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• Slickdeals' best in tech for November 5th: 60-inch LG HDTV and digital cameras
• Sony Action Cam review: a good rugged camera with a few software wrinkles
• European Commission clears 2GHz bands for LTE use by 2014, claims 4G pipes wider than the US
• Sony's 'Reader' App finally re-launches on iOS, purchases handled through Apple
• Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: fall 2012 edition
• The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 1pm ET!
• Microsoft reveals how much of Surface RT's disc space is actually yours
• Samsung ATIV Smart PC and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 hit AT&T on November 9th at $800 and $500 prices
• Over 1 million Samsung HDTVs sold in the US last month
• The Engadget Interview: ARM's Lead Mobile Strategist James Bruce (video)
• Apple: 3 million iPads sold in three days
• Acer exec warns Microsoft may eat 'hard rice' with its Surface tablet
• Samsung Galaxy Camera arrives in the UK on November 8th for £399
• Ballmer: Windows Phone 8 'still small', but will 'really ramp quickly'
• HP becomes a platinum member of the Linux Foundation
• XBMC 12 Frodo enters development, beta releases expected mid-November
• IDC: tablet shipments up 6.7 percent in Q3 2012, Apple's market share drops to 50.4 percent
• Skype launches prepaid cards in UK: Available in over 1,400 stores, credit starts from £10
• Panasonic launches tweaked AG-AF105A MFT pro camcorder with 10-bit HD video
• AMD unveils Opteron 6300, hopes to put servers in a Piledriver
• How would you change Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 10.1?
• Refresh Roundup: week of October 29th, 2012
• NASA releases web app to help you spot ISS, celebrates 12 years of continuous crew occupation
• Switched On: Missed app-ortunity
• Proportional VR experiment shrinks man down to rat size, lets us play games with rodents

Slickdeals' best in tech for November 5th: 60-inch LG HDTV and digital cameras Posted: 05 Nov 2012 10:01 AM PST Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. If you're looking to put off getting back to the grind of the work week as long as possible, we may be able to help a bit. Here's a brand new batch of tech deals that are ready to accept those funds that you're eager to part with. Another 60-inch display tops this roundup alongside digital cameras, a Windows Phone handset and a SSD. Take a look past the break for all of the particulars -- all of which are free from the burdens of coupon codes and rebate forms. This offer is available over at Amazon. Grab this handset from Groupon. This combo is available over at Adorama. Snag this deal from Groupon. Grab one for your machine at Amazon.

Sony Action Cam review: a good rugged camera with a few software wrinkles Posted: 05 Nov 2012 09:30 AM PST Until now, Sony's efforts in the element-stopping sports cam world had largely consisted of handhelds such as the Bloggie Sport HD and the waterproof Handycam. The $200 Action Cam, however, is an all-out hiking-boot-wearing adventurist, with a backpack full of tools and supplies by comparison, that frankly, makes the brand's previous attempts look like they're barely prepared for a school field trip. A lot of technology can be broken down into numbers. PetaFLOPS, gigahertz and megabytes -- the idea usually being, the more the better. And often that's true. Sometimes, though, what you really need are a couple breaths of fresh air and a healthy shot of adrenaline. And that's where something like Sony's new HDR-AS15 Action Cam shines. It's one of a growing breed of devices that allow us to get our fill of the great outdoors, while still satisfying our gadget fix. With plenty of other competitors lining up to be your sporting partner of choice, however, does the Action Cam have what it takes to keep up? Dive past the break to find out. Sony Action Cam review Hardware There seem to be two main approaches to sports camera design: the cam-and-case brigade (e.g., the GoPro and Veho) and the tough-tube crew (think: Contour and ION). With the Action Cam, Sony has gone with the former. The naked unit isn't all that rugged, but pop it in the supplied waterproof case and it's ready for business. One perk of this approach, especially with the Action Cam, is that you have the option of using it as a regular "non-action" helmet cam when you're not white water rafting, but still want to record some POV footage minus the extra weight. It might be tempting to think this is a happy side-effect of incidental design, but the fact that Sony will sell you a head-mount for the un-cased camera does suggest otherwise. The camera itself is light (90g with battery) yet well-built. The front lens pokes out from a round-edged, rectangular body, with two small forward-facing mics below it. One side of the unit has a small LCD and a pair of buttons, and there are some hidden ports along the bottom (HDMI, USB, 3.5mm mic input and expansion connector). Around the back is a sliding / hinged cover, underneath which is where you stash the (1,240 mAh) battery and microSD or Memory Stick Micro memory card. This back cover is also where you'll find the big red record button, which should be easy enough to locate when mounted up out of view on a helmet, along with a small "hold" switch to prevent accidental filming, or indeed, unintentionally stopping. Any of the three buttons on the unit will switch the Action Cam on when pressed, but if you opt for the Record button, it'll go right ahead and start grabbing footage as well -- activating a small red LED above it to let you know it's shooting. That's great for getting it going quickly, but also a recipe for a bundle of inadvertent one- or two-second clips if you just wanted to switch it on. The two side buttons, next to the screen, are for navigating menus and options, at which point, the big red one becomes "select." Naturally, if you want to see the Action Cam in its full glory, you'll need to slip it into the waterproof case. Unlike the GoPro, or Veho Muvi, the Action Cam's hinge / door mechanism isn't fully fixed to the rest of the case. There is a hinge to lock it in place like the others, but once opened, the lid is only kept united with the body by a long rubber strip with a barb at the end. This is quite easy to pull out completely. While it's fairly easy to thread back in again from the comfort of home, we can imagine it being a bit more of a fiddle when gloved, cold or otherwise ready for action. If you already have some photography gear, then the inclusion of a standard tripod mount on the bottom of the case will be cause for a mild mental cheer The case also allows some control of the device while sheathed, but you're pretty much limited to starting and stopping video capture -- or triggering photos, depending on which mode you're in. As you may have already surmised, there is an external equivalent of the record button on the case, complete with its own hold control, but if you want to navigate the menus, you'll have to access the device directly, or use the WiFi feature -- which we'll cover later on. If you already have some photography gear, then the inclusion of a standard tripod mount on the bottom of the case will be cause for a mild mental cheer (we're looking at you GoPro!) The complete, cased unit is probably one of the larger POV cameras that we've seen. It's not cumbersome, or too unwieldy, but it is something you're going to notice when mounted about your person. That's especially true since -- unlike the Contour -- it doesn't have the option of a rotatable lens to keep footage level regardless to position, so your choices are limited to having it the right way up, or upside down and using software to flip the videos. Accessories If you've ever opened a GoPro, an ION or a MUVI HD, then you'll know that once the box is open, the accessories pretty much spring out at you, somehow never to fit back in again. This is a problem you don't have to worry about with the Sony Action Cam. Once you pop the camera out, along with the waterproof case, you're left pretty much unburdened by accessories, barring a pair of battery trays (why the battery doesn't fit the compartment is unclear), a pair of adhesive mounts and a mounting clip for the case. There are a couple of extra options available -- handlebar and headband mounts for the naked and cased units. Though if you want them, you'll have to cough up extra for them. In use Sony's made basic operation of the Action Cam wonderfully simple. As we mentioned, you simply have to poke one of the side buttons to wake it up. The LCD screen might be small, but it's enough, and always makes it clear exactly what menu you're looking at. You'll usually need the device to be out of its case to change settings (unless using the app), and you'll likely need at least one gloveless hand while you do so. Every button push rewards you with a beep or chime sound, which is handy when mounted, but surprisingly there's no option to turn this off. That's not a major hardship, but it does mean if you're operating this at home, in the office or anywhere with low-level noise, everyone is going to know about it. Sony's made basic operation of the Action Cam wonderfully simple. Once you've set it up to your choice of resolution (1080p, 720p or 480p), FOV angle (120 or 170) and frames-per-second (30, unless you're in 720 mode where you have the choice of 60 or 120 also), the next step in the process is to get active! We're assuming you don't want this for recording a birthday or family wedding, so we instead put this through its paces at a local theme park. Unlike some of the competition, the Action Cam lets you record at either of the available angles regardless of the resolution, so you're not limited there. We started at 1080p and 170 degrees before moving on to 720p and the choice of extra framerates that comes with it. The results are pleasing, with no sign of the rolling shutter effect as can sometimes be the case with this type of camera. Light, in particular, seems to be the main deciding factor here. As you'll see in the sample footage below, in near darkness there's lots of visible noise. While this might be understandable as we're moving fast, and no doubt the camera is scrambling to keep up with the sudden change in levels, you can also see the color richness change later on. Shooting a scene where there are lots of tall metal rails from roller-coasters is also handy for spotting any jagged lines, but happily we didn't notice any here. Perhaps one of the better features of the Action Cam is the 120 fps setting at 720p. This makes it a great option for those who want high-quality slow-mo footage (or at least to have the choice). We set up a few test shots specifically to investigate the quality of this footage and are pleased to report that it does indeed perform very well. You will be sacrificing your audio, as the camera drops that altogether in super-slow mode (as Sony calls it). You'll also be bargaining against the capacity of your SD card, naturally, as the extra data demands more memory to house it. As for audio, this is typically an area where these cameras falter -- in no small part thanks to usually being locked up nice and tight in a waterproof housing. The Action Cam doesn't shatter audio expectations when cased, but out in the open, it performs well enough. Naturally, wind soon becomes your enemy here, but we're not blaming Sony for that! The inclusion of a mic input should ease the concerns of anyone who has particular audio requirements. Lastly, a note about the battery life. The supplied 1,240mAh cell might not sound like much in mobile phone parlance, but in our testing it fully handled a day's regular use (lots of switching on and off, filming and occasionally connecting via WiFi). If you think this still might not be enough, or fancy some extended filming, its removable nature means you can always buy a couple of spares. Software Unlike more sedentary filmmakers, the action crowd has largely had to settle for shooting without either a viewfinder or a way of quickly playing back footage. GoPro has its BacPac accessories, but the more gun-like design of the Action Cam doesn't lend itself to such things. No problem, as Sony has squeezed a WiFi chip into one of the models, meaning you can download the PlayMemories app (iOS and Android) and let a mobile device pick up this slack. Not only will it let you view what the camera is seeing, but you can also change the recording mode, set the camera rolling and view files afterwards. Well, that's the theory anyway. The Action Cam doesn't shatter audio expectations when cased, but out in the open, it performs well enough. In practice, the app is temperamental at best. Using it with Android 4.0.4 and 4.1 was basically a non-starter. You can discover and connect to the camera, but that seems to be about it. We had much better success with Gingerbread, however, which works as intended. Apple users fare little better, with the file-transfer mode ("Send" under the menu) working reliably, and the live viewfinder mode working intermittently (connecting about one in five times). This was with an iPad running iOS 6. We contacted Sony about this issue, who advise that it should work on any previous versions of either system, and that its engineering team is working to release an update in November that will cover both iOS and Android. For the immediate, however, this is a shame, as for many people this functionality is a key selling point, and something that should be well within Sony's capabilities to deliver quickly. Wrap-up Has Sony swept away the competition with the Action Cam? Not quite. But as a debut into this market, it's respectable and promising. The camera does what it promises -- it lets you shoot good-quality action footage. The ability to shoot 720p footage at 120 fps gives the Action Cam a stand-out feature, which may be enough to win it a dedicated following. That said, the photo modes are somewhat limited, and the app integration is far from up to scratch. Sony's Action cam... in action! Action Cam prototype at CE week, we go fingers on Sony Action Cam gets official If Sony can promise (and deliver) an app update in the near future, along with a firmware bump to allow more camera shooting modes (burst and single-shot, please!), then the Action Cam would go from the leagues of a tandem parachute jump to a gnarly wing-suit dive. With the base-model retailing for $200, it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Contour's entry-level ROAM2 and GoPro's new White edition. At this price, only the GoPro has WiFi. If you want that feature with Sony's Action Cam, you'll need to dig a little deeper and pay $270. To be fair, that price puts it at about the level you would expect in the market -- given that GoPro wants $300 for its Silver Edition, which only really offers a stills upgrade from its cheaper sibling. All in all, we enjoyed our time with the Action Cam, and are happy with the results it provided. If its spec-sheet is suitable to your requirements, then there's no doubt it will serve you well.

