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Sunday, September 30, 2012

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B&N makes the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight's $20 price drop official

Posted: 30 Sep 2012 10:11 AM PDT

The Nook's $20 price drop is more than the whim of a few major retailers -- it's Barnes & Noble's new MSRP. Following Walmart and Target's recent discounts, the company's own website is now listing the glowing e-reader at its new $119 price. The reduction is almost assuredly in preparation for Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, as B&N's announcement makes a point of bragging about the Simple Touch with Glowlight's included AC adapter and aversion to built-in ads. See the punchy press release for yourself after the break.

Show full PR text

NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight™ Now Available for the Incredible New Low Price of Just $119 – Unbeatable Value with No Distracting Ads

Award-Winning First E Ink® Reader Designed for Reading in the Dark and in Bright Sunlight, At Lowest Price Ever

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest bookseller and leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced its highly-acclaimed NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is now available for the great low price of just $119. As always, the award-winning product – a favorite among leading product reviewers and customers alike – is available ad-free, with an AC power adapter included in-box, making it a better value than other products on the market.

NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is the most versatile reader ever created, and is the first Reader designed to address E Ink readers' number-one request: the ability to read in the dark in bed and avoid disrupting a significant other. Featuring Barnes & Noble's innovative lighting technology, GlowLight shines uniformly across the display, turns on instantly and adjusts with just a touch, so customers can control the amount of light illuminating their device, whether in a dimly lit or pitch dark room. At under 7 ounces, NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is also Barnes & Noble's lightest NOOK ever, even lighter than Kindle's new competitor to Barnes & Noble's innovative device. The device's ergonomic back and soft-touch design makes it super comfortable to hold in just one hand – perfect for staying up all night in bed with a can't-put-it-down novel, or for carrying everywhere.

"At just $119, our high-quality, top-rated NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is an unbeatable value for customers who are seeking an unparalleled, ad-free reading experience that goes from bed to beach, day or night," said Jamie Iannone, President of Digital Products at Barnes & Noble. "NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is the first Reader to hit the market with built-in illumination for reading in the dark and includes a power adapter for quick and easy charging. NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is fully stocked at Barnes & Noble stores and leading retailers and available today for customers to enjoy our best-in-class digital reading experience and robust content catalog at an unbelievable price."

Like having two Readers in one, NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight doubles as the ideal reading device for outdoors, featuring a revolutionary built-in screen protector offering paper-like reading with no glare, even in bright sunlight. The company's exclusive Best-Text™ technology with adjustable fonts optimizes each letter, so words are crisp and clear. It's easy to navigate, shop and read with just the touch of a finger on the device's precise, ultra-responsive 6-inch infrared touch screen. Customers can touch to look up words, highlight passages and customize their reading experience by adjusting the font size and style, and experience lightning-fast page turns by swiping or using the device's contoured physical buttons. NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight provides access to one of the world's largest digital bookstores featuring more than 3 million books, magazines and newspapers and enables customers to borrow digital books from public libraries as well. The device can hold up to 1,000 NOOK Books and more content using expandable memory.

Offering a quick and convenient way to charge the battery, NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight comes with a power adapter at no additional cost (something a competitor charges customers an additional $10 for), and features a long lasting battery life with over one month of reading on a single charge with the light on or over two months with GlowLight off*.

NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight is available to purchase immediately at www.nook.com or at NOOK Digital Shops™ and displays in one of Barnes & Noble's nearly 700 bookstores and other leading retailers. Barnes & Noble offers Always Free NOOK Support in all of its neighborhood bookstores, with more than 40,000 NOOKsellers across the country ready to assist customers with setting up their NOOK devices or choosing their next great read.

*Battery tests based on a half hour of daily reading time with Wi-Fi® off, with GlowLight on at default brightness setting

New process for nanotube semiconductors could be graphene's ticket to primetime (video)

Posted: 30 Sep 2012 09:15 AM PDT

New patented nanotube semiconductors could be graphene's ticket to primetime

In many ways, graphene is one of technology's sickest jokes. The tantalizing promise of cheap to produce, efficient to run materials, that could turn the next page in gadget history has always remained frustratingly out of reach. Now, a new process for creating semiconductors grown on graphene could see the super material commercialized in the next five years. Developed at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the patented process "bombs" graphene with gallium, which forms droplets, and naturally arranges itself to match graphene's famous hexagonal pattern. Then, arsenic is added to the mix, which enters the droplets and crystallizes at the bottom, creating a stalk. After a few minutes of this process the droplets are raised by the desired height. The new process also does away with the need for a (relatively) thick substrate to grow the nanowire on, making it cheaper, more flexible and transparent. The inventors state that this could be used in flexible and efficient solar cells and light emitting diodes. We say forward the revolution.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: ECOLAR house, transparent solar panel and Star Wars terrariums

Posted: 30 Sep 2012 07:30 AM PDT

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

Inhabitat's Week in Green Solar Decathlon Europe, transparent solar panel and star wars terrariums

For the past two weeks Inhabitat has been reporting live from the Solar Decathlon Europe in Madrid, where 18 student teams from around the world have been competing for the title of the world's most efficient solar-powered prefab house. As usual, suspense was running high in the final days of the competition, and we're excited to announce that Team Rhône-Alpes' Canopea House has been named this year's winner! The beautiful modular house took top honors in the architecture and sustainability categories, and it features a 10.7 kW photovoltaic array on the roof that produces more than enough energy to power the home.

Some of the other standouts at the Solar Decathlon Europe include Germany's ECOLAR House, which features a flexible, modular design that can expand or shrink to accommodate the needs of its owners. It came as no surprise that the German team was tops in the engineering category, and the team incorporated hemp insulation in the floors, walls and ceiling to prevent thermal loss. Team Andalucia's Patio 2.12 House, which consists of four separate prefabricated modules built around an interior courtyard, scored high marks for energy efficiency and innovation. And although Italy's MED in Italy House might not look like much on the outside, step inside and you'll enter a different world altogether. The highly efficient home features a central courtyard and a rooftop photovoltaic array that generates about 9.33 kWh of energy per year -- roughly double what it needs. Team Rome also added wall layers that can be filled with heavy materials to provide high thermal mass once the home is installed.

The Solar Decathlon isn't the only green architecture story we've been tracking this week, though. In China, Broad Sustainable Building is planning to break ground on the world's tallest building in November. But that's not all: The 220-story building will be prefabricated, and it's expected to take less than six months to build. In downtown Cape Town, Tsai Design has floated a proposal for an amazing High Line-style park on an unfinished elevated highway. And in the ocean off the coast of Grenada, artist Jason deCaires Taylor has added to his underwater sculpture garden, sinking a handful of suburban-looking concrete houses that will provide a home for coral, starfish and seaweed.

We've also been gearing up for the Paris Motor Show, which kicked off this week. Among the early headliners were Mercedes-Benz, which unveiled its sizzling new all-electric SLS AMG Coupe, and Porsche, which unveiled the new Panamera Sport Turismo plug-in hybrid concept. In other exciting green automotive news, the "Nemesis," a modified Lotus Exige, broke the UK speed record for electric vehicles when it reached a top speed of 151 mph. And Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill legalizing self-driving cars in California. A company called Scoot launched an electric scooter-sharing service in San Francisco, and Amtrak began testing 165-mph trains on its Northeast Corridor.

New green energy innovations continue to make it easier to satisfy our electricity needs without fossil fuels. This week, Sharp unveiled a transparent solar panel that can be mounted on high-rise windows without obstructing the view. Japanese electronics giant Hitachi invented a glass "disk" that's safe from fire, chemicals and water, and a Chicago-based entrepreneur unveiled plans for Everpurse, a handbag insert that will enable you to charge your phone on the go. Google made some news of its own this week by releasing new panoramic "sea views" of six of the most spectacular coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. And in one of our favorite discoveries of the week, we stumbled upon artist Tony Larson's amazing Star Wars terrariums, in which he recreates iconic landscapes that are populated by Yoda, R2D2 and Ewoks.

Sony shuts down PSP Comic Store after October 30th, leaves most of us in the lurch for now

Posted: 30 Sep 2012 05:49 AM PDT

Sony shuts down PSP Comic Store after October 30th, leaves North Americans in the lurch

PSP Comic Store, we hardly knew ye. No really, we hardly knew ye -- which is probably why Sony is warning PSP owners that its comic book portal is shutting down after October 30th. Come Hallowe'en, we'll lose the option to download the necessary app or buy additional titles. Any currently owned comics will be available to download again until mid-January, but readers will be on their own to preserve existing libraries after that. Outside of Japan, that creates significant problems for literary PlayStation fans: while PS Vita owners in Sony's home country will get a Manga store and reader in October, there's no equivalent crutch for other countries (or any PSP owners) at this stage. The console maker is non-committal and says there's nothing it can discuss "at the moment," which to us is a hint that we shouldn't plan our reading hours around a PSP or PS Vita in the near future.

[Thanks, Sooraj]

Google retires more services, consolidates others in continued efficiency bid

Posted: 30 Sep 2012 04:10 AM PDT

Google retires more services, consolidates others in continued efficiency bid

When you run as many services as Google does, every once in a while you're going to have to do some pruning. Evidently Mountain View's got the secateurs out, having just announced the next batch of its projects that will be getting axed wound down. For the chop are: AdSense for Feeds, Classic Plus, Spreadsheet Gadgets, Places for Android, and +1 Reports in Webmaster Tools. Other services are being merged into existing properties to prevent overlap, such as Google Storage for Picasa and Drive -- which are now consolidated -- and Insights for Search is now part of Google Trends. Naturally, the search giant claims this is all about streamlining, and improving other core products. If the retired service involves a paid subscription, or legacy data, then you'll need to check the specifics on the official blog to find out how this will affect you, which fortunately for you, is just a tap of the source link away.

[Image Credit: Shutterstock]

LightSquared pitches new plans to FCC in attempt to end GPS interference hex

Posted: 30 Sep 2012 02:04 AM PDT

LightSquared files new plans to the FCC, hopes to cast off GPS interference hex

If you thought filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy was the final chapter in LightSquared's wireless network saga, you'd be wrong. Hedge-fund manager Philip Falcone is back at the FCC's doorstep with yet another proposal, which he hopes might snatch the maligned network from the jaws of GPS interference-related troubles. Two filings placed with the commission apparently outline plans to use its broadband network in a way that it believes won't interfere with GPS signals, along with the 5MHz of spectrum that are known not to cause any issues. Along with the proposed changes, LightSquared is reportedly set to ask for more time to have exclusive rights to propose a reorganization plan. If granted, this could finally mean some progress for the beleaguered project, but with investors worried that money being spent on this could be better-placed back in their pockets, Falcone will have everything crossed, while the FCC deliberates the situation.

Razer Blade review (late 2012)

Posted: 30 Sep 2012 12:01 AM PDT

Second-generation Razer Blade review

Razer has made a habit of catching us off guard -- breaking the mold as an accessory manufacturer by building laptops, prototype game handhelds and controller-toting tablets. Their Blade laptop cut through our expectations as well, featuring a beautiful aluminum shell and one of the thinnest profiles of any gaming rig on the market. It had some serious flaws, though: it was underpowered, had minor build issues and simply fell short in the audio department. Its maker, apparently, wasn't deterred: mere months after the original Blade's own debut, Razer is now introducing a successor.

