 PM PDT
Considering how interested we are in trying out Microsoft's new Surface Windows 8 tablets, it turns out we should've been practicing the art of dance instead of blogging. The first TV spot for the tablets aired tonight during Dancing with the Stars, fitting, since it featured an entire troupe of dancers and was directed by Jon Chu, best known for his work on flicks like the Step Up series and Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. While it didn't expose any deep details about the hardware, its potential pricetag or the software running on it, it appears Microsoft will separate itself from the pack based on that slick Touch Cover, Type Cover and kickstand. At the end it teases "coming 10/26" and promises a future behind the scenes video from the ad, but that's it. Check out the minute-long spot itself embedded after the break and let us know if you spot any new information about the slate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adobe Reader for iOS and Android updated with cloud storage support Posted: 15 Oct 2012 07:51 PM PDT
On Monday, Adobe dropped details for an update to its iOS and Android versions of Reader. The most noteworthy enhancement here is the introduction of cloud file storage with Acrobat.com, which allows users to view and edit documents seamlessly across mobile and desktop devices, à la | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Korean IPTV service LG Uplus launches a Google TV-powered set-top box Posted: 15 Oct 2012 07:12 PM PDT
While we've seen the Google TV platform spread to additional manufacturers and some new lower-priced form factors, LG Uplus (not the same as LG Electronics) is the first we've seen offering a set-top box for its IPTV service based on it. new and existing customers alike can opt for the U+TV G, which will blend live TV streams, video on-demand and Google TV apps. Rapper Psy will be playing a large part in a national campaign to promote the offering, and after making Korea the tenth country Google TV is available in, Google says it will continue to work with providers around the world. Jumping inside the cable box is a notable move for the project, however at home hasn't significantly improved integration beyond that originally offered by Dish Network, and it's not even built into the Google Fiber set-top box. Check out a few (oddly silent?) demo videos embedded after the break. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sphero gets an improved, multifunction Drive app, we go hands-on Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:49 PM PDT
Just about a year ago we got to review Orbotix's Sphero, and while it was an amusing little remote control orb, its controls left a lot to be desired. A couple months ago, the company gave Sphero some new firmware that included the "Vector Drive" feature, which eliminated Sphero's meandering ways and gave it far more precise steering. Now, the company has improved its Drive app and combined it with the old Sphero and Cam apps. This new version of Drive has a tool that lets users aim the ball with a single finger -- a small, but welcome improvement over the old, fidgety two-finger method. Additionally, the app has a new Auto Heading function that keeps Sphero aware of the orientation of its controller to provide a much more intuitive driving experience. After giving it a go ourselves, we can attest that it's a marked improvement over the prior iterations of Drive. We no longer had to plan out Sphero's routes, and we could drive feeling confident that the ball would roll as directed. Check out how the refreshed controls work in our video after the break.
After showing us the improved app, Orbotix CTO Ian Bernstein also let us know that Sphero can now be bought at Brookstone, Apple Stores and Target, and you'll be able to pick one up from Barnes and Noble in the next month or so. Oh, and those apps using the Sphero Augmented Reality Engine we saw over the summer? Those should be ready for public consumption come holiday season, too. |
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