European Commission clears 2GHz bands for LTE use by 2014, claims 4G pipes wider than the US Posted: 05 Nov 2012 09:02 AM PST European LTE deployments might just be getting started, but the European Commission is already trying to head off any bandwidth problems at the pass. The organization has ordered that 120MHz of normally 3G-only spectrum around the 2GHz band has to be reusable for LTE and other 4G networks by June 30th, 2014. Once the airwaves loosen up, the Commission sees its home continent having an advantage over an LTE-happy US: it expects to have as much as 1GHz of spectrum available for 4G, or potentially twice as much as what Americans might claim. Officials are also mulling plans to repurpose extra slices of 2GHz spectrum that haven't even been used for 3G and could offer that much more headroom. While an edge over the US in bandwidth might not last after policy changes, it's hard to complain if the EC move leads to future smartphones whose downloads stay speedy.

Sony's 'Reader' App finally re-launches on iOS, purchases handled through Apple Posted: 05 Nov 2012 08:33 AM PST Sony's Reader App for iOS launched way back in the heady days of 2010, long before Kindle's had set Fire or gone Paperwhite. It was subsequently rejected by Apple, per the company's longstanding policy of not approving software for iOS that bypassed Apple's own in-app purchase system for a proprietary one. It's been more than a few months at this point, but Reader has finally re-launched on the iOS App Store -- free of charge, of course -- and it's got a brand new look based around the required Apple payment system. As The Digital Reader points out, Sony's Reader looks an awful lot like the Bluefire iOS e-reader app, though we'd wager Sony's store offers more in the way of literary choice.

Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: fall 2012 edition Posted: 05 Nov 2012 08:00 AM PST Three months is a long time in tablet-land, it seems. Since we last brought you a buyer's guide, a few things have changed. In fact, this is probably the biggest shake-up yet, with not only the long-rumored iPad mini making an appearance, but also new offerings from two other big guns -- Microsoft and Google. Oh, and that means there's a whole new species of device altogether. With Windows RT finally shipping, there's new hardware to go with it, and we expect to see more popping up on the list in the months to come. This is all good news for you prospective tablet owners, as more competition can only mean more choice. With more options, though, comes more confusion. That's where we come in, armed with a few notable picks. Read on to find out what made the cut this season. 10-inch tablets No, it's not the new iPad. It's the newest iPad. Or, to avoid any confusion, the fourth-generation iPad. Whatever you want to call it, it was a pleasant -- and wholly unexpected -- surprise to see the still relatively young Retina tablet get a refresh. What's new? Well, mainly that A6X processor, which blew our socks off when we tested it, but there's also an improved front-facing camera, and that tiny little Lightning 2 port. Battery life is longer than before, to boot. Fortunately, this fourth-gen iPad costs the same as the previous iteration. That's great news -- unless you just bought the old "new iPad," that is. When Microsoft announced the Surface for Windows RT tablet, Windows fans took a collective gasp of excitement. In addition to this version of Windows, tailored for ARM-powered devices, prospective buyers will enjoy a minimum of 32GB of storage, an optically bonded, 10.6-inch, 1,366 x 768 display and some solid in / out options (full USB, SD card reader, HD video out). The apps available might not reach the same levels of the competition just yet, but with most of Microsoft's big hitters (Word, Excel, SkyDrive, Internet Explorer) pre-installed, and with more and more big titles coming to the platform every week, this won't be an issue for long. In fact, if you're already on board with Surface for Windows RT, the biggest problem is likely what color Touch Cover keyboard you might want to treat yourself to. The third big name to launch a new slate in almost as many weeks? That'd be our friends at Mountain View. If there is a tablet-making rulebook, please don't ever send one to Google. What does the new Nexus 10 have to say for itself? New OS? Check, 1.7GHz processor? Yup. Mind-melting 2,560 x 1,600 resolution -- oh lordy. It's real, and it's here. Well, almost. You'll have to wait just a few more days until the official November 13th release, but once that date rolls around, you can get yourself a whole lotta tablet for a not-unreasonable amount of money. ASUS clearly created a winning formula with its Transformer Pad series of dockable tablets, with at least one making an appearance in every tablet buyer's guide we've published. The TF700 stands on the shoulders of its predecessor, jacking up all the key specs. The quad-core Tegra 3 chip now purrs along at 1.6GHz (and up to 1.7GHz with single-core performance); the resolution jumps from 1,280 x 800 to 1,920 x 1,200; and a little design tweaking promises to sidestep any antenna issues. So, good news all-round? Definitely. So much so that it remains one of the top Android slates out there. 7-inch tablets When Google rolls into tablet town, you know the rest of the market takes a collective inward-breath. The Nexus 7 made a splashy debut at the company's opening I/O keynote, setting nerds' hearts aflutter the world over. The Nexus 7 has been a huge success, and the family continues to grow. With the 8GB version banished, you can snap up this 32GB varient for the same price as the original 16GB edition. With a 1.2GHz quad-core Tegra 3 chip, 1GB of RAM and that 32GB of storage, this isn't all that different from some of its larger and more expensive competitors. Add in the latest version of Jelly Bean with all its buttery-smooth performance and Google Now goodness, and you've got one formidable package. Apple was a long time coming to the 7-inch(ish) party, that's for sure. However, when it finally showed up, naturally it did so in its own inimitable style. That means an extra 0.9 inches on the screen size of its peers, front and rear cameras (a relative rarity on tablets this price) and 16- 3- and 64GB storage options. That 7.9-inch display has a 1,024 x 768 resolution and, while the chipset isn't quad-core as on the Nexus 7, that dual-core A5 SoC still delivers smooth performance. A new size also means a new price point and, as you might expect, it's not the cheapest in its class. But if you fancy iOS, or just don't need any additional screen real estate, you can get in on the game from $329. Barnes & Noble lost its place in the 7-inch tablet section when certain other big players entered the market, but new hardware means another bite of the cherry. The Nook HD is definitely new, and in almost every regard. Taking a quick tour of its feature list, you'll find a new design, a 1,440 x 900 display, a faster processor (1.3GHz, dual-core TI OMAP) and a fresher operating system, based on Android 4.0. Even better, it has a new, lower price: $199 for 8GB, and $229 for the 16GB model. If you're looking for a tablet with a design language that stands out from the much of the Android / iOS crowd the Nook HD offers individuality in spades. The OG Kindle Fire had been a mainstay in our tablet buyer's guide, greedily hogging not one, but two spots in total. And while that unbroken spell comes to an end this time around, it's only due to being replaced by newer members of Amazon's tablet lineup. The 7-inch Kindle Fire HD sports an improved display (now 1,280 x 800), thinner form factor, HDMI output and 16GB of storage all for a Nexus 7-bothering $200. As before, one of the main selling points here is access to media, but the tradeoff means committing to Amazon's interpretation of Android. If the walled app garden doesn't put you off, then this is a close contender for king of the hill among its contemporaries. 3G / 4G tablets For those of you who want a slate coupled with always-on internet, a 3G or 4G option might be worth the investment. Though tablets used to be sold subsidized on two-year contracts, just like phones, we're increasingly seeing them offered without contracts. For instance, many are available on month-to-month, no-strings-attached terms. In some cases, it's also possible to add a tablet to your current smartphone plan for a small fee per month, with the option of sharing data between the two devices. It should go without saying, but be sure to read your carrier's fine print before taking the plunge. One charge that can never be levied against Apple is that it takes its sweet time to bring its cellular models up to date. As soon as there's a refresh, it's available in all colors and memory configurations. This means that with the announcement of the fourth-generation iPad, those with 4G data requirements got a new tablet to consider. Fortunately for you, there's not all that much to think about: same great Retina display, a swanky new processor, a better front-facing camera and a new, smaller connection port. It seems the only thing to consider is which network to go with -- Sprint, AT&T and Verizon will all happily take your monthly subscription fees. Now that Apple's portfolio of tablets has been augmented, you lucky folk get another WiFi + cellular tablet option. Needless to say, if you've eyed-up the fourth generation iPad as a possible option, this might be on your radar too, especially with support for the same networks (Sprint, Verizon, AT&T). While it might not pack the same processing punch as its bigger brother, you're still getting a whole lot of (little) tablet, all in Apple's now familiar range of options. Want to ride the airwaves on the good ship Cupertino, but not a fan of the larger form factor? This guy's got your back. Apple's intention to take a bite out of Google's (and everyone else's) 7-inch pie was well-known in advance. What was kept a little more under wraps, though, was Mountain View's debut into the WiFi and cellular tablet world. The Nexus 7 gets an HSPA+ refresh, and 32GB of memory along with it. It's more of the same Nexus magic that we've come to know and love, but now with data-anywhere smarts. If you're into the idea, but not ready to commit to a cellular plan just yet, this is ideal, as Google will sell you one without having to sign on any dotted lines. How much for a table at the BYOS (Bring Your Own SIM) diner? That'll be $299. While Samsung's smaller tablets might be playing catch up with the competition, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is still worth a look if you fancy some of Big Red's LTE on the go. While the specification isn't horribly dated, the price is still a little high, even having recently dropped by $150. That said, we're still amazed that Verizon's 4G service doesn't put a dent in its impossibly long runtime. Previously, Verizon wanted two years of your life and a data fee paid on time each month, now, however you get a monthly plan, but no subsidy on the hardware. There's also a global HSPA+ version for use on other networks, if you don't mind paying an extra 200 smackers or so for the privilege. Budget It's really no surprise that the WiFi-only Nexus 7 has found its way into two categories of our tablet buyer's guide. While the only difference between the two versions is the choice between 16GB and (the recently launched) 32GB of storage, that sub-$200 price makes the smaller capacity model a veritable bargain. The Nexus rolls the Kindle Fire 2012 over in some key areas -- just look at those specs we've laid out above. Amazon's trump card has always been content, but with Google also gaining momentum in this exact area, Jelly Beans never tasted so good. When the Kindle Fire first bounded into our lives, it was a simpler time. Just one model meant fewer options, but we loved it all the same. In the fall of 2012, however, it's a totally different story. There are different sizes, specifications and not to mention a totally revamped base model, which is what we're looking at here. The processor bumps from 1GHz to 1.2GHz. There's double the RAM along with boasts of better battery life and slicker performance to boot. Best of all, it'll only run you $159, which, we imagine, will have even the most cautious of pockets smiling, especially those with a keen appreciation of content. If the 4G Galaxy Tab 7.7 whetted your Korean-tablet appetite, but the hefty price tag dampened your spirits, all is not lost. The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 offers up a great ICS experience, but without the groan-inducing cost. In our review, we found the dual-core 1GHz TI OMAP chip handles the latest version of Android just fine, and the good-enough 1,024 x 600 LCD display is the same one used on the more premium Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. While this might not offer the same tightly integrated ecosystem as a Kindle Fire, or the simplistic appeal of the Nexus 7, the $250 slate is still great if what you really want is a low-cost tablet running Ice Cream Sandwich. What's got a 9-inch screen, has a 1,920 x 1,280 resolution, runs a 1.5 GHz OMAP dual-core processor and only wants 270 of your hard-earned dollars? The Nook HD+, that's what. Keen to make sure bitter rivals fellow book sellers Amazon didn't hog all the new cheap-and-media-friendly glory, Barnes & Noble are back with this bigger, bolder stab at the tablet market, but are still very much hoping to keep fans of reading on its side. The 6,000mAh battery claims to offer 10 hours of continuous reading, while microSD and HDMI connectivity mean your storage and viewing options aren't limited. As with the Kindle Fire, you're buying into an ecosystem here, but if you're less concerned with the how (OS), and more into the what (content), then this is a lot of slate for not a lot of dollars. While we've done our best to compare popular tablet choices, we understand you, too, may have a favorite that's not mentioned here. If so, feel free to call it out it in the comments below. Tell us why you love it and perhaps you'll see it here next time!

The Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 1pm ET! Posted: 05 Nov 2012 07:31 AM PST Nexus 4. Windows Phone 8. Smartphones coming out of our ears. This past week was one of the craziest that we've seen in a long time, and it's time for Myriam and Brad to discuss the big topics at length. We'll also be chatting about the HTC One X+, Nokia Lumia 920, HTC Windows Phone 8X, Sony Xperia TL and Nexus 10. Join us at 1pm ET and we'll fill you in on all the good details! November 5, 2012 1:00 PM EST This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Microsoft reveals how much of Surface RT's disc space is actually yours Posted: 05 Nov 2012 06:58 AM PST If you've wondered how much space Windows RT, Office and Microsoft's bundled apps occupy on your shiny new Surface RT, worry no longer. Microsoft has revealed that once you've accounted for binary conversion, recovery provision and the software itself, the 32GB device will have 16GB of free space, while 64GB units will get 46GB of room to store your media. Naturally, you can use microSD cards (or USB Drives) to add to that space, and if you'd like to know how to get the device to treat it as if it's all coming from a single library, check out our tutorial.

Samsung ATIV Smart PC and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 hit AT&T on November 9th at $800 and $500 prices Posted: 05 Nov 2012 06:27 AM PST If you like your tablets of the Samsung persuasion, AT&T has just promised an abundance of riches. The carrier has confirmed that both the Android-toting Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and the Windows 8-based ATIV Smart PC will reach its stores and LTE network by November 9th at respective contract-free prices of $500 and $800. Those who spring for the ATIV-badged hardware can deck it out with a $49 Stand Dock and a $40 VGA adapter, both available in late November, if they're keen to transform their 11.6-inch slates into tiny desktops. And if you'd really, really like to go all-in with Samsung, there's a promo running through the holidays that knocks as much as $100 off the tablet price if you're willing to buy a Samsung phone (and the matching two-year contract, naturally) at the same time. Show full PR text Samsung ATIV Smart PC and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Available at AT&T Retail Stores Nationwide Nov. 9 on AT&T's 4G LTE Network For a Limited Time, Buy any Samsung Galaxy Smartphone1 and Receive up to $100 off a Second Connected Samsung Device including the new Samsung ATIV smart PC and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. Available Exclusively at AT&T this Holiday Season, New Samsung ATIV smart PC Delivers Windows 8 Dallas, Texas, November 05, 2012 ShareThis AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile)2, today announced availability of the Samsung ATIV smart PC, a new tablet designed for the new Windows® 8 operating system, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab® 2 10.1, a 4G LTE Android tablet. Both tablets will be available for AT&T customers this holiday season beginning Nov. 9. The Samsung ATIV smart PC will be priced at $799.99 and the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will be available for $499.99. AT&T is giving customers more reasons to purchase a Samsung device this holiday season as part of a limited time offer that gives customers up to $100 off the purchase of any connected Samsung device of lesser or equal value, including the new Samsung ATIV smart PC and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, when they purchase any Samsung Galaxy smartphone (w/ two-year agreement incl. qualifying voice and data plans). Samsung ATIV smart PC Samsung ATIV smart PC combines premium computing power in an elegant tablet form factor while providing AT&T customers the ultimate in productivity and entertainment features. The powerful ATIV smart PC has an 11.6-inch HD PLS display, 64GB of internal storage memory and a microSD card slot to support up to an additional 32GB of memory and the Intel® Atom™ dual-core processor, up to 1.5 GHz. ATIV smart PC comes installed with Windows 8 (which can be upgraded to Windows 8 Pro). It is also backward compatible and supports all existing software and applications that run on older windows OS such as Windows 7, Vista, and XP. ATIV smart PC also comes preloaded with a trial version of Microsoft Office 2010 for a complete PC experience and for productivity while on-the-go. ATIV is Samsung's brand for Windows 8 products including Smart PCs, tablets and Windows Phone 8 for smartphones. Samsung will continue to announce ATIV products to provide advanced, productive and creative experiences. "We are excited to offer the Samsung ATIV smart PC in stores nationwide ahead of the holiday shopping season," said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, AT&T Emerging Devices. "Connected by the nation's largest 4G network, this Windows 8 tablet gives customers optimized touch interface, instant live tile updates and PC capabilities." Samsung Mobile and AT&T are offering the following accessories3 to get the most out of the ATIV smart PC: * Stand Dock – Dock the ATIV smart PC in the Stand Dock to turn any environment into a personal office. In addition to providing a charge when docked, the Stand Dock is equipped with a built-in USB port and Ethernet (RJ45) port to connect the ATIV smart PC to LAN and various USB peripherals. * VGA Adapter – Expand your workstation and give presentations with ease with the VGA Adapter (micro HDMI to VGA connectivity). Use the VGA Adapter to connect the ATIV smart PC to external displays, monitors and projectors for second-screen viewing and enhanced productivity. * Additional accessories will also be available. Beginning in late November online at www.wireless.att.com, the ATIV smart PC Stand Dock will be available for $49.00 and the VGA adapter will be available for $40.00. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.14 is a 4G LTE Android 4.0 tablet that delivers entertainment and productivity to fit your whole life. Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 offers a 10.1-inch display and premium entertainment options including Media Hub, Smart Remote and AllShare® Play. 3 Features like on-device encryption and VPN access ensure the tablet is secure for business use, while the 7000 mAh battery allows for all-day connectivity. For more information on Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, please visit www.att.com/galaxytab2. AT&T customers have access to the nation's largest 4G network, covering 285 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas.5 With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G network. Customers purchasing tablets from AT&T have more options in choosing the plan that's right for them and their mobile devices. With new AT&T Mobile Share plans, new and existing customers can share a single bucket of data across smartphones, tablets, and other compatible devices. AT&T Mobile Share allows customers to build a plan to fit their devices and usage. For as low as $10 per month, customers can connect the Samsung 4G LTE tablets with AT&T's new Mobile Share plans. Customers can select one of the new shared data plans or choose one of AT&T's existing individual or family plans. 6 Beginning Nov. 9, Samsung ATIV smart PC and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will be available in AT&T company-owned retail stores nationwide and online at www.wireless.att.com. For more information on AT&T, please visit www.att.com. *AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. 1 Samsung Galaxy promotion requires two-year smartphone agreement including qualifying voice and data plan. 2Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012. Samsung Electronics Company is the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide according to Strategy Analytics Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: Q2 2012. 3ATIV smart PC accessories sold separately. 4Samsung, Galaxy Tab, and AllShare are registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. 54G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network. 4G when used in connection with the ATIV Smart PC refers to the fact that the device can operate on AT&T's 4G network. 6Smartphone required. Up to ten devices per plan. Additional monthly charge per device. $15 per GB for add'l data. Unlimited talk and text for phones only. Activation fee may apply. Additional deposits and other restrictions may apply. Access to corporate email, intranet sites and apps available for $15/mo. per device.