Most of the changes are internal: this model swaps out the original's Sandy Bridge CPU and last-generation NVIDIA graphics for a newly announced 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-3632QM processor and a Kepler-based GeForce GTX 660M GPU. It caught our interest -- Razer had previously insisted its first laptop wasn't built just for power, but for a premium experience. Now, the firm seems to be focusing on both (now that's a premium experience we can get behind). So, is this upgrade enough to make up for the OG version's shortcomings? Read on to find out.

Look and feel

DNP Second generation Razer Blade review

The more things change, the more they stay the same -- an old French proverb, the lyrics to a Bon Jovi song, the Razer Blade gaming laptop. If you've seen the original, you've seen the latest, too. We'll get to the granular hardware upgrades shortly, but our previous impressions are worth repeating: the Blade is a gorgeous machine. Its thin, 0.8-inch profile and elegant aluminum casing lend it a premium feel that other 17-inch gaming rigs can't hope to match. It's also worth mentioning in passing that it bears a loose resemblance to the MacBook Pro. Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan even joked with us about it, casually jesting that the Blade could fill the gap the discontinued 17-inch MBP left in the market.

That homage notwithstanding, Razer does give the Blade some unique flourishes, including the company's triple-snake logo, a subtly ridged chassis and green USB 3.0 slots. The trio of USB plugs that adorn the rig's left side (now all USB 3.0, as opposed to the original Blade's mix-and-match affair) are flanked by HDMI, Ethernet and a power socket to their left, with a solitary audio jack on the right. The rest of the machine's edges are left blank, however, save for a pair of vents and a Kensington lock slot. Luddites hanging on to their optical media won't find solace here: the Blade once again forgoes a disc drive -- a concession, perhaps, to keep the chassis as thin as it is. Matching the machine's own slim profile is an equally trim power supply, which is easily half the size of most gaming laptop AC adapters.

DNP Razer Blade review late 2012

A large, glowing power button separates the laptop's keyboard from the speaker bar riding along the hinge. This looks very clean, but isn't the best use of available space -- the power toggle could have been moved to either of the frame's edges to afford the keyboard a slightly higher position on the body's face, giving users just that much more room to rest their palms -- not that it isn't comfortable already, but folks with larger hands (this editor included) would appreciate the extra space.

Speaking of nitpicks, there was one specific complaint we registered with the original Blade that's worth revisiting: the hinge. The old unit's base had a nasty habit of lifting off the table whenever we lifted the lid. Before sending out a machine for review, Razer's CEO personally assured us the problem had been solved. We'll admit, the very first time we lifted the Razer's screen, its body tagged along -- but every opening since then has gone by the book, with the base staying put on the desk where it belongs. Suffice to say, we're satisfied.

Keyboard, trackpad and Switchblade UI

DNP Razer Blade review late 2012

It's hard to recommend any trackpad for gaming, but Razer's touch-sensitive "Switchblade Display" is actually quite tolerable. That's largely thanks to its location. Since it sits in the 10-key's typical spot, the pad lends itself to comfortable gaming more so than what you'll find on most laptops. With so many superior mousing alternatives, there's no reason any respectable gamer should need to take aim with the touchpad, but those willing to try (or those who accidentally left their peripherals at home) will at least find it relatively well-suited to the task. It performs admirably as a regular trackpad as well, and executes multitouch gestures more reliably than most inlaid pointers. Still, the starboard touchpad takes some getting used to -- more than once we found ourselves brushing up against the area below the keyboard, staring in bewilderment at the unmoving cursor on the rig's screen. Ah, right. It's over there.

The Razer's LCD touchpad is far more than a mere mouse, of course -- it's a cornerstone of the outfit's Switchblade interface. This is hardly the first time we've seen Switchblade -- it's appeared in various Razer keyboards, the original Razer Blade and even a prototype that never saw the light of day. It's a neat idea -- 10 customizable screen-packed buttons headlining a small touch display for using custom apps, creating macros and launching applications -- but not much has changed about the interface over the last eight months. Razer's own Synapse software still allows the user to create sets of pre-programmed keys, each with a custom icon and specific task. For instance, you can perform a keyboard or mouse function, launch a program, switch profiles or even tweak settings on another connected Razer product (like a standalone gaming mouse). Again, though, it did all of that before, so this is mostly just a refresher.

DNP Razer Blade review late 2012

The Switchblade UI has learned a few new tricks, which have been pushed out to compatible devices over the past several months. In addition to sporting special modes that stuff Internet Explorer, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, a traditional numpad and a clock in the touchpad's screen, Razer has slowly been adding additional game-specific applications to the Switchblade. The Star Wars: The Old Republic Combat Logger, for instance, keeps track of in-game damage, threats and healing data on-screen. Some of the new offerings aren't so robust, sadly -- the UI's Team Fortress 2 and Battlefield 3 apps are little more than pre-configured profiles -- and not all of their toggles actually correspond to action in the game. Fingering the button that displays the TF2 Engineer's pistol, for instance, brings up a quick-menu for team voice commands. We found we were better off building our own profiles, and ignoring most of the new "apps" entirely.

Razer's interface is nothing if not consistent. Its 10 configurable keys are still a joy to use as an application launcher, and being able to customize the display of each individual key is a geeky pleasure of the rarest kind -- but that consistency means the pad's shortcomings are the same, too. The setup's display-laden keys, for instance, appear to ghost and bleed if they aren't looked upon from just the right angle. Similarly, the trackpad's screen lacks visual fidelity and plays back YouTube videos at a choppy framerate. Using the Switchblade to peek at Twitter or Gmail mid-game is novel, to be sure, but our initial opinion still hasn't changed: a lot of this miniature display's functions are better had on a smartphone.

DNP Razer Blade review late 2012

The pad can be a bit finicky, too -- while it does a fantastic job of recognizing standard Windows multitouch gestures, its own three-finger swipe, used to view the next or previous page of configured buttons, fails to register unless your fingers are lined up perfectly. Three fingers, but staggered, rather than in a straight line? Try again. And again. And again. It becomes tedious. When things go according to plan, though, Switchblade is a joy to use -- it provides quick access to any key combination imaginable, stamped with a colorful custom image. We just see major room for improvement, both on the hardware and software front. Razer's second-gen laptop would have been great for introducing a remodeled Switchblade.

Keyboard preference is a tricky thing, and gamers are among the pickiest -- not that mobile computers offer them much choice. Falling in line with the latest trends, the Blade keeps the same chiclet layout used on the original, though it's worth noting that the keyboard's backlight now illuminates the previously dim Fn functions on the F1-F12 keys. The Blade's alphabet islands live in the shallows, barely traveling at all with each depression. The keys don't feel very mushy, but they don't have particularly soft landing either. At first glance the space bar appears to be a tad short, but our thumbs never wavered, resting comfortably on its outer edge. Our biggest issue with the Blade's keys is also something we admire about it: the delete key. Positioned conveniently above backspace, it granted us immediate access to multi-directional text eradication -- but its close proximity caused more than a few mistakes. As a gaming keyboard? Its anti-ghosting features lend it the necessary cred. We were able to log up to 13 simultaneous key presses on the chiclet clacker, depressing at least four keys on each row of the board's QWERTY alphabet without conflict. Suffice to say, gamers counting their APM (actions per minute) shouldn't have any hardware handicaps to contend with here.

Display and sound

DNP Razer Blade review late 2012

Like most laptops in its class, the Blade features a luxuriously large 17.3-inch 1,920 x 1,080 display. It's the kind of looking glass that makes you feel like your rig is only technically portable. Big, yes, but forgivable for the sake of the broad viewing angles it provides -- truly, it's the next best thing to taking your desktop with you. That said, the Blade's humongous screen isn't the most vibrant we've seen on a gaming rig. The LED-backlit display doesn't have any contrast or color issues, mind you, nor does it have particularly bad viewing angles, color banding or any other common plagues -- it just isn't spectacular. This is a well-balanced monitor -- its colors are bright where they need to be, and its blacks are fairly deep. This is a display that won't disappoint, but certainly won't dazzle. It also won't soak up too much glare, featuring a matte finish rather than the glossy mess most displays wear.

The unit's speakers are equally average -- though in this case, "par for the course" is a marked improvement. The first-gen Blade flirted with tinniness and distortion, but we found few hints of either in this refreshed model. The newest hardware still can't shake the table with significant bass, but it won't distort at maximum volume either. Even so, cranking the Blade to 11 sounds a bit more like dialing in to a modest five -- its acoustic chops simply don't reach very far, and couldn't hope to fill a decently sized room. The speakers' central location don't help much either -- positioned dead center below the rig's display, they offer very little in terms of left / right recognition.

Performance and battery life

DNP Razer Blade review late 2012

As much as we'd love to keep gushing about the Razer Blade's slim profile and aluminum styling, the heart of this second-generation laptop comes down to its internals: this is where the real difference is. And believe us, it's a difference worth noting. The newest Blade kicks its old Sandy Bridge CPU to the curb in favor of a brand new Intel Core i7-3632QM 2.2Ghz (that's 3.2GHz with Turbo Boost) processor. In fact, the Blade is one of the first machines out the door with Intel's new silicon -- and man, this thing really cooks. Not only did it net the Blade a hearty 17,120 in PCMark Vantage, but when paired with the rig's Kepler GPU it easily handled two top-tier games running at max settings. It also had no problem juggling a word processor, a few benchmarking tools and six web browser windows whose tabs were streaming music and video, or loading assorted blogs. Save for a bit (well, a lot) of extra heat pouring out the machine's vents, we were hard-pressed to notice a significant difference in system performance. Of course, if you're looking for quantifiable, sane and thoroughly less ridiculous tests, benchmark numbers speak for themselves.

PCMarkVantage 3DMark06 Battery life
Razer Blade 2.0 (2.20GHz Core i7-3632QM, GeForce GTX 660M) 17,120 15,876 3:29
Samsung Series 7 Gamer (2.30GHz Core i7-3610QM, GeForce GTX 675M) 11,515 21,131 2:11
MSI GT70 (2.23GHz Core i7-3610QM, GeForce GTX 670M) 14,073 18,955 2:49
MSI GT683DXR (2.00GHz Core i7-2630QM, GeForce GTX 570M) 9,074 16,862 2:40
2011 Sony Vaio F Series (2.20GHz Core i7-2670QM, GeForce GT 540M) 8,116 8,394 2:07
Sony VAIO Z (2.7GHz Core i7-2620M, Intel HD Graphics 3000 / Radeon HD 6650M) 11,855 7,955 4:15
Note: higher scores are better.

The original Blade's lofty price (a staggering $2,799) made its mid-range internals a sore spot with many consumers. It plodded its way through nearly every contemporary game with lackluster framerates. Yes, dialing down the settings produced playable results, but the OG Blade had positioned itself as the "world's first true gaming laptop." Its GeForce GT 555M simply couldn't live up to that promise. NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 660M, on the other hand? Now that has potential. It still isn't the most powerful mobile chip on the market (or even in NVIDIA's own lineup), but it packs more than enough oomph to give the machine the kind of performance we were expecting all along.

Whereas the Blade's predecessor struggled to run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim without making major concessions in visual fidelity, the newest iteration had no such problems. Tamriel's frozen North came to life in ultra high quality at 43 frames per second. Battlefield 3 didn't shine quite as brightly, but still clipped 30 fps on high, and 38 fps on auto, which tuned textures to ultra while dialing most of the regular settings to medium. Its performance in Starcraft II saw improvements as well, with framerates climbing to an average of 50 fps with settings at their highest levels. Other titles required some concessions, however -- Batman: Arkham City played like a dream as long as DirectX 11 features were disabled, scoring 47 fps with PhysX tuned to high. In Grand Theft Auto IV, it clocked a respectable 32 fps average as long as texture filtering and draw distance were reeled in slightly. Team Fortress 2, on the other hand, required no adjustments -- we blazed along at 54 fps with maximum video settings enabled.

DNP Razer Blade review late 2012

Unfortunately, not everything we threw at it ran smoothly. The Witcher 2 stuttered at a meager 9 fps. Yikes. Turning off über-sampling brought it up to an almost playable 20 fps, but we had to abandon the Blade's native 1,920 x 1,080 resolution to eke out a decent framerate (1,366 x 768 turned out to be the sweet spot.) That visual concession allowed us to push 40 fps on the game's high settings by trading sharp visuals for smooth gameplay. The result was completely playable, but muddied and unsatisfying.

The Blade's CPU and graphics aren't the only upgrades Razer had in store -- it also kitted the rig out with 8GB of slightly faster 1600MHz DDR3 RAM and a 64GB / 500GB hybrid solid state drive. Pitted against the ATTO disk benchmark, the dual-identity drive wrote at 180 MB/s, and read at 476 MB/s. The drive is a tad slower than a dedicated SSD, but the Blade's 25-second boot time is nothing to shake a stick at. Razer says the drive will learn to prioritize your most-used applications over time, but we didn't notice any specific increase in speed for any particular item during our time with it.

When Razer's CEO first told us about the Blade refresh, he let out a slightly sad sigh when he said the one thing the company couldn't improve was battery life. Intel's and NVIDIA's latest chips apparently take too much power. Despite Min-Liang's words of caution, our review unit survived nearly three and a half hours in Engadget's standard battery test -- besting not only its predecessor by a solid 20 minutes, but the runtime of many of its competitors, too. Gaming without a charger yields less impressive results, burning through the rig's reserves in about an hour. High performance activity also generates a fair bit of heat, radiating from the area just above the keyboard and the rear of the machine's underside. It's not so hot that you couldn't tolerate it through a pair of jeans, but it's warm enough that you'd want to keep the Blade off your lap without proper attire. No short shorts, in other words.

Software

DNP Second generation Razer Blade review


In a stroke of pure genius, Razer omitted needless bloatware from its original Blade laptop, a move we're happy to see turning into standard practice for the company. Like its predecessor, the second-generation machine comes pre-loaded only with Razer's own Synapse software -- a suite you'll need to make use of the rig's Switchblade interface. In fact, the fancy keys are reliant on the software -- if Synapse crashes, or is closed for any reason, you can kiss that 10-key program launcher goodbye. The program does more than just manage the Blade's magic buttons, however. It allows you to click on any key -- not just the special Switchblade toggles -- and reassign its function. Do you find the right Alt key to be a bit redundant? Turn it into a program launcher or a sensitivity switch for a compatible Razer mouse. The app is fairly versatile, but not terribly intuitive. Managing the Switchblade keys in particular isn't as straightforward as we'd like, and the experience gave us a rare yearning for a nagging start-up tutorial. Like the interface itself, the Synapse software suite has room for improvement.

The competition

Razer's second-generation Blade comes in a single $2,500 configuration -- with that Core i7-3632QM CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M graphics, 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a 500GB / 64GB solid state hybrid drive for faster boot and load times. Virtually no other 17-inch gaming rig on the market is going to be able to go toe to toe with the Razer on size, but price and performance? That's another matter altogether. Samsung's Series 7 Gamer, for instance, rings in at a full $600 less than the Blade, outpacing it in game performance without making visual concessions. Still too rich for your blood? Take a look at the MSI GT70 -- it costs nearly $1,000 less than the new Razer Blade and delivers similar performance, albeit with a last-generation GeForce GTX 670M GPU in tow. Each of these machines have marked advantages over the Blade as well -- the GT70 flaunts a far superior sound system, powered by Dynaudio. The Razer's passable display also can't hope to compete with the Series 7 Gamer's 400-nit SuperBright Plus panel. On the other hand, both of these contenders are inferior when it comes to style.

If you're hooked on the Blade's slim profile, but aren't sure black is your color -- there's another option, but you might get laughed out of your next LAN party. Kitted out with its own Kepler-based GT 650M and an Ivy Bridge i7 processor, Apple's latest MacBook Pro puts on a passable facade as a Windows gaming machine -- lagging only slightly behind the Blade when running games at 1,920 x 1,080 on their highest settings. Starting at $2,199 for the Retina display MacBook Pro, however, doesn't net you much in savings -- but if you aren't sold on the Switchblade interface, if you're a Mac fanboy at heart or if you just have money to burn, it might just be a viable alternative. Just don't come looking for us if gamers on the other side of the aisle shoot you a few nasty looks.

Wrap-up

DNP Second generation Razer Blade review

It's hard to hit the market with a self-given description as the "world's first true gaming laptop" only to get knocked down by critics. Subpar audio, a finicky hinge and crippled performance were all common complaints about the original Razer Blade. The reaction among gamers sent a shockwave through Razer, and the company vowed to do better. As for us, we're seeing a fixed hinge, better (but still lackluster) audio offerings and a significant leap in performance. And we'll say this: if we had to choose one gaming laptop to lug outside the house, it'd be this. It's slim, attractive, slightly more manageable than other gaming rigs and -- perhaps most importantly -- it won't stick out like a sore thumb in public.

But even with a $300 price drop, the Blade remains firmly fixed in luxury-item territory. Before dropping $2,500, prospective buyers should understand they're purchasing style, not staying power. The new Blade may be fit to take on most contemporary PC games, but it's far from future-proof. Owning the best-looking gaming laptop on the market means making compromises: dialing down performance in games and accepting the fact that you may need to upgrade sooner than you might have if you spent less on a homelier rig. That's a tall order, and it's hard to say if it's worth it. Nobody ever said these kinds of decisions were easy.

Maingear announces Nomad 17 gaming laptop, comes with custom paint job

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 09:01 PM PDT

Maingear announces Nomad 17 gaming laptop, comes with custom paint job

Maingear certainly loves to turn out solidly specificated hardware, and today is no exception. Its latest offering? The Nomad 17. As the name suggests this is a 17-inch notebook for gamers on the go. (Nomad, get it?) The new addition will support third-gen Intel Core i7 chips (up to 3.8GHz) and a maximum 32GB of RAM, with a choice of hard drive configurations. It's not all about the under-the-hood grunt, though, with Maingear offering a choice of six colors for what it's calling "hand-painted premium automotive paint jobs." As for the other spec options? You can expect NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M or 680M graphics, a 1,920 x 1080 display, combo Blue-ray optical drive, b / g / n wireless along with USB 2 / 3, DVI-I, HDMI and Fire Wire ports. So, this definitely sounds like a ride you can make your own. Assuming you're good with the $1,599 starting sticker price that is.

Show full PR text

MAINGEAR UNVEILS THE NOMAD 17 CUSTOM GAMING LAPTOP – MUSCLE AND BEAUTY ON THE GO

MAINGEAR offers its greatest gaming laptop yet featuring the latest 3rd generation Intel® Core™ i7 mobile processors that performs as good as it looks with an array of custom paint options for free to customers.

Kenilworth, New Jersey - September 30, 2012 - MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system builder offering custom desktops, notebooks, and workstations is unveiling the new NOMAD 17 custom notebook as the perfect performance mobile solution for gamers and PC enthusiasts alike. It boasts top tier mobile hardware such as 3rd generation Intel® Core™ i7 processors and NVIDIA GTX 600 series graphics, but also keeps user interface and aesthetics close to heart.

Technological Wizardry
The NOMAD 17 gaming laptop supports 3rd generation Intel® quad-core processors up to 3.8GHz for blazing performance and offers cool operation with maximum battery life, up to 32GB of DDR3-1600MHz RAM, and a full array of hard drive support including full size SSD and RAID 0 and 1 arrays. For those looking for faster boot up, there is an SSD caching option that works automatically for faster load times and disk-intensive tasks.

Gaming performance is as sleek as any desktop counterpart thanks to full DX11 and PhysX support, as well as NVIDIA's Kepler architecture in their new 600 series graphics solutions. The powerhouse machine comes stock with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 675M, upgradeable to the GeForce GTX680M; both featuring NVIDIA's unique Optimus Technology that maximizes power savings by dynamically assigning workload to either the built-in Intel® HD Graphics or the GeForce GPU. The NOMAD 17 also has no lack of connectivity, with USB 3.0, 2.0, eSATA, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 802.11n, HDMI, and VGA out ports.

Style and Functionality
The NOMAD 17 is also making history as the only gaming laptop in the industry to have hand-painted premium automotive paint jobs, free of charge. Customers can select one of the six sexy glossy colors available that matches their color palette. But the indulgence to the senses does not stop there: the NOMAD 17 comes with a fully backlit keyboard, a full HD 1080P 17" matte display, multi-touch trackpad with gesture and scrolling support, and dual speakers with a built-in subwoofer.

"The 3rd generation Intel® Core™ i7 processors are a perfect fit for MAINGEAR's NOMAD 17," said Joakim Algstam, Gaming Segment Ecosystem Marketing Manager at Intel. "MAINGEAR strives to place top tier components in their system, and the great performance and battery life that our solutions deliver make sure that gamers' tough demands are met."

"The NOMAD 17 is a thing of beauty," said Wallace Santos, CEO and founder of MAINGEAR. "With a custom automotive paint job and performance parts, this roadster of a machine is quite a work of art, technologically and aesthetically. Quite simply, it is the finest gaming laptop we have ever offered."

Technical Specification:
· Processor: Up to 3rd generation Intel® i7-3840QM
· Video Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 675M or 680M
· Display: 17.3" Full HD 1920 x 1080 - (1080p) (16:9 Aspect Ratio) Anti-glare LED Backlit Matte Finish
· Memory: Up to 32GB Dual Channel DDR5 - 1600Mhz
· Optical Drive: Up to 2X Blu-ray reader/8x Multi Combo (BD-R, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
· Hard Drive: Up to dual 512GB Solid State Drive or dual 750GB 7200RPM SATA 2.5
· Network Adapter: Integrated 802.11n b/g/n wireless
· Audio: THX TruStudio Pro Integrated High-Definition Audio HD Audio with speakers by DynAudio
· Media Card Reader: Built in 4-in-1 Media Card Reader
· Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Home, Professional or Ultimate 64-Bit
· Battery: Removable Li-Polymer Lithium-Ion
· I/O Ports: 1 HDMI out, 1 DVI-I out, 2 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3.0, 1 IEEE-1394 Fire Wire,
1 S/PDIF out, 1 RJ-45 LAN, 1 RJ-11
· Dimensions: (W)16.85" x (H)2.17" x (D)11.34"
· Price: Starts at $1,599

All of MAINGEAR products are supported with lifetime labor and phone support with one to three year hardware warranty. For more information about MAINGEAR's NOMAD 17 gaming notebook, visit: www.maingear.com/nomad17

Ask Engadget: should companies include a cable with a new product?