Over 1 million Samsung HDTVs sold in the US last month Posted: 05 Nov 2012 05:42 AM PST If it wasn't busy enough selling millions upon millions of smartphones, Samsung's TV department has proven it's no slouch either, with a record 1.15 million sets sold last month in the US alone. After noting "potential demand for super large TV," Samsung's focusing its attentions on the 75-inch ES9000 to help it sell the next million. Trumping its first million-selling month one year ago, it's pretty good going at a time when plenty of viewers are now happily settled with their HDTV setup. Show full PR text Samsung TV's US Monthly Sales Hit New Record High Samsung TV reached new monthly sales high of 1.15 million in Oct this year in US after touching the 1 Million sales' milestone about a year ago. With stellar sales performances under its belt, Samsung TV is aiming high to claim the 7th consecutive global best seller title. The 1.15 million sales records especially in fiercely competitive North American market is largely contributable to premium marketing, efficient supply management strategy, and technology prowess. Samsung Electronics has put the 75 inch ES9000 Smart TV at the forefront of its premium marketing to consolidate its market leadership knowing that the potential demand for super large TV is there in the US market.

The Engadget Interview: ARM's Lead Mobile Strategist James Bruce (video) Posted: 05 Nov 2012 05:00 AM PST Last week we got the chance to spend a few minutes with James Bruce, ARM's Lead Mobile Strategist, to chat about the company's past, present and future. We discussed the recent Cortex A50 announcement and ARM's broad history -- including key products like the Nokia 6110 and how the company's chip designs have "changed how people compute and lead their digital life" over the past five years. We also talked about the scalability and flexibility of the ARM architecture, from embedded systems to smartphones and tablets to servers. So what's in the pockets of one of the most important people in the chip world? A Nexus 7 and a global Galaxy S III, it turns out. Go ahead and watch the full interview above.

Apple: 3 million iPads sold in three days Posted: 05 Nov 2012 04:39 AM PST So, what did you do over the weekend? If you're Apple, your answer likely involves a lot of bragging about the three million iPads you managed to move. That number, it's worth pointing out, includes both new models: the revamped fourth generation and the newly smallerized iPad mini. That may go a ways toward explaining how the company doubled the 1.5 million mark for its WiFi-only third generation iPad during that device's first weekend, by Apple's own count. According to company head Tim Cook, Apple "practically sold out of iPad minis" and is "working hard to build more quickly." Apple's got more nice words for itself in the press release after the break. Show full PR text Apple Sells Three Million iPads in Three Days Apple(R) today announced it has sold three million iPads in just three days since the launch of its new iPad(R) mini and fourth generation iPad--double the previous first weekend milestone of 1.5 million Wi-Fi only models sold for the third generation iPad in March. The Wi-Fi + Cellular versions of both iPad mini and fourth generation iPad will ship in a few weeks in the US and in many more countries later this year. "Customers around the world love the new iPad mini and fourth generation iPad," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We set a new launch weekend record and practically sold out of iPad minis. We're working hard to build more quickly to meet the incredible demand." The new iPad mini features a stunning 7.9-inch Multi-Touch(TM) display, FaceTime(R) HD and iSight(R) cameras, ultrafast wireless performance* and an incredible 10 hours of battery life**. The new fourth generation iPad features a gorgeous 9.7-inch Retina(TM) display, new Apple-designed A6X chip, FaceTime HD camera and ultrafast wireless performance. Both iPad mini and the new fourth generation iPad with Retina display are available in 34 countries including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and the UK, and will be available in many more countries later this year, including mainland China. Demand for iPad mini exceeded the initial supply and while many of the pre-orders have been shipped to customers, some are scheduled to be shipped later this month. Pricing & Availability iPad mini with Wi-Fi comes in either white & silver or black & slate, and is available in the US for a suggested retail price of $329 (US) for the 16GB model, $429 (US) for the 32GB model and $529 (US) for the 64GB model. Fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi models are available in black or white for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model. Both iPad mini and fourth generation iPad are available from the Apple Online Store ( www.apple.com ), Apple's retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular and fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular will be available in the US on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon in a few weeks. iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular will be offered for a suggested retail price of $459 (US) for the 16GB model, $559 (US) for the 32GB model and $659 (US) for the 64GB model. Fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will be offered for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. Additionally, iPad 2 is available at $399 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and just $529 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model where they are sold now.

Acer exec warns Microsoft may eat 'hard rice' with its Surface tablet Posted: 05 Nov 2012 04:05 AM PST Acer seems to be straddling a delicate position with respect to Microsoft right now. On the one hand, it's outwardly indifferent towards Surface RT and indeed the the whole Windows RT concept, which is why it's holding off on its own RT tablets for the time being. But if that's true, why are the company's top brass so eager for Microsoft to withdraw from the competition? President for Greater China, Linxian Lang, has just resorted to a food metaphor to emphasize the point, warning that Redmond will have to eat "hard rice" with Surface, and implying that it should stick to its more readily-chewed software diet. If you've seen our own Surface RT review, then you'll know our thoughts on the matter: Microsoft's tablet has been boiled and salted just right, which might be the real reason Acer is so averse to it. [Image credit: Sina Tech]

Samsung Galaxy Camera arrives in the UK on November 8th for £399 Posted: 05 Nov 2012 03:30 AM PST If you've been looking for an unholy union 'twixt smartphone and compact shooter, then Samsung's Galaxy Camera can't come soon enough. The Android-powered snapper arrives in the UK on Thursday November 8th, with an RRP of £399, unless, that is, you're in the vicinity of the Samsung store. If so, then the devices are being sold early at 5:00pm on November 7th, when you can snag one a few hours early and enjoy some Champagne and canapés supplied by the Korean behemoth. Show full PR text UK AVAILABILITY OF SAMSUNG GALAXY CAMERA ANNOUNCED FOR 8th NOVEMBER Samsung brand store customers to get new connected camera from 5pm on November 7th 5th November 2012, London, UK – Samsung Electronics has today announced the Galaxy Camera will be available across the UK from November 8th. Samsung brand store customers will get the opportunity to buy it earlier, from 5pm on November 7th. First seen in Berlin at IFA 2012 in August, the new connected camera combines high performance photography with the cutting-edge design of Samsung's Galaxy smartphone range. Simon Stanford, Vice President, Telecommunications & Networks Division, Samsung UK and Ireland said: "The initial response to the Galaxy Camera has been amazing and we are really looking forward to offering our customers a completely new type of digital photography device. The Galaxy Camera is a fantastic example of our continued passion for innovation and we are excited to be evolving our Galaxy range even further." The Samsung Galaxy Camera features a 21x optical zoom lens, the latest Android OS (4.1 Jelly Bean) and 3G connectivity so it's possible to go online and share photos with friends and family anytime anywhere. Plus photographs and videos can be edited and shared easily and spontaneously wherever you are. A 21x optical touch zoom lens and super-bright 16M BSI CMOS sensor means it's possible to take high quality pictures with the Galaxy Camera and its 'Smart Pro' technology guarantees the end result is a professional-looking, stunning shot every time. The Galaxy Camera's 16-Megapixel 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor makes sure that every image is captured in brilliant colour and resolution, and even wide-angle shots are possible thanks to the 23mm aperture lens. With the world's largest and most vivid camera display – a 121.2mm HD Super Clear Touch Display - photographs are always crystal clear. The Galaxy Camera will be available exclusively at the Samsung Brand Store with champagne and canapés on offer from 5pm on November 7th and it will then hit a range of high street stores and online retailers including Carphone Warehouse, Phones 4u and Jessops on November 8th.

Ballmer: Windows Phone 8 'still small', but will 'really ramp quickly' Posted: 05 Nov 2012 02:59 AM PST Following its launch event in San Francisco and the appearance of its first devices last week, the folks behind Windows Phone 8 is hoping for big things in the future. Microsoft's chief exec Steve Ballmer said that its work with Nokia, HTC and Samsung offered them the chance to create a "really strong third participant in the smartphone market." He admitted that they weren't there quite yet and told the audience at a Windows 8 launch event in Israel that Microsoft's mobile OS was "still relatively small", but that he expects "the volumes on Windows Phone to really ramp quickly." The company will be lavishing more on marketing and advertising around Windows 8, Window Phone 8 and Surface than it has on anything previous -- which sounds good, as its new mobile OS might need the help.

HP becomes a platinum member of the Linux Foundation Posted: 05 Nov 2012 02:26 AM PST Snagging a first-class upgrade might empty out the contents of your wallet, but be glad you're not trying to buy your way to the Linux Foundation's top table. With a strategic investment of $500,000, Hewlett Packard has just become a platinum member of the body, alongside companies like Intel, Qualcomm and Samsung. In exchange for all that cash, HP gets a seat on the Foundation's board of directors and will have a say in how to advance the foundation's aims -- and hopefully give Open webOS a gentle push, too. Show full PR text The Linux Foundation Announces HP to Become Platinum Member HP makes strategic investment in Linux, upgrades to highest level of membership BARCELONA, Spain {LinuxCon Europe} November 5, 2012 – The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux, today announced that HP is making a strategic, long-term investment in Linux by upgrading to Platinum membership. Linux Foundation Platinum members include Fujitsu, IBM, Intel, NEC, Oracle, Qualcomm Innovation Center and Samsung. HP was previously a Gold member. HP's business spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure. The company has long been a contributor to the Linux and open source software communities and is well known for its work on open operating systems as well as the open cloud. With many of its products already running Linux, including servers, printers, networking equipment and more, HP understands that computing is changing rapidly and is prioritizing Linux and collaborative development to advance its development for the future. By becoming a Platinum member of The Linux Foundation, HP will have a seat on the Board of Directors and will be directly involved in advancing Linux-based initiatives, workgroups, Labs, events, and more that support its business goals. "With one of the richest and most recognized stories in technology, HP has a history of innovation and market success," said Jim Zemlin, executive director at The Linux Foundation. "Because of this history and innate knowledge of software development, HP understands that Linux and collaborative development can benefit its business across its product portfolio. We're looking forward to the work we can accomplish with HP." "Linux is a strategic asset for all major technology companies. With our Linux Foundation Platinum membership, we will have a variety of ways to maximize our investment in Linux and collaborative development that advances our own business as well as greater industry innovation," said Eileen Evans, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Cloud Computing and Open Source, HP. The Linux Foundation provides a neutral environment where work on Linux, mobile and embedded development, open cloud, and more can be accelerated and advanced. It hosted the industry's first CloudOpen event in August and is home to more than 150 members.

XBMC 12 Frodo enters development, beta releases expected mid-November Posted: 05 Nov 2012 01:01 AM PST The media player paradise of XBMC 11 Eden has served us well for the majority of the year, but now it's time to move to Middle Earth. XBMC 12 Frodo has entered formal development, bringing with it a feature freeze until the new version is done and dusted. This means there won't be many changes beyond tweaks to the default skin for the foreseeable future, but a few significant additions just made the inclusion deadline, such as a UPnP update, advanced filtering (pictured above) and more. Beta versions of the hobbit-friendly release are expected to start appearing in the middle of November, but if you're still craving forbidden fruit, alpha software is available to install now at your own peril.

IDC: tablet shipments up 6.7 percent in Q3 2012, Apple's market share drops to 50.4 percent Posted: 04 Nov 2012 11:27 PM PST Samsung may dominate Apple in smartphone market share, but the opposite is true for tablets. Third quarter figures from IDC suggest the tablet market grew by 6.7 percent during those three months, and 49.5 percent since the same period last year. Apple was responsible for over half of the 27.8 million shipments worldwide, but lost a significant amount of market share, dropping to 50.4 percent from 65.5 percent in the second quarter. IDC attributes this to consumers holding off for the iPad mini, but expects some of these procrastinators will choose Android tablets due to the relatively high entry price of $329 for the mini. Samsung was second on the leaderboard, shipping over five million tablets and increasing its market share to 18.4 percent, mainly driven by Galaxy Tab and Note 10.1 sales. Amazon and ASUS also had a solid quarter thanks to the Kindle Fires and Nexus 7, respectively, shipping around 2.5 million tablets a piece. Lenovo's presence in China meant it closed out the top five, with modest growth from the same period last year. Apple may still be the biggest player in the tablet market thanks to the iPad brand, but with the significant decline in market share this quarter, it seems IDC's predictions might slowly be coming true.