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 07:46 PM PDT

Ask Engadget

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from David, who wants to know if you'd prefer a free cable or a cheaper device when you buy pro audio gear. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

Many thanks!"

a) Include a cheap cable and let people who care buy a high quality one?
b) Include a reasonable quality cable but increase the price?
c) Include no cable and make it clear they need to buy one?

"I work for a small audio-tech company and we're currently getting close to releasing our first retail product, which does surround sound from stereo inputs -- kinda like Dolby Pro Logic, except good. Internally, we're agonizing over if we should include a stereo RCA cable. Of course, users will need to integrate an additional cable into their setup, but plenty of people will have spares lying around at home. Do you think it's better to:

What a question! We're decidedly of two minds, since given a bit of haggling, most retailers will chuck in a branded lead, but we'd hate to get our shiny new gear home to find it's missing a key component the one time they don't. Our dithering aside, it's time to turn the question over to our faithful Engadgeteers with this chance to shape the future of the high-end audio business for the better... we'd better not disappoint the man!

Target, Walmart list price drop for B&N's Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight to $119

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 06:45 PM PDT

Barnes & Noble slashes Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight to $119, assures us it's not Kindle-related

Check those calendars. It's September 29th, which means, for those who follow the world of e-readers, that we're two days from Kindle Paperwhite day. According to Target and Walmart, it also means that Barnes & Noble's own illuminated e-reader, the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, is getting a $20 price cut, down to $119. That price puts the reader on par with the entry-level Paperwhite (no 3G, with ads). Let the battle of the front lit e-readers commence!

Mobile Miscellany: week of September 24th, 2012

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 06:15 PM PDT

Mobile Miscellany week of September 24th, 2012

If you didn't get enough in mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, Dan Hesse shared his turnaround vision for Sprint, Jim Allchin revealed where T-Mobile stumbled and AT&T welcomed a new GoPhone. Not to stop there, we discovered two updated launchers that've piled on inspiration from Jelly Bean. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of September 24th, 2012.

Dan Hesse predicts Sprint's return to profitability in 2014

Mobile Miscellany week of September 24th, 2012

Every time Sprint reports its quarterly earnings, it seems that much of the story remains the same: the company is consistently hemorrhaging cash. Following seven years of losses -- nearly $50 billion in all -- Dan Hesse tells Bloomberg that it's now turning a corner. In fact, the Now Network CEO believes that Sprint will return to profitability in 2014. While the prediction should be taken with a rightful degree of skepticism, it's not a wholly outlandish claim, as the publication points out that Sprint's stock has outperformed all but one firm on the S&P 500 for the year. According to Hesse, the company has exited its recovery period and will spend this year and next focused on investments in its network overhaul. Should everything go to plan, Sprint will then begin its growth phase in 2014, where it hopes to bring in new customers and serve them with a fully modern network infrastructure. [Bloomberg]

Meet the Huawei Fusion 2: AT&T's latest Android-powered GoPhone

Mobile Miscellany week of September 24th, 2012

The Huawei Fusion 2 first reared its head in July of this year with its appearance at the FCC, but the entry-level smartphone gained a new level of distinction this week as a member of AT&T's GoPhone lineup. For $100, consumers will find a device that combines Android 2.3 and an 800MHz CPU within a Snapdragon S1 SoC. Keeping with the starter smartphone theme, the Fusion 2 also offers a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen, a 3.2-megapixel camera, 2GB of built-in storage and a 4GB microSD card. [PhoneScoop]

Apex Launcher and Nova Launcher gain Jelly Bean features

Mobile Miscellany week of September 24th, 2012

Apex and Nova Launcher are each excellent choices for those wanting greater customization of their smartphone's interface, and as it just so happens, both products were updated this week to include features from the Android 4.1 launcher. Common between the two, users will find that desktop items automatically rearrange themselves to fit on the screen, the ability to flick apps and widgets off of the home screen and numerous performance improvements. If you've yet to find a favorite among the two launchers, we recommend giving both a whirl -- each app has fans around these parts, and you're bound to enjoy one of 'em. [Android Police 1, 2]

T-Mobile's Jim Alling: the company lost its way in wake of AT&T merger

Mobile Miscellany week of September 24th, 2012

During his keynote address before the Competitive Carriers Association (formerly the Rural Cellular Association), T-Mobile's Chief Operating Officer, Jim Alling expressed his belief that the company lost its way in the wake of its proposed sale to AT&T. According to Alling, T-Mobile placed the interests of its shareholders above the needs of its customers, and as such, many subscribers fled. Some of you may recall that Alling recently served as T-Mobile's interim CEO, and his comments certainly stand as a damning assessment of the Humm era. Alling is chalking it up to a hard lesson, however, as he states that the carrier is refocusing its efforts to put customers first. Perhaps its most recent foray into unlimited data plans was introduced with that in mind. [CNET]

[Mobile Miscellany photo credit: Thristian / Flickr]

Logitech Harmony Touch remote pops up unannounced at Best Buy (Update: Pictures)

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 04:13 PM PDT

Logitech Harmony Touch remote pops up unannounced at Best Buy

It's been a long time since we've seen any new blood refreshing Logitech's line of universal remotes, but after indications of new devices on the way in an earnings call earlier this year tipster Andrew spotted this brand new Harmony Touch on store shelves. Arriving at Best Buy unheralded by any official announcement or specs so far, the box shots and list of features show the ability to control 15 different devices and (of course) that center mounted touchscreen. There's no mention of it on the Logitech site either, however one leaked blog post we spotted referred to this device and a Harmony Plus.

As our friends at Tech of the Hub note, the Touch clearly draws a lot of its heritage from the Harmony One and 1100 touchscreen remotes although to have ditched the dedicated Activity button for "one touch" control. The touchscreen itself supports both taps and swipes as well as up to 50 customizable channel icons, and the box lists both online setup and on-remote customization as features. According to Andrew it's rocking a price tag of $249 -- $50 above the current price of the Harmony One but $100 shy of the RF-equipped Harmony 900 -- hopefully we'll find out soon if what Logitech has added this time around makes it worth the wait.

Update: Another one of our readers, Zachary also saw it at Best Buy and bought one, check out a few out of the box pics in the gallery below, and drop any questions about its capabilities in the comments. He's digging it so far, saying that the touchscreen is responsive and it found icons for his area quickly, with options to change background, LCD brightness and screen timeout. There does not appear to be any RF support however, so it's IR control only.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Alt-week 9.29.12: 3D pictures of the moon, 4D clocks and laser-controlled worms

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 03:00 PM PDT

Alt-week peels back the covers on some of the more curious sci-tech stories from the last seven days.

Altweek 92912 3D pictures of the moon, 4D clocks and lasercontrolled worms

Dimensions, they're like buses. You wait for ages, and then three come along at once. And then another one right after that. While that might be about where the analogy ends, this week sees us off to the moon, where we then leap from the third, right into the fourth. Once there, we'll learn how we could eventually be controlled by lasers, before getting up close and personal with a 300 million-year old bug. Sound like some sort of psychedelic dream? Better than that, this is alt-week.

We've all seen the moon, like, a thousand times. Sometimes it's full, sometimes it's a waxing gibbous, sometimes it's even blue. Sadly, though, for most of us at least, the best we can hope for is a big bright flat-looking glimpse of the same old face we've come to know and love. New pictures, however, might change that. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been circling our moon since 2009 collecting high-resolution, yet decidedly two-dimensional, images as it goes. However, by using images of the same locations from different orbits and angles, scientists developed an automatic image processing system to stitch 'em together and create red-cyan 3D anaglyphs. The resulting images should allow most people to see our nearest neighbor like never before, with craters, volcanic flows and that face lava tubes all available (eventually) online in tri-dimensional glory. You just need to check that bottom drawer for those promotional Jaws specs.

Altweek 92912 3D pictures of the moon, 4D clocks and lasercontrolled worms

3D is great an' all, but when it comes to dimensions, we say you can never have too many.
This is particularly true when it comes to clocks. Just three? That's so vanilla. So when we heard about a 4D one, that could outlast the universe, our interest was piqued. The concept is actually a space-time crystal, and it's not a new idea in and of itself. But, for the first time, brains at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have put forward an experimental design using an electric-field ion trap and the repulsion of similarly-charged particles. Cutting through a lot of science, the result is a crystal that is discrete in both space and time. The 4D design would also be a many-body system, which would provide science with tools to better understand this complex area of physics. It's not all just lofty concepts though, with one of the group's co-authors noting that the work could "open doors to fundamentally new technologies and devices for variety of applications." There's no mention of whether it would have a stop-watch or not.

Altweek 92912 3D pictures of the moon, 4D clocks and lasercontrolled worms

We'll dial down the dimensions a little for this next one. We all know that our ultimate and untimely demise will likely be at the hands of a laser-wielding robots. But, if you thought the pain would be over in one sharp blast, you could be wrong. A research team at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute genetically created a worm with neurons that emit light and respond to light. Using a laser to activate neurons one at a time, the researchers were able to make the worm move left, right, perform a loop, and trick it into thinking food was nearby. The scientists claim that the idea is to learn more about which neurons control what. But, we're stocking up on tin-foil all the same.

You know how they say cockroaches will survive a nuclear fallout? Well this guy obviously didn't, but still managed to live on, in its own way. These images are taken from CT scans of fossils, performed by the University of Manchester, England. A total of over 3,000 X-rays from a variety of positions were compiled, enabling researchers to create 3D models of the 300 million year-old 'roach ancestors. While these bugs might resemble one of our least favorite creepy-crawly cohabitants, the spiny critter is actually a never-before seen species. It's believed that it ultimately met its demise thanks to the rise of amphibious insectivores, who likely found these flightless creatures an easy target. We're not sure what's worse though, the idea of bequeathing the planet to the insect's descendants, or the thought of having to swallow one.

Altweek 92912 3D pictures of the moon, 4D clocks and lasercontrolled worms

Seen any other far-out articles that you'd like considered for Alt-week? Working on a project or research that's too cool to keep to yourself? Drop us a line at alt [at] engadget [dot] com.

Hard drive shipments recover from floods in Thailand, expected to reach record high

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 01:48 PM PDT

Hard drive shipments recover from floods in Thailand, expected to reach record high

Last year's floods in Thailand caused hard drive shortages after wreaking havoc on a number of electronics manufacturers, but new stats from IHS iSuppli indicate that the HDD market for PCs has fully recovered and is poised to hit an all time high. The firm expects 524 million units for internal use in PCs to ship this year, besting the previous record by 4.3 percent. What's giving the recovery an added boost? According to the analytics group, the extra demand comes courtesy of Windows 8 and Ultrabooks. Unfortunately for deal hounds, the company noted in a report earlier this year that prices aren't expected to dip below the pre-flood range until 2014. If IHS iSuppli projections hold true, total annual hard drive shipments could reach 575.1 million by 2016.

Cubify lets you skin, 3D print your own personal Android

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 12:03 PM PDT

Cubify lets you skin, 3D print your own personal Android

Sick of letting everyone else skin your Android for you? 3D printing service Cubify is helping you fight back with Bugdroids, a customizable version of Google's lovable green mascot. You can change its colors, add accessories like hats, horns glasses, mustaches and bling (that's "bling," not Bing, mind), and then the service will 3D print one out and ship it to you -- well, after you drop an admittedly pricey $30 to $40, figurine size depending.

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

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Facebook Messenger 2.0 for iPhone brings new design to conversations, swipe left for friends list

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 10:41 AM PDT

Facebook Messenger 20 for iPhone brings new design to conversations, swipe left for friends list

Facebook debuted the new look of its dedicated Messenger app on Android last week and and just as promised, now it's available on the iPhone as well. Facebook Messenger 2.0 brings a new SMS-style bubble layout to conversations, a swipe left gesture to reveal one's friends list and the ability to push the friends you message most to the top of the list. As mentioned along with the Android update this is a part of a new release schedule cycle that should see updates arriving every 4 - 8 weeks. That means you can mark your calendar for the next refresh if this is your social network of choice, but for now just grab the latest version from iTunes.

US Cellular expands its Windows Phone catalog with the ZTE Render for $80

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 09:13 AM PDT

Most Windows Phone enthusiasts have their sights set on large trophy-like targets, but if you have more modest goals in mind, then US Cellular's latest acquisition might be just what the doctor ordered. If the device pictured above looks familiar, that's because it should. Rebranded as the Render, most of you know this handset as the ZTE Orbit, an entry-level device that features a 4-inch 800 x 480 display, a 1GHz Qualcomm processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a 5-megapixel camera and Windows Phone 7.5 Tango. So, if US Cellular is your wireless carrier of choice and you're seriously crushing on Windows Phone, the ZTE Render will run you $80 after a $100 mail-in rebate.

Modbook Pro to launch with SSD storage, up for pre-order October 3rd

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 07:23 AM PDT

Modbook Pro to launch with SSD storage, up for preorder October 3rd

It wasn't all that long ago that Modbook Inc's CEO, Andreas Haas, made the mac-in-tablet Modbook Pro official, now we're learning that the super-slate will launch with high performance SSD storage. So, as you wield your MacBook Pro come tablet, you'll be free from spinning disks. Great, but what impact will this have on capacity? Well, according to the firm, storage will start at 64GB as standard, with upgrades possible all the way up to a, not-unreasonable, 480GB. Pre-orders go live on October 3rd, along with the all important reveal on price. Regardless of cost, if that void between the iPad and full-fat Windows 8 slates had been irking you, here's your answer.

Show full PR text

Modbook Pro to Launch with All Solid-State Architecture


Unique Pen Tablet Computer to Skip Mechanical Drives and Ship with High-Performance Solid-State Drives Only - Ordering Process for Modbook Pro Set to Begin Next Week

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 28, 2012

Creative technologies developer Modbook Inc. today announced that its highly portable 13.3-inch Mac®-based pen tablet computer, the Modbook® Pro, will forego the traditional internal storage method of hard disk drives (HDDs) in favor of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs). The standard internal storage option on the Modbook Pro will be a 64GB solid-state drive, with upgrades possible to increase internal SSD storage to 480GB.

Modbook Inc. today also announced that the ordering process for the Modbook Pro is scheduled to begin next Wednesday, October 3, 2012. Customers with shipping addresses in the United States will be able to order the Modbook Pro online for shipment as early as mid-November.

An innovative computer modification product, every complete 13.3-inch Modbook Pro* solution incorporates: the original hardware of a new Apple® MacBook® Pro computer running OS X® Mountain Lion (and optionally Microsoft® Windows® 7); a digitizer from the industry leader in pen tablet technology, Wacom®, that offers 512 levels of pen pressure sensitivity; and a ForceGlass™ pen interface with a paper-emulating drawing surface. The Modbook Pro is the ideal portable workstation for creative users.

In pre-production testing of the Modbook Pro, Modbook Inc. found that solid-state drive options offered a number of clear advantages over mechanical drives. SSDs allow users to get their Modbook Pro up and running fast and handle files of almost any size effortlessly. This speed of access and performance is perfect for the demands of creative users who often work with multiple large files at the same time.

In its base configuration, the Modbook Pro will ship with Modbook Inc.'s original 64GB Nishara™-class SATA 3 SSD, offering asynchronous NAND technology that balances storage space, speed and performance. Customers can upgrade to Modbook Inc.'s original Sanshara™-class SATA 3 SSDs with up to 480GB of storage. The top-of-the-line Sanshara drives employ synchronous NAND technology and deliver the best speed and performance available in flash-based storage. Modbook Inc.'s Nishara and Sanshara drives are built from the highest quality components. In addition to their outstanding performance and reliability, these drives offer durability over the long haul - as contrasted with the possibility of mechanical failure with HDDs. The live system of an SSD-powered Modbook Pro operates without any moving parts (aside from its base system's optical drive), dramatically decreasing the chances for data corruption or loss. Also, the Modbook Pro's SSDs are fine-tuned to not interfere with its high-resolution pen tablet interface (whereas the electromagnetic field emissions of HDDs are notoriously difficult to control).

"We're thrilled about the performance edge our Nishara and Sanshara drives will give Modbook Pro users. Once you've experienced the near instant-on startup and lightning fast system performance of an SSD-powered Modbook Pro, you won't ever go back," said Andreas E. Haas, chief executive officer and chief technology officer of Modbook Inc.

Modbook Pro orders are scheduled to begin next Wednesday. Customers with shipping addresses in the United States will be able to place their custom build orders for the Modbook Pro online, with the first Modbook Pro orders shipping in November. Detailed product specifications, pricing and availability information will be announced next week.

More information about Modbook Inc. and the Modbook Pro is available at http://www.modbook.com.

*The Modbook Pro is an enclosure conversion kit designed to exclusively contain an original MacBook Pro base system manufactured by Apple Inc. Apple Inc.'s one-year warranty on the base system is voided by the conversion and replaced with the Modbook Pro Protection Plan, which covers the entire hardware solution, including the base system.

BlackBerry 10 L-series tutorial videos surface online, give a literal peek at the future (video)

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 05:38 AM PDT

BlackBerry 10 Lseries tutorial videos surface online, give a literal peek at the future video

Those of us who've used a BlackBerry PlayBook will be familiar with the inevitable first-boot tutorials showing how to navigate the swipe-driven interface before we're let loose. Thanks to a series of demonstration videos leaked by BlackBerryItalia, it's apparent that we won't escape that educational process on BlackBerry 10 devices, either. The four clips show the basics of what we know the gesture experience will be like on full-touch L-series phones, including the signature BlackBerry Peek to check notifications and the unified inbox. Anyone looking for a direct clue as to what production BlackBerry 10 hardware will entail might be frustrated, mind you -- the rendered phone appears to be a placeholder rather than the L-series or a Dev Alpha B, and the device name is censored in an attempt to protect the source. That said, the clips provide a very straightforward explanation of the new interface concept and give us one more indication that RIM is closer to launch.








Logitech promises continued support for Squeezebox, says it won't force a switch to UE Smart Radio

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 03:56 AM PDT

Logitech promises continued support for Squeezebox, says it won't force a switch to UE Smart Radio

With Logitech's Squeezebox platform having quietly and unexpectedly reached its EOL status, the company found it necessary to let its customers know where they stand going forward. In a very detailed letter from UE product director Ariel Fischer, the Harmony maker reassured current Squeezebox owners it will continue to offer support for these products, adding that the current "mysqueezebox" website and certain apps will still work with existing devices. What's more, those who managed to snag one of those Squeezebox Radios will have the option to upgrade to the outfit's new UE Smart Radio service -- which, according to Logitech, can play nicely alongside existing Squeezebox products, though this "will operate and be controlled separately." All in all, it could be worse -- and, in age where customer service can sometimes be rather unpleasant, we're sure most of us can appreciate the transparency being shown in the open letter. Speaking of which, you'll find that at the source link below.

Scape, Brian Eno's new ambient music creation app is now available on the iPad (video)

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 02:11 AM PDT

Scape, Brian Enos new ambient music creation app is now available on the iPad video

Music making apps for the iPad are ten-a-penny, but when it's the brainchild of a super-producer like Brian Eno, you have to take notice. Scape is the third of his collaborations with Peter Chilvers after Bloom and Trope, an app that lets you generate ambient music with Eno's own sounds on a colorful, conceptual interface. Unlike standard beats'n'loops setups, each sound is tied to a series of rules -- including the time of day -- that ensures the tunes you create never play the same way twice. It's available from iTunes for $5.99 / £3.99, and who knows, maybe in a few years time, Coldplay'll come calling for your professional expertise.

Touch Bionics releases new prosthetic fingers, flips the old ones the bird

Posted: 29 Sep 2012 12:26 AM PDT

Touch Bionics releases new prosthetic fingers, flip the old ones the bird

The only upgrades available for our puny human hands are gaming controller calluses, but if you're sporting an i-LIMB digits hand prosthesis, you can now grab a set of improved fingers. Touch Bionics' "smaller, lighter and more anatomically accurate" appendages are now available worldwide, as well as a new wrist-band unit which houses all the necessary computing power and juice for their function. Best of all, these developments allow more people to adopt the tech than the previous generation, including those with more petite hands or finger amputations closer to the knuckle. We don't know how much it'll cost for a fresh set, but we'll let health agencies and insurance companies deal with that part. With these upgrades and RSL Steeper's latest offering, it won't be long before our flesh-based variants are meager in comparison.

Show full PR text

Touch Bionics announces global availability of new bionic finger technologies

New i-limb digits developments increase dexterity, comfort, and ease of assembly

Mansfield, MA and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - September 28, 2012 - Touch Bionics, a provider of world-leading prosthetic technologies, today announced the worldwide launch of its latest prosthetic innovations for people with missing fingers. The company revealed new wrist-band and digit technologies for its i-limb digits solution that will help bring the benefits of the prostheses to a greater population.

In addition to its market-leading prosthetic hand products, Touch Bionics was also the first in the world to develop a prosthetic finger solution with articulating digits in 2009, and over 500 people have since been fitted with its i-limb digits technology.

Today, Touch Bionics revealed new additions to the i-limb digits product line, including a shorter, lighter prosthetic finger and a wrist-band unit that incorporates all of the processing and power systems for the prosthesis.

"The new finger development enables i-limb digits prostheses to be made smaller, lighter and more anatomically accurate, and therefore suitable for a wider population, such as those with smaller hands, or whose amputations are closer to the base of the fingers," said Ian Stevens, CEO, Touch Bionics. "The wrist-band unit provides the ability to build an i-limb digits prosthesis that has full wrist mobility and with easily interchangeable and rechargeable batteries."

Partial hand amputations, where people lose one or more digits, are more common than whole hand amputations or loss. Historically, people with such injuries have not had a suitable prosthetic option, despite experiencing a high level of disability. The amputee population that can benefit from i-limb digits is estimated to be over 1.2 million worldwide.

"By using i-limb digits to increase their overall ability to complete daily tasks, we see that people experience an increase in self-confidence and independence, and can benefit by being able to return to work or to their favourite pastimes and hobbies," said Stevens. "Our goal as a company is to maximise the number of people that can experience these benefits, and the developments that we have announced today take us closer to that goal."

Touch Bionics is in Brazil this week as part of a UK Government Trade Mission.

UK Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green said:

"Brazil's fast growing economy offers many opportunities for UK companies. Trade between our two nations increased by a quarter in the last two years and London's successful summer of sport has helped to raise the profile of British companies even further.

"I congratulate Touch Bionics for securing new business in Brazil. Getting more companies exporting is a crucial part of the Government's plan for growth."