Skype launches prepaid cards in UK: Available in over 1,400 stores, credit starts from £10 Posted: 04 Nov 2012 10:31 PM PST Skype has unveiled a series of prepaid cards for the UK, offering users without a credit card the ability to top-up their accounts starting from £10. A second £20 card will also be available in UK retailers including Asda, Currys, PC World, Sainsburys and bookseller WHSmith, with both denominations redeemable globally through the Microsoft company's online portal. While Mexico got there first, we've been told that more countries can expect their own currency-specific cards later this year. You'll be able to use the prepaid credit to pay for Skype subscriptions, including unlimited world calling bundles starting from £8.49 per month -- all in time for that incoming Windows Phone 8 app. Show full PR text Skype Launches New Prepaid Card in UK Partners with Asda, Currys, PC World, Sainsburys' and WHSmith for launch of Skype Cards London, November 5th 2012. Skype today announced the availability of Skype Prepaid Cards, a new way for users in the UK to purchase Skype Credit and add premium features to the free software they already use. Skype is joined in this initiative by five of the UK's leading high street names, with Asda, Currys, PC World, Sainsburys' and WHSmith offering Skype Prepaid Cards in the gift card sections of their stores. Now available at more than 1,400 stores throughout the UK, with more to follow, users are able to purchase Skype Credit at their preferred retail outlet to top up their Skype account online or to offer to friends and family as a gift. Skype Prepaid Cards will be available in £10 and £20 denominations and can be easily redeemed online at skype.com against Skype paid features – all designed to provide additional possibilities to share more with loved ones and to keep in touch easily. Skype Prepaid Cards are the way to get access to a whole set of Skype paid features, such as: · Making affordable calls to mobiles and landlines around the world · Sending low cost text messages · Holding video calls with multiple people · Unlimited calls to a country of your choice · Connection to over one million global WiFi hotspots Katie Walley, Head of Cards and Lending at Asda Money, said: "At Asda we are committed to helping our customers save money every day. We see Skype as an ideal way to make communicating more affordable, and the Skype Prepaid Cards will be available in over 200 stores over the coming months." Shelly Roberts, Buyer at Sainsbury's, said: "We're always looking for ways to help our customers save money so it's great news that our partnership with Skype means that these cards, which will be available in over 400 Sainsbury's stores, will allow our customers to remain in contact with their friends and family cost effectively." This is a significant new direction in Skype's retail strategy, according to Enrico Noseda, Head of Market Development for the EMEA region at Skype: "We see Skype Prepaid Cards as yet another option for users to get more out of the Skype experience, either as a way to add Skype Credit to their account or as a perfect gift for friends and family to allow them to keep in touch more easily. The Skype Credit can be used in whichever way and on whichever device best suits the user, making it as easy as possible to be together whenever we are apart." Redeeming Skype Prepaid Cards is easy, whether the recipient already has a Skype account or is a brand new user. After revealing the PIN under the scratch panel on the back of the card, this can then be entered via a password protected website for activation. With calling rates to mobiles and landlines starting from 1.6p/minute (incl. VAT) Skype Credit makes for the perfect present for anyone who is planning international travel as well as for small and medium sized businesses. Skype PrePaid Cards are also redeemable against different Skype subscription calling packages, including: • Unlimited Europe landlines – £4.99/month (£5.74 including VAT) • Unlimited World – £8.49/month (£9.76 including VAT) • Unlimited World including China - £13.49/month (£15.51 including VAT) To find out more about Skype Prepaid Cards and links to store locations, go to the Skype Prepaid Cards' page at http://www.skype.com/go/prepaidcardUK for more details.

Panasonic launches tweaked AG-AF105A MFT pro camcorder with 10-bit HD video Posted: 04 Nov 2012 09:58 PM PST Panasonic has just launched the AG-AF105A pro camcorder, an updated version of the AG-AF105 model, and for lovers of fine color gamut, there's good news. You can now output 10-bit HD video through the live view SDI port to an external recorder, boosting the color range to a billion hues and 1024 shades of grey. That addresses one of the main gripes with the previous $6k, 8-bit camcorder: it had to live in a world of Red Scarlets and Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera MFTs, which already have deep color. The revised model also brings a new PS recording mode with 25Mbps data rate, full HD progressive modes (1080/60p, 1080/50p), higher fidelity 16 bit LPCM audio and enlarged focus assist. It'll hit shelves on November 15th in Japan (there's no mention of an international date yet) with pricing up to the dealer, so sharpen up those haggling skills if you want one. Show full PR text Panasonic Introduces The AG-AF100A Series Micro Four Thirds Camera Recorder Featuring Full HD Progressive Recording And 10 Bit 4:2:2 Camera Live Output Via SDI Terminal Osaka, Japan (November 5th, 2012) -- Panasonic Corporation will release the new AG-AF100A Series Memory Card Camera Recorder in November 2012. The AG-AF100A Series is the professional HD camera recorder with a Micro Four Thirds mount. As with the conventional model AG-AF100 Series, AG-AF100A Series can use a wide range of lenses* including Micro Four Thirds compatible DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) lenses and Cinema lenses with a mount adapter. AG-AF100A Series also features two-channel XLR audio input terminals and more functions to meet the professional needs. In addition to the professional high quality PH mode (average approx. 21Mbps, maximum 24Mbps), AG-AF100A Series complies with the AVCHD ver. 2.0 (AVCHD Progressive) standard in its new PS mode (average approx. 25Mbps, maximum 28Mbps) for recording, playing and outputting (via HDMI only) Full-HD progressive (1080/59.94p, 1080/50p) images. The PS/PH modes support uncompressed 16 bit LPCM 2-channel audio recording. The AG-AF100A Series can newly output HD signals with 10 bit 4:2:2 quality via the camera's live output function and record onto the external devices, such as P2 Recorder, compatible with 10 bit high quality recording through SDI. P2 Recorder also syncs Rec Start/Stop with the AG-AF100A series trigger. The AG-AF100A Series is newly equipped with the expand focus assist function, which enlarges the center of the displayed image, and 2.39:1 (cinema scope size) safety zone marker. The AG-AF100A Series will be available in November 2012 at an open price in Japan.

AMD unveils Opteron 6300, hopes to put servers in a Piledriver Posted: 04 Nov 2012 08:01 PM PST AMD's advantage these days most often rests in datacenters that thrive on the chip designer's love of many-core processors, so it was almost surprising that the company brought its Piledriver architecture to the mainstream before turning to the server room. It's closing that gap now that the Opteron 6300 is here. The sequel to the 6200 fits into the same sockets and consumes the same energy as its ancestor, but speeds ahead through Piledriver's newer layout and instructions -- if you believe AMD, as much as 24 percent faster in one performance test, 40 percent in performance per watt and (naturally) a better deal for the money than Intel's Xeon. Whether that's true or just marketing bluster, there's a wide spread of chips that range from a quad-core, 3.5GHz example to a 16-core, 2.8GHz beast for massively parallel tasks. Cray, Dell, HP and others plan to boost their servers before long, although the surest proof of the 6300's success from our perspective may be that everything in the bacrkoom runs just as smoothly as it did yesterday.

How would you change Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 10.1? Posted: 04 Nov 2012 06:59 PM PST Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 retained a lot of the specs from its predecessor, with the company slashing the price to duck out of a straight fight with the iPad. In doing so, however, it found itself being bested by mid-range units from ASUS, Acer, and most damningly, the OG Galaxy Tab. Of course, if you've spent the last six months with this slate as your daily driver, then you might have found some other things to love and loathe about it. Let's imagine Samsung is listening, and tell them what you'd like to see in next year's version (aside from, perhaps, just buying a Nexus 10).

Refresh Roundup: week of October 29th, 2012 Posted: 04 Nov 2012 05:00 PM PST Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy! Official Android updates LG Viper 4G LTE: Sprint's LTE-equipped handset for eco-minded folks is now eligible for an update to Ice Cream Sandwich, which is available as an over-the-air download. [Sprint] Sony Xperia U: Sony has announced the availability of Ice Cream Sandwich for Xperia U owners in Canada, which must be installed via the manufacturer's PC Companion utility. [MobileSyrup] LG Optimus 3D: LG has announced the availability of Android 4.0 for the South Korean (SK Telecom) variant of its 3D-enabled smartphone. [@LG_Mobile (Twitter)] Samsung Galaxy S III: Reports are swirling that Android 4.1 is now available in Russia for the Galaxy S III. [@eldarmurtazin (Twitter)] Panasonic Eluga: It's not every day that you'll come across a new system update that's downloadable from Google Play, but that's exactly the approach that Panasonic has taken for the Android 4.0 refresh of its waterproof Eluga smartphone. [Android Police] Unofficial Android updates, custom ROMs and misc. hackery Motorola Droid RAZR HD: A pre-release build of Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) has leaked for the HD refresh of Verizon's popular RAZR smartphone. You'll find a full list of instructions at the source link, along with a tool to revert the installation for when something newer saunters out of the gate. [Droid Life] LG Optimus 2X: LG may have burned a bridge with Canadian Optimus 2X owners with its decision to not provide an update to Ice Cream Sandwich, but Fido subscribers can now move into the world of Jelly Bean, as the CyanogenMod team has added the Tegra 2 smartphone to its roster of nightly releases. [MobileSyrup] Other platforms BlackBerry Bold 9900: Rogers Wireless has released BlackBerry OS 7.1.0.746, which is said to bring the ability to change the LED notification color from within the profile settings. [CrackBerry] Refreshes we covered this week Google explains how its Android 4.2 malware scanner guards the side door iOS 6.0.1 released, fixes iPhone 5 OTA software update issue and other bugs (update) Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac updated for WP8, rebranded simply as 'Windows Phone' Android 4.2 camera, gallery ported to Galaxy Nexus running Jelly Bean 4.1.1 Microsoft announces Skype app for Windows Phone 8 with new UI, deep People Hub integration (video) Google Search updated with Now improvements, available on Play store for Jelly Bean devices Windows Phone 8 review Microsoft unveils new lock screen for Windows Phone 8 powered by Live Apps Google bumps Android to 4.2, keeps Jelly Bean moniker