"As Touch Bionics' distributor in Brazil we are excited to be able to offer these new i-limb digits developments to the Brazilian market," said Jairo Blumenthal of Blumenthal Disitribuidora. "Before i-limb digits became available, all Brazilian patients had to use passive or mechanical prosthetic solutions, but now they can benefit from the electronic articulating fingers invented by Touch Bionics. Our workshops are ready to provide information and training to all Brazilian patients and practitioners interested in Touch Bionics' products."

Sony starts delivering Ice Cream Sandwich update to Xperia go, Xperia U and Xperia sola

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 10:41 PM PDT

Sony starts delivering Ice Cream Sandwich update to Xperia go, Xperia U and Xperia sola

Well, it looks like Sony's in-house software developers have decided this is the perfect week to deliver delicious treats to a large portion of the company's mobile lineup. Not long after outing updates for the Tablet S and Xperia Ion (in the US), the electronics giant is now bringing Ice Cream Sandwich to handsets such as the Xperia go, Xperia U and Xperia sola. The refresh itself brings a slew of novel traits to the trio of Xperia slabs, including a "new way to experience" music, photos and video, improvements to the lockscreen, the ability to resize widgets and the addition of a "multitasking" button. While the standout features remain the same across the board, the Xperia sola does get an added bonus in the form of a so-called, self-explanatory glove mode -- which is made possible by the device's "floating touch" technology. Sony does note that availability of the 4.0 upgrade will vary by market and, not surprisingly, carrier requirements. Let's just hope you get to enjoy the changes soon.


Xi3 goes the crowdfunding route for future X3A, X7A modular PCs (video)

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 08:59 PM PDT

Xi3 goes the crowdfunding route for future X3A, X7A modular PCs

Xi3 has been one of the more inventive PC builders in the field, designing its Modular Computers in the belief that small, more upgradable desktops are the way of the future. The company is planning two new systems to further that dream, the X3A and X7A, but it wants our help: it's running a Kickstarter funding drive until October 28th to assist the development and garner some early adopters. Put down $503 or $603 and you'll get the entry-level X3A, a dual-core 1.65GHz (likely AMD E-450-based) PC with 4GB of RAM, a 32GB SSD and either Linux or Windows installed; splurge with $1,103 or more and you'll get the more performance-driven X7A, which jumps to a quad-core chip with a 3.2GHz peak speed, a Windows-loaded 64GB SSD and faster graphics. Assuming Xi3 makes its target, we should see the X3A and X7A arrive in January and February respectively, with Kickstarter supporters beating the larger herd by a week. Even existing owners are accounted for through a Primary I/O Board upgrade, due before the end of this year, that carries more Ethernet and USB 3.0 ports. Crowdfunding is an unusual approach to buying that next PC, without the certainties of shopping at an online store -- but we're also dealing with an unusual PC from the get-go.


PBS draws link between digital music ethics and magic spells, somehow makes it look simple (video)

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 07:32 PM PDT

PBS draws link between digital music rights and magic spells, somehow makes it look simple video

AAC files and the arcane don't have much in common on the surface. After some digging, however, PBS' Idea Channel has found that magic is an uncannily good analogy for digital music rights and explaining the thorny ethical issues that come with them. Both music and spells stem from grassroots cultures that give away their content for free, but (at least until an anti-magic clampdown at eBay) have since become businesses. That nature poses a key ethical question: when we're used to a free experience and can copy songs or spells as much as we like, what does it take to keep us as honest customers? As show host Mike Rugnetta suggests, it's a matter of personal responsibility -- if we want more of either, we have to think of the commerce as showing support for future work. You can catch Mike's clever train of thought after the break, and ponder what constitutes DRM for a potion while you're at it.


FCC votes in favor of rethinking spectrum holding rules, goading broadcasters into wireless selloffs

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 06:36 PM PDT

Cellular tower worker

FCC meetings can be momentous occasions under the right circumstances, although it's seldom the case that we see the agency pass two potentially far-reaching measures in one sitting, like we just saw on Friday. To start, regulators have voted in favor of a proposal that will review spectrum sale rules and might drop the case-by-case determinations in favor of a more consistent screening mechanism. The reexamination will also consider a change to the ownership rules surrounding wireless frequencies that treats bands below 1GHz differently than those above -- the better to address a chorus of smaller carriers that don't like all the prime spectrum going to the companies with the most existing clout, namely AT&T and Verizon. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski argues that reform could spur innovation through more competition, although dissenting Commissioner Robert McDowell is worried that consistent rules will somehow create "uncertainty."

Side-by-side with the review, the FCC is proposing an incentive-based reverse auction strategy to have TV broadcasters voluntarily give up their spectrum for cellular and data use. The multi-phase approach would have TV providers set the price at which they're willing to sell their spectrum to the FCC; those that just can't bear to part with their airwaves would be corralled into a tighter band range to make for larger available frequency blocks in the auction that follows. As with other FCC proposals, there's likely to be a long interval between the auction vote, the review and any definitive rulemaking, let alone an impact -- auctions by themselves can take years to play out. Still, any success with the measures could head off spectrum crunches while simultaneously preventing any solutions from consolidating too much power and creating their own problems.

[Tower photo via Shutterstock]

Prometheus Blu-ray specs unveiled, arrives with seven hours of extras October 9th (video)

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 06:01 PM PDT

Prometheus Bluray specs unveiled, arrives with seven hours of extras October 9th video

While Ridley Scott's latest flick is already available on just about every downloadable movie store you could name, Prometheus is still a few weeks away from making its debut on disc and now Fox has officially released all the details. The extras listed in an earlier leak appear to be accurate, with a Second Screen iPad app that promises access to character Peter Weyland's archives, while much of the 15 minutes or so of deleted and alternative scenes have already been posted on the internet (search around if you absolutely must know what else there is and can't wait / don't want to spend the cash). Arriving October 9th, there's a four disc set with both a Blu-ray 3D edition and bonus extras disc with featurettes for a total of seven hours of bonus materials, while the two disc set trims it to just one Blu-ray and DVD / digital copy. The two disc set is currently selling for $24.99 on Amazon, while the four disc edition bumps the price another $5. A trailer with a peek at some of those extras and the full list of details awaits after the break, but an explanation for why anyone would ever try to touch some weird space snake is something you'll have to find on your own.


Show full PR text

RIDLEY SCOTT RETURNS TO THE GENRE HE HELPED DEFINE

Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender Lead an Extraordinary Cast in the Epic Sci-Fi Thriller Debuting on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD

10.09.12

Contains Over Seven Hours of Bonus Material Including an Alternate Opening and Ending, Deleted and Alternate Scenes and Access to Peter Weyland's Files

LOS ANGELES, CA. (September 28, 2012) – Renowned director Ridley Scott takes fans on a gripping sci-fi adventure that "kicks ass so hard and often that it's impossible not to be thrilled by it" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). Launching into space to discover the mysterious creators of the human race, the "genuinely epic" (Tom Long, Detroit News) film, PROMETHEUS, debuts globally on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD October 9 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. An unmatched home entertainment experience, watch the highly-anticipated blockbuster hit in the format it was meant to be viewed, stunning 3D high-definition.

Written by Damon Lindelof ("Lost") and Jon Spaihts, PROMETHEUS features outstanding performances by Academy Award® winner* Charlize Theron (Monster), Golden Globe®-nominee* Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds), Guy Pearce (Memento), Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Logan Marshall-Green (Devil).

Archeologist couple Elizabeth Shaw (Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Marshall-Green) discover a star map that they interpret as an invitation from humanity's forerunners, the "Engineers." Determined to find out more about them, the couple boards the scientific vessel Prometheus, created and funded by Peter Weyland (Pearce), CEO of Weyland Corporation. Lead by mission director Meredith Vickers (Theron) and monitored by Weyland's android David (Fassbender), the team of explorers find a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth and embark on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe where they fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

Loaded with over seven hours of bonus material, the PROMETHEUS 4-Disc Collector's Edition and 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack feature the original theatrical release and are available in premium packaging. Fans can get the ultimate Prometheus experience with an Alternate Opening and Ending, Deleted and Alternate Scenes, access to "Peter Weyland's Files," commentary by directors and writers, a cutting-edge Prometheus Weyland Corp. Archive Second Screen App and more!

*2004, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Monster
**2012, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama, Shame

PROMETHEUS 4-Disc Collector's Edition Blu-ray Special Features
Disc 1
● Theatrical Cut
● Commentary by Director/Producer Ridley Scott
● Commentary by Writer Jon Spaihts and Writer/Executive Producer Damon Lindelof
● The Peter Weyland Files
● Deleted and Alternate Scenes that include an Alternate Opening / Ending
● Prometheus - Weyland Corp Archive Second Screen App
Disc 2
● The Furious Gods: Making Prometheus
● Enhancement Pods
● Weyland Corp Archive
● Pre-Vis
● Screen Tests
Disc 3
● 3D Theatrical Cut of Movie
Disc 4
● DVD / Digital Copy

PROMETHEUS 2-Disc Blu-ray Special Features
Disc 1
● Theatrical Cut
● Commentary by Director/Producer Ridley Scott
● Commentary by Writer Jon Spaihts and Writer/Executive Producer Damon Lindelof
● The Peter Weyland Files
● Deleted and Alternate Scenes that include an Alternate Opening / Ending
● Prometheus - Weyland Corp Archive Second Screen App
Disc 2
● DVD / Digital Copy

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital HD™. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

# # #

PROMETHEUS 4-Disc COLECTORS EDITION (Catalog# 2281400)
Street Date: October 9, 2012
Screen Format: 16:9 (2.40:1)
Audio: BD:
English DTS-HD-MA 7.1
English Descriptive Audio DD 5.1
Spanish (Latin Spanish) DD 5.1
Quebecois (Canadian French) DD 5.1
Portuguese (Brazilian) DD 5.1
Russian DTS 5.1
Hindi DD 5.1
Tamil DD 5.1
Telugu DD 5.1
Ukrainian DD 5.1
English COMMENTARY DD 2.0 Stereo: Ridley Scott
English COMMENTARY DD 2.0 Stereo: Writers
DVD:
English 5.1 Dolby Digital (DVD)
English Descriptive Audio DD 5.1
Spanish (Latin Spanish) 2.0
French (Quebecois) 2.0
Subtitles: BD:
English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Spanish
Danish
Finnish
Norwegian
Portuguese
Russian
Swedish
Estonian
Hindi
Latvian
Lithuanian
Tamil
Telugu
Ukrainian
DVD:
English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Spanish
U.S. Rating: R
Total Run Time: 124 Minutes - Original Theatrical Version
Closed Captioned: YES

PROMETHEUS 2-Disc BLU-RAY (Catalog# 2281407)
Street Date: October 9, 2012
Screen Format: 16:9 (2.40:1)
Audio: See above
Subtitles: See above
U.S. Rating: R
Total Run Time: 124 Minutes - Original Theatrical Version
Closed Captioned: YES

PROMETHEUS DVD (Catalog# 2281409)
Street Date: October 9, 2012
Screen Format: 16:9 (2.40:1)
Audio: See above
Subtitles: See above
U.S. Rating: R
Total Run Time: 124 Minutes - Original Theatrical Version
Closed Captioned: YES


Prometheus Bluray specs unveiled, arrives with seven hours of extras October 9th video

Samsung Galaxy Note II variants for AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon possibly caught at the FCC

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 05:41 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Note II variants for AT&T, TMobile, Verizon possibly caught at the FCC

It's no secret that Samsung plans to bring the Galaxy Note II to many US carriers by mid-fall. Even so, getting there requires the FCC's blessing -- which makes us glad to see the regulator approve what might be three carriers' variants of the giant Android phone. The SGH-i317 looks to be the model for AT&T and Canadian carriers, having been greenlit for their key 3G and 4G bands while lining up with a briefly available benchmark of the device sharing the Note II's HD screen and use of Jelly Bean. The SCH-i605? Based on its inclusions of both CDMA and GSM, a lone 700MHz LTE band and a past screen capture leak, it's a dual-mode Note II destined for Verizon. As for the SGH-T889, it's even more conspicuous beyond what we've already seen: the T889's HSPA includes the 1,700MHz AWS frequency that T-Mobile will still call home for a long while. LTE likewise exists on the 1,700MHz and roaming-friendly 700MHz bands in possible instances of futureproofing. While we rarely want to say a mobile device is confirmed until we see it first-hand, the convenient timing and natures of the three FCC approvals only help to fuel suspicions that Samsung's pen-focused event on October 24th is all about the Note II's American launch.

Nokia Parking helps you find and pay for a spot, we go hands-on (video)

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 05:21 PM PDT

Parking in Paris is a nightmare. No, it's worse -- it's bad enough to keep you awake at night, worrying that your precious machine will be scratched up or simply missing the next morning. Nokia, at least, is trying to make things a little easier with an upcoming service it's just calling Nokia Parking. It's a comprehensive parking database launching in Europe in November that can not only help you find parking but even help you pay for it once you do. More details, and a video demo, after the break.

Let's get this up there first: despite having this demonstrated on a Windows Phone (a Lumia 800, to be exact) this is not an app that Nokia is introducing. Rather, this is a service that, like so many other aspects of Navteq's business, will be licensed to others and basically blended into other apps. So, while you're unlikely to ever get a Nokia Parking app yourself, you may some day in the not-too-distant future get a parking app from your local municipality which itself is using Nokia Parking in the background.

Got it? Good. Here's how it works in its current guise: using GPS coordinates the service determines all available parking nearby. Parking garages have information about their size represented, including minimum heights that could be problematic if you're of the SUV persuasion. But, even more exciting, the app also tracks, in real-time, available spaces just waiting for you to show off those parallel parking skills that earned you a reluctant smile from the judge on your drivers license test.

The service can also aggregate payment information, so once you're an appropriate distance from the curb you can tap a button on your phone and start paying for the parking spot. Then, when you leave, you can tap another button and your payment is automatically processed -- transparently. Or, if you're using the service on something like a 3G-connected navigation unit in your car, the car itself could automatically start and stop payment parking based on its location.

No more fumbling for change and no more hunting for parking spaces -- in theory. The service launches next month in a few cities across Europe and will be built out quickly after that. When will it come to your town? Well, that largely depends on when some local business wants to partners up with Nokia and develop the necessary services. That, we think, could take awhile.

Steve Dent contributed to this report.

PSA: $25 Google Play credit for Nexus 7 ends this weekend

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 04:44 PM PDT

PSA $25 Google Play credit for Nexus 7 ends this weekend

Those who have been keeping a close eye on Google's 7-inch, Jelly Bean-loaded Nexus 7 would know that the company kindly includes 25 bucks worth of Play credit with any purchase of said tablet. Unfortunately, as the famed cliché would tell us, all good things must come to an end -- and, well, such is the case with this neat promotion, which will expire on Sunday, September 30th. Here's the good news, however: there's still a relatively good amount of time for folks interested to get it on the Google Play deal, so now would be the perfect moment to snag what some are calling the best $200 tablet -- and who knows, this might even lead to a post-order Gangnam Style celebration of your own.

US Appeals court rules Motorola can't enforce injunction against Microsoft in Germany... again

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 04:22 PM PDT

US court rules Motorola can't enforce German injunction against Microsoft, keeps the Xbox 360s flowing

In another face of the ever turning world of patent battles, Reuters reports Microsoft has snagged a victory over Motorola as the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in its favor today. Motorola had obtained an injunction in Germany against Microsoft products -- including the Xbox 360 and Windows 7 -- based on its h.264 patents back in May, but today the court upheld a previous decision putting enforcement on hold because of Microsoft's existing lawsuit against Moto for breach of contract. Microsoft's push to leverage its patents into licensing payouts from manufacturers of Android devices have seen the two at each other's throats since at least 2010, when the folks from Redmond lodged an ITC complaint over nine patents and followed up with another suit accusing Motorola of charging unfair license fees for its patents. Motorola fired back with its own pair of lawsuits -- all of this a year before we heard it would be acquired by Google -- and the battle was on. Whether or not this moves us any closer to any resolution remains to be seen, but at least Bavarian gaming consoles are safe, for now.

This is the carbon fiber core of Ferrari's first hybrid

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 03:32 PM PDT

Ferrari has already said that it will never make an electric car -- at least, not while Luca di Montezemolo is in charge -- but we already know that a hybrid Ferrari is in the cards. And, this is what will hold it all together. At this year's Paris Auto Show the company rolled out this carbon fiber cage that is the core chassis of the machine. Other than a pledge that the thing will use F1-inspired technology nobody would tell us what it would be called (possibly F70, at least internally) or just when the rest of its components will be bolted on. But, for now, enjoy this sneak peek under the skin of Ferrari's next hypercar.

Steve Dent contributed to this report.

For Nokia, helping the competition find its way is good business

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 03:00 PM PDT

For Nokia, helping the competition find its way is good business

Financially, Nokia is in bad shape. It lost a billion dollars last quarter, which is only good news when you look at the quarter before that, which shows a $1.7 billion loss. Despite all this, Christof Hellmis, VP Location Platform at Nokia, doesn't seem to be the least bit concerned. In fact, he's rather chipper as he sits down with us at this year's Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris.

Perhaps that's because his division, Location & Commerce, is doing quite well indeed. Containing the remains of Navteq, L&C pulled down nearly €100 million profits in each of the past two quarters. It's a healthy golden goose in Nokia's rapidly shrinking barn. So why, then, is the company helping its competition improve their own offerings by providing more comprehensive navigation services baked right into Windows Phone 8? And, why is it that Apple's own attempt at mapping has gone oh so poorly? Those are just a few of the questions we asked of Mr. Hellmis, all detailed for you after the break.

"We are able to perform worldwide because of our auto partnerships... We innovate because we go deep."


Navteq's experience in the mapping industry dates back nearly 30 years, experience that Nokia consumed in an incredibly fruitful 2007 acquisition. Those decades of digital cartography helped the company build a thoroughly comprehensive set of data, but it wasn't all self-motivated development. "We are able to perform worldwide because of our auto partnerships," says Hellmis. "We innovate because we go deep."

Going deep, in this sense, is doing everything required to keep partners like BMW, Mercedes, VW and dozens more happy. Navteq data is present on four out of five in-car navigation systems today and it's the constant push by those clients that's helped the company get as good as it is -- and also helped provide a much-needed boost to Nokia's bottom line.

Why, then, help the competition by giving away that Navteq map data and technology? Well, first of all, Nokia isn't giving it away.

So why, then, help a company like HTC to make its Windows Phone 8X handset better by giving away that Navteq map data and technology? Well, first of all, Nokia isn't giving it away. Hellmis declined to shed any light on the deal that saw Nokia including its latest and greatest mapping technology into Microsoft's latest mobile OS, but this non-response should give you a pretty good idea: "We are a licensing business and there are traditional economics."

In other words, they're getting paid, but he was quick to point out Nokia isn't just in it for the financial incentive. He echoed his boss Stephen Elop's battle cry that they're now embroiled in a "war of ecosystems" and, when you're in the middle of a war, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. By elevating Windows Phone as a whole, Nokia is helping to raise its own business case higher.

"What we are doing on a global scale is difficult. It's difficult and expensive. Everybody who wants to get into that should understand what they are getting themselves into."

And what about Apple's recent missteps? Hellmis resisted the opportunity to jab at his foe, instead taking the chance to relay the incredible difficulty of what they do. "What we are doing on a global scale is difficult. It's difficult and expensive. Everybody who wants to get into that should understand what they are getting themselves into." Apple, in other words, is in for a hell of a marathon if it wants to deliver something as comprehensive as the petabytes of data Navteq has acquired, and catching up on 30 years of expertise won't be easy.

So what's next? Nokia is currently building out Navteq True, a 3D-scanned database of positional information that is making traditional, two-dimensional maps obsolete. "What we're building is a digital representation of the world," says Hellmis, a representation so accurate that cars of the not-too-distant future will be able to use this vectorized map data to run more efficient cruise control. They could, for example, proactively downshift or upshift when approaching cresting hills or soften the suspension when nearing a pothole.

And what about Nokia's other big push on the automotive front? MirrorLink (neé Terminal Mode)? When will Microsoft implement this system that could finally create a standard enabling in-car connectivity for all phones? "Not yet," said Hellmis, adding a wry smile that said it all.

Steve Dent contributed to this report.

Google optimizes Flight Search for tablets, makes booking trips easier

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 02:34 PM PDT

Google optimizes Flight Search for tablets, makes booking trips easier

It feels like it was only yesterday that we were praising Google for giving us access to a plethora of handy, everyday tools -- oh wait, it was yesterday. At any rate, today the folks from Mountain View are back with more travel-friendly software for you to enjoy, announcing that its useful Flight Search service is now fully-optimized for use with, as Google points out, tablets such as its own Nexus 7 and, naturally, Cupertino's iPad. Jet-setters can see the changes now by simply hitting the Flights link below, and with the dearest holidays just around the corner, now is probably a good time to make use of that "lowest fare" tool.

Microsoft details its own Windows 8 rollout, lessons learned from 'dogfooding'

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 02:11 PM PDT

Microsoft details its own Windows 8 rollout, lessons learned from 'dogfooding'

If a company won't use its own products, how can it expect others to? Many customers, especially on the enterprise side of the equation, are understandably a little wary of the drastic change that awaits them when upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8. So, Microsoft decided to share what it has learned from its own experience dogfooding the new OS around the Redmond campus (and likely beyond). While the company is a little light on specifics of the low-volume rollout, it does highlight some of the features available to IT departments that should make transitioning easier. It even offers a few pointers along the way. Sure, there's plenty of back-patting involved, but tips like using IT Easy Installer to automate deployments and trim install times by half shouldn't be dismissed. There's also some information about its support system for early adopters which included a knowledge base called Pointers that helped highlight the most important issues needing to be addressed. For more details hit up the source link and get ready to embrace your inner IT nerd.