NASA releases web app to help you spot ISS, celebrates 12 years of continuous crew occupation Posted: 04 Nov 2012 03:03 PM PST The International Space Station just celebrated its 12th anniversary of having a crew continuously onboard, and to mark the occasion, NASA's unveiled a new service to help folks catch the station in the night sky. Dubbed Spot the Station, the web app texts or emails the time that the ISS will pass over a user's location to their phone. The calculations are done for more than 4,600 places across the globe by NASA's Johnson Space Center, which determines when the ISS will be high enough in the sky to be seen above obstacles such as trees and buildings. Since the station is the second brightest object in the night sky after the moon, it'll appear to the naked eye as if it were a star moving at a steady clip. To get pinged with sighting alerts by NASA, hit the second source link below. Show full PR text Spot The Space Station Over Your Backyard With New NASA Service WASHINGTON -- On the 12th anniversary of crews continuously living and working aboard the International Space Station, NASA announced Friday a new service to help people see the orbiting laboratory when it passes overhead. "Spot the Station" will send an email or text message to those who sign up for the service a few hours before they will be able to see the space station. "It's really remarkable to see the space station fly overhead and to realize humans built an orbital complex that can be spotted from Earth by almost anyone looking up at just the right moment," said William Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations. "We're accomplishing science on the space station that is helping to improve life on Earth and paving the way for future exploration of deep space." When the space station is visible -- typically at dawn and dusk -- it is the brightest object in the night sky, other than the moon. On a clear night, the station is visible as a fast moving point of light, similar in size and brightness to the planet Venus. "Spot the Station" users will have the options to receive alerts about morning, evening or both types of sightings. The International Space Station's trajectory passes over more than 90 percent of Earth's population. The service is designed to only notify users of passes that are high enough in the sky to be easily visible over trees, buildings and other objects on the horizon. NASA's Johnson Space Center calculates the sighting information several times a week for more than 4,600 locations worldwide, all of which are available on "Spot the Station." Nov. 2 marks 12 years of continuous human habitation of the space station. To sign up for "Spot the Station," visit: http://spotthestation.nasa.gov

Switched On: Missed app-ortunity Posted: 04 Nov 2012 01:30 PM PST Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. This week marks Switched On's eighth anniversary. It's difficult to remember as jam-packed a week in terms of industry announcements from major OS providers as the recent seven-day stretch that included a bevy of hardware announcements from Apple, a new tablet and OS upgrade from Google, and two major operating system releases as well as an unprecedented hardware release from Microsoft. Of course, as would be expected from these dominant digital ecosystem stewards, all of the new products included elements of hardware, software and services, even if they were sometimes implicit. But each company could have done significantly more to highlight new third-party apps that were really taking advantage of that combination. When judged by tradition, it was most surprising that Apple did not show off any new apps that took advantage of the powerful processor of the fourth-generation iPad, which has come to market just six months after the previous generation and leap-frogged the iPhone 5. True, Apple had many announcements across its desktop, notebook and iPad lines to get through during its San Jose event. And the company did show off a number of apps that highlighted developer optimization for its tablet. However, the demonstration of a new or updated game that took advantage of the fourth-generation iPad's upgraded processing power versus the now less-compelling iPad 2, or which highlighted a new use case for the iPad mini would have served as a positive selling point versus the extended contrast with Android tablets. This is particularly true now that Microsoft has jumped in, rewriting the competitive tablet landscape with Surface. Indeed, when judged by imperative, it was most surprising that Microsoft had so little to say about third-party apps at its official Windows 8 debut in New York. Most of the early reviews of Surface RT have highlighted its clever and thoughtful design and premium build and materials. However, as Switched On noted last week, the lack of backward software compatibility hurts Surface's competitiveness. Microsoft was in a prime position with the official launch of Windows 8 and Windows RT to announce major support of third-party vendors, even if that came at the expense of reminding customers of Windows RT's broad printer compatibility. Microsoft paid more attention to third-party apps at its Windows Phone 8 launch that followed the Windows 8 debut a continent away from a powerful hurricane. There, in addition to spotlighting some heretofore secret features of the new mobile operating system such as Data Sense, Kid's Corner and Rooms (all of which have third-party software implications), Microsoft announced its intention to bring 46 of the top 50 mobile apps to Windows Phone. Among these was a long sought-after prize: Pandora. The popular personalized radio app will debut on Windows Phone without ads, adding another strong option alongside Slacker, Xbox Music and (on Lumias) Nokia Music. Google, of course, cannot fairly be judged on what it would have shown off at its event that was wisely cancelled as the impact of Hurricane Sandy became apparent. As Switched On discussed last month, Google hasn't seen the level of tablet app optimization that it would like to see to compete against the iPad and now Windows RT tablets. If Google is successful, the Nexus 10 may follow the expanded sales volume of the smaller Nexus 7, creating more incentive for Android developers to optimize. However, in the short term, the device's expansive resolution will simply exacerbate the smartphone app scaling issues upon which Apple has been all too eager to pounce. Ross Rubin is principal analyst at Reticle Research, a research and advisory firm focusing on consumer technology adoption. He shares commentary at Techspressive and on Twitter at@rossrubin.

Proportional VR experiment shrinks man down to rat size, lets us play games with rodents Posted: 04 Nov 2012 10:36 AM PST Sure, you can always play catch with the dog, but what kind of game can you play with a caged rodent? Well, "find the poster," apparently. A team of researchers from Universities in Spain, Germany, Austria, England and the US have put together a virtual reality system designed to let humans interact with rats at the rodent's scale, challenging human participants to find and lead the rodent to a unmarked goal. According to a paper published in PLoS One participants were "beamed" into the rat's environment by linking a head-mounted display and joystick to a rat-sized telepresence robot. Human players were then treated to a proportionally accurate representation of the game arena. The rat was there too, tracked with an overhead camera and represented by a human avatar. Participants were tasked with coaxing their opponent in front one of three posters in attempt to sleuth out which one represents the "winning" position. When both players are in front of the correct mystery poster, a bell sounds and the game ends. The game was primarily created to test a scaled immersive virtual reality teleoperator system, but researchers are optimistic the technology could be used to observe animal behavior from a new perspective. Check out the setup in action after the break, or read on through to the source link below for a detailed description of how mankind and some of nature's smaller creatures can get along in a virtual space.

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