PSA: iPhone 5 available in 22 more countries, on Cricket and US regional carriers galore

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 01:44 PM PDT

iPhone 5 side view

Disappointed that your country or favorite carrier missed the initial cut for the iPhone 5 launch? Odds are that you're all good now. Worldwide, 22 more countries have joined the mix as of today, including wide swaths of Europe as well as New Zealand; you'll find the full list in the release here. Americans also don't have to turn to the big carriers, as they can now opt for prepaid carrier Cricket in addition to a slew of extra providers that include C Spire as well as regionals like GCI and nTelos. In some cases, you'll even snag a discount by going with one of the smaller networks. If you bagged an iPhone in Barcelona, or caught one on Cellcom, let others know how it's going in the comments.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Wikipad CEO James Bower defends his gaming tablet's $500 pricing, why one device beats two

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 01:15 PM PDT

Why does the Wikipad cost $500 dollars CEO James Bower explains

No matter which way you cut it, the Android-based Wikipad gaming tablet -- dubbed as much despite not having any connection to Wikipedia -- is unusually expensive. As a 10.1-inch Android tablet, it's comparably priced with the leaders of the market (of the Apple and Samsung variety). The obvious problem comparatively with the big dogs: visibility. What is Wikipad, anyway? And who made it?

"This is our first product into the market," consummate salesman and Wikipad CEO James Bower told us in an interview earlier this week -- yes, the company's name is shared with its first product. "We've self-funded the whole concept to this point with a couple of us founders. No VC money or anything," he said (the company did, however, just close its first round of venture capital funding for marketing costs, post-development). Bower's company took the idea of an Android-based gaming tablet with a proprietary, physical (and removable) gamepad from concept to reality in the last year, first revealing the tablet at CES 2012. "We've been able to accomplish a lot very efficiently and very effectively to this point," Bower said, in reference to the approximately 80 people who created the device.

That said, despite our positive hands-on time with the Wikipad (even in its prototype state), $500 is a heck of a lot of money to plunk down on an unproven device from an unproven company. The argument gets harder when you remember Sony's PlayStation Vita -- an arguably much nicer device with a far larger library of gaming content that costs half the Wikipad's price at $249.99. Bower doesn't see the logic in this argument. "It's double the price, but it's also double the size," he pointed out. "If you buy a tablet that's seven inches, you can get a $199 tablet -- it's called a Google Nexus or a Kindle Fire. If you're gonna get a full 10-inch tablet, a tablet to this quality, you're gonna spend $499 to $749 ... if we were talking about a 7-inch device or a 5-inch device, and we were at this price point, then it'd be a different story." Admittedly, the tablet -- as a standalone device -- isn't too shabby. But will it woo consumers away from the likes of Apple and Samsung? Bower hopes as much, but we're not so sure.

"What we like to say is, 'If you're gonna spend $249 to get your Vita, and you're gonna spend $499 on an iPad, why don't you just spend $499 and get the Wikipad? That way you can have the best of both worlds,'" he argued. Ideally, Bower wants his gaming tablet to cross over between students, gamers, and businesspeople. But with GameStop partnering with Wikipad for pre-orders, the company's messaging certainly seems aimed at the gamer crowd -- the extremely fickle, price-averse gaming crowd. Sure, the tablet will also be available at "all the usual suspects," Bower said, but partnering with the largest video game retailer in the United States is certainly making a statement.

Why does the Wikipad cost $500 dollars CEO James Bower explains

Wikipad -- the company -- isn't public, so Bower wouldn't share sales projections for this holiday, but he did say, "We don't have to sell but tens of thousands to do extremely well." And he also pointed out that, "with what we have in pre-sales and pre-orders, we're already gonna be profitable this year." From there? "It's all about going into next year, and the product development and the marketing, and building the brand from there," Bower said. "It's up to us to craft the message correctly and get everybody excited about this device."

Following next month's launch of the Wikipad, the company is planning to release a television dongle that'll enable second-screen streaming from the tablet directly to TV screens -- for existing TVs with WiFi Direct, it'll connect and function right out of the box. "But if you're looking at pure interaction and minimal latency for gameplay, that's where you're gonna need our accessory to do that," Bower said. Always a salesman.

Kodak dropping out of the consumer inkjet printer business in 2013

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 12:50 PM PDT

Kodak dropping out of the consumer inkjet printer business in 2013

More gloomy news from Kodak: the company just announced that it will stop selling consumer inkjet printers in 2013 and instead focus its efforts on commercial printing products. This decision hardly comes as a surprise: Kodak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year and attempted to auction off a stockpile of patents valued at up to $2.6 billion. The company stated on Friday that it expects to take a $90 million hit due to its floundering inkjet business. Kodak's garage sale attracted interest from unlikely alliances in the form of Apple and Microsoft versus Google and Samsung, but reportedly only reeled in disappointing offers under the $500 million mark. Hoping to rebound next year as a "lean," mean, successful machine, we'll just have to wait and see what develops for this fallen photography frontrunner.

Show full PR text

Kodak Continues Progress toward Emergence
Requests to extend exclusive right to file plan of reorganization, outlines demonstrated progress in restructuring

ROCHESTER, N.Y., September 28 --
Eastman Kodak Company will highlight its restructuring accomplishments to date in a motion it plans to submit today to the Bankruptcy Court to extend until February 28, 2013, its exclusive right to file a plan of reorganization. The extension will assist the company as it continues its progress toward successful emergence in the first half of 2013.

In its motion, Kodak describes the substantial progress it has made toward reorganization goals since filing for Chapter 11 on January 19, 2012. Kodak's case is large and complex, involving some $5 billion in assets, global operations, thousands of contracts and leases, thousands of potential creditors, and ongoing asset sales. Kodak's progress includes the successful stabilization of its business, the development of its emergence plan, significant operating improvements, the expansion of customer and vendor relationships, and substantial cost reductions.

Kodak previously announced its intention to emerge as a company focused on commercial, packaging & functional printing solutions and enterprise services, as well as processes to sell its Personalized Imaging and Document Imaging businesses. Consistent with that emergence strategy, Kodak has continued to manage its Consumer Inkjet business for profitability, and the company announced today that, starting in 2013, it will focus that business on the sale of ink to its installed base, and wind down sales of consumer inkjet printers. Kodak expects that this decision will significantly improve cash flow in the U.S. beginning in the first half of 2013.

"Kodak is making good progress toward emergence from Chapter 11, taking significant actions to reorganize our core ongoing businesses, reduce costs, sell assets, and streamline our organizational structure," said Antonio M. Perez, Kodak Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Steps such as the sale of Personalized Imaging and Document Imaging, and the Consumer Inkjet decision, will substantially advance the transformation of our business to focus on commercial, packaging & functional printing solutions and enterprise services. As we complete the other key objectives of our restructuring in the weeks ahead, we will be well positioned to emerge successfully in 2013."

Kodak remains committed to its significant installed base of consumer inkjet printer customers, who recognize the value proposition of affordable ink, high-quality output because of Kodak's unique pigment-based inks, and advanced features including cloud printing. The company will provide its customers and retail partners the same level of service and support they have come to expect from Kodak.

In its motion to the Court, Kodak described specific accomplishments thus far, including:

The formulation of a business strategy focused on commercial, packaging & functional printing solutions and enterprise services that will be the cornerstone of a plan of reorganization;
The stabilization of its global business resulting in the maintenance of key customer and supplier relationships around the world;
An extensive operational restructuring that has streamlined businesses and reduced corporate costs. This restructuring includes the reduction of Kodak's global workforce by more than 2,700 positions so far in 2012, with the current expectation of a further reduction of at least 1,200 employees (up 200 from the 1,000 previously announced). This 23% headcount reduction will result in a savings of more than $340 million per year and a smaller workforce of approximately 13,100 employees;
Negotiations with respect to a fair, equitable and permanent resolution of Kodak's U.S. retiree benefit (OPEB) liability, which amounts to approximately $1.2 billion;
Use of the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code to renegotiate existing supply contracts or to enforce prepetition contracts to achieve substantial cost savings;
Actions to exit or sell unprofitable and declining businesses, such as the digital camera and on-line photo services businesses;
Commencement of a process to sell the market-leading Personalized Imaging and Document Imaging businesses, which are not core to Kodak's future. Kodak noted that, while the sale process is still in its early stages, there has already been significant interest among potential buyers for these businesses;
Continued negotiations with respect to the sale of its intellectual property assets and the development of alternatives in the event a transaction on acceptable terms is not reached, and
Continuation of normal global operations while aggressively conserving cash, with worldwide cash balances consistently in excess of $1 billion and with Days Payable Outstanding remaining stable.
The company anticipates that in the near term, it will begin realizing savings from its new, more strategically focused business, workforce reductions and other cost-reduction initiatives. Kodak continues its analysis of further operational and workforce reductions in an effort to streamline operations and generate profits.

"The actions we are taking are significant steps toward our successful emergence," said Perez. "We are committed to take the remaining steps required for our emergence in 2013 as a profitable, sustainable company."

An Omnibus Hearing to consider the motion and other matters is scheduled for October 17, 2012.

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit tells Judge Koh to revisit Galaxy Tab 10.1 injunction

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 12:16 PM PDT

One of the hallmarks of the US judicial system is its seemingly inexhaustible system of appeals -- a system for which Samsung is likely most grateful at the moment. Its earlier entreaty to Judge Lucy Koh to have the Galaxy Tab 10.1 preliminary injunction lifted may have been denied, but the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is giving the Korean company another bite at the Apple. That court has granted Samsung's request to have the injunction issue remanded so that the trial court can re-consider Samsung's motion to dissolve it. The ruling enables Samsung to argue that the injunction should be lifted because the jury failed to find infringement of the tablet design patent upon which the injunction is based. Will Judge Koh lift the ban? Perhaps, but we're pretty sure that the crowd from Cupertino will be doing plenty to prevent that from happening. Stay tuned.

Indian government tells carriers to end 3G roaming pacts, doesn't stop to explain why

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 11:40 AM PDT

India planning fresh 2G spectrum auctions for November 12th

For those of us on the outside, India's telecommunications setup can seem a little murky. While the country has 900 million mobile connections, for example, every 2G license issued after January 2008 were cancelled in February. Now, authorities are asking 3G carriers to suspend the practice of allowing customers to switch between different operators as they roam across the country's 22 wireless regions -- with no explanation as to why. Roaming was originally outlawed back in December, but a number of networks appealed -- a move which only seems to have postponed the final ruling until today.

Update: Plenty of our commenters have shared their knowledge to help further explain this situation. No network other than BSNL purchased a nationwide 3G license during the auction. The other carriers each bought smaller (and cheaper) access -- but teamed up to offer a virtual national-network. They then started to sell services in regions (or "circles") that they had no license for, causing the Government to try to clamp down on the process by outlawing the agreements.

HP takes Open webOS 1.0 live, shows it supersized on a TouchSmart (video)

Posted: 28 Sep 2012 11:04 AM PDT

HP takes Open webOS 10 live, shows it supersized on a TouchSmart video

WebOS loyalists have been waiting a long, long time for HP's September launch of Open webOS, but the company has made good on its promise with not a moment to spare. Open webOS 1.0 is now available with core browser and e-mail apps, the Enyo 2.0 framework and enough hooks to allow porting to a platform of choice. To prove this last point, HP has gone so far as to port the software to a TouchSmart all-in-one -- a device just a tad larger than a Veer 4G. Lest anyone be hasty and get visions of developing a custom build for the TouchPad, though, they'd do well to remember both HP's disclaimer ruling out legacy support as well as word of the holes that exist in the current Open webOS release. The company needs time to offer open-sourced media support, a Bluetooth stack, advanced network management, faster rendering and newer versions of both Qt and WebKit. The curious can nonetheless try the OS in an emulator today, and intrepid developers can start building their own projects with the code and tools found at the source link.


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