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Engadget News |
- CyanogenMod 9 now stable on every supported device, get your fix today
- Next iPhone's tiny docking connector possibly spotted
- Google to downrank sites hit by valid copyright claims
- Digiboo movie kiosks now do wireless, still insist on Windows
- SIGGRAPH 2012 wrap-up
- FTC and Facebook settle privacy dispute, skip the fine
- Colloidal Display uses soap bubbles, ultrasonic waves to form a projection screen (hands-on video)
- Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops
- Stuffed Toys Alive! replaces mechanical limbs with strings for a much softer feel (hands-on)
- Best Buy founder wants slashed prices, Apple-style customer service in $10 billion rescue plan
- Cheap NFC-based chips run on your phone's radio waves, can be read and written
- Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD spills the beans (and its guts) at the FCC
- Scientists release biggest ever 3D map of the universe, lacks turn-by-turn navigation (video)
- Distro Issue 52: Does the MakerBot Replicator signal the dawn of in-home 3D printing?
- HTC One X gets Android 4.0.4 update today: enhances camera app, adds menu functionality to multitasking button
- Zotac's ZBOX ID84 mini PC sports Cedar Trail CPU and optional NVIDIA, starts at $229
- Dish Network rumored to have bought Clearwire's $400 million debt in secret transaction
- Morpheus lander crashes, burns and explodes in untethered flight test, NASA remains optimistic (video)
- Researchers create Meshworm robot, beat it up (video)
- Disney's REVEL could turn the whole world into a tactile touchscreen (video)
- Red claims Dragon is 'single most significant sensor in the history of image capture'
- PBS delves into the finer points of buggy behavior in 'The Art of Glitch' (video)
- India's prime minister reportedly working on giving free handsets to low-income families
- Doodle friday: End your week with a penalty shootout
- BeagleBone gets plenty of expansion options with new 'cape' add-ons
- Sony Reader PRS-T2 up for $130 pre-order at J&R
- T-Mobile UK confirms unlimited tethering won't be available to new Full Monty customers
- WatchESPN Android app update finally brings access for Comcast subscribers
- Google gives mobile search a makeover for quick-answer queries
- Google Earth adds detailed 3D imagery for Denver and Seattle, might not render the local Starbucks
- PlayBook Mobile Responder app puts police tools in a finger-friendly package
- Ears-on with Klipsch's latest intra-aural headphone lineup: Image S4 (II) series, X7i
- Samsung Exynos 5 Dual white paper confirms new high marks for mobile graphics, memory performance
- Foursquare brings nearby check-ins back to BlackBerry and iPhone, saves our pub crawls
- Google, PayPal, VeriFone and US carriers band together to form Mobile Payments Committee
- Apple, Samsung reveal sales data to the court, boast of millions served
- SlingPlayer survey hints at possible expansion to game consoles
- Blake Patterson's Byte Cellar: the ultimate man cave for aspiring geeks
- Researchers use bioimpedance as a biometric, let health monitor devices know who you are
- Mystery Samsung GT-P8110 tablet passes through the FCC (update: likely not the P10)
| CyanogenMod 9 now stable on every supported device, get your fix today Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:24 AM PDT We saw CyanogenMod 9 reach the perfect poise of a stable release on the Galaxy Nexus just this past Thursday. It's now time for everyone else to join the club: all devices that can run CM9 now get the firmware in the same polished state, giving more conservative fans a path to CyanogenMod's custom Android 4.0 build. The code brings an audio equalizer, OS gesture commands and themes, among other tweaks that you won't find sitting in that vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich. If you're not so adventurous as to live on the bleeding edge that is CyanogenMod 10, hit the source link for the (considerably safer) next best thing. [Thanks, Bryson] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next iPhone's tiny docking connector possibly spotted Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:08 AM PDT We've seen the rumored next iPhone's minuscule docking port more than once. Any of the cabling that plugs into that port, however, has been non-existent until today. If photos slipped to Nowhereelse.fr are more than just flights of fancy, they show a much narrower and possibly slimmer connector that matches up with the hole we've seen. It's so small that a full-size USB connector dwarfs it by comparison, and there's only eight contact pins per side (or possibly total) versus the 30 overall that we know today. We're not told if there are any special tricks besides the size reduction, though: while the new cable end looks dual-sided, there's no guarantee Apple will have eliminated the right-side-up requirement that afflicts just about every mobile-sized port format we've seen to date. If real, the redesign could lead to one less hassle for charging and syncing. It just wouldn't be much consolation to those who'd been hoping for a switch to a standard like micro-USB -- or, for that matter, to long-time iPhone owners who may have to give up or convert legions of accessories. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google to downrank sites hit by valid copyright claims Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:08 AM PDT Google has been dogged by claims that it facilitates the piracy of content through its search results pretty much since day one. Starting next week, the web giant will be taking a much more aggressive approach to sites hosting pirated material by downranking frequent offenders. The new results algorithm will take into account the number of valid copyright notices received against a site and penalize them appropriately in the rankings. Google says that this will allow consumers to more readily find legitimate sources of content such as Hulu and Spotify, but it's hard not to see the move as one intended to appease studios, content producers and government officials that routinely threaten to hammer companies like Google with lawsuits and restrictive legislation. Mountain View was also quick to highlight how responsive it's been to industry concerns -- citing the fact that it receives and processes more copyright complaints in a day than it did in all of 2009 combined. For more details, hit up the source link. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Digiboo movie kiosks now do wireless, still insist on Windows Posted: 10 Aug 2012 10:34 AM PDT So far, Digiboo's movie kiosks have been severely limited by a couple of factors, before you even get to the fact that their content is SD only. Firstly, they've required users to carry a USB stick on their person, and secondly they've only been able to transfer rentals to a Windows device. Today, however, the company has cleared a major hurdle on its passage to relevance, by allowing wireless transfers to any "Windows-enabled PC, laptop or tablet." This should make Digiboo's next step -- Android support, which is promised to come this month -- a whole lot easier. Digiboo Introduces New Wireless Download Feature Now Easier than Ever Before to Download Directly to Windows-Enabled PC, Laptop or Tablet From a Selection of More than 800 Movies LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Digiboo, the digital retail entertainment download service, today announced the addition of a wireless download feature, making it even easier and more convenient to rent or buy movies. Now, consumers can wirelessly download new release and popular movie titles directly to their Windows-enabled PC, laptop or tablet through Digiboo's interactive touchscreen kiosks in just a few minutes. Then, they can play them back during their travels. "Digiboo's core objective is to provide top quality convenience and speed to our customers," said Richard Cohen, Digiboo CEO. "Downloading films at a Digiboo kiosk with a flash drive is always a great option. But with our new wireless access, movie lovers on-the-go don't have to worry about packing anything extra." Digiboo offers more than 800 new release and popular catalog movie titles available through its interactive touchscreen kiosks which are available largely through airports, an ideal distribution channel to offer more choices for people to enjoy the entertainment they love while traveling. The wireless service is currently available in airports in Minneapolis and Seattle, while consumers can download movies to their flash drives at Portland's International Airport. Expansion into additional retail locations and new markets is planned for Q4 2012. Anyone, from business travelers waiting for flights to families on long trips, can enjoy their favorite films quickly and easily. And since the Digiboo service is digital-only, with no physical discs, new releases are always in stock, regularly refreshed and there is never anything to return. The new wireless download also means that there is no waiting in line at the kiosk. "Traveling can be hectic for everyone. So we are always looking for ways to bring the most convenience and flexibility to our customers," said Blake Thomas, Digiboo CMO. "So, when they let us know that, while they like the flash drive option, they are used to wireless downloading, we went straight to work on creating that feature. And now, no one has to wait while others rent or purchase their movies." Movies from Digiboo are competitively priced. Rentals are $3.99 (new) or $2.99 (catalog) and can be viewed within 30 days of download up to 48 hours after the movie is opened. Purchased movies cost $14.99. New releases are largely available day-and-date with DVD and Video on Demand, which helps ensure that customers have access to the newest movies at the earliest possible times. New movies are added to the kiosk every week as titles become available. Catalog titles have been hand-selected to provide something for everyone across genres. Rentals can be viewed on one device at a time, while customers who purchase movies can watch them on up to five devices. Digiboo has partnered with several studios, including Lions Gate, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros., as well as Kingston Digital, Inc. (USB), PFU (kiosk), and FSH (MSP distribution partner) to provide the highest quality service to travelers. About Digiboo Digiboo is a convenient option for people to watch the movies they love, whenever and wherever they want. Digiboo is a new movie kiosk store that gives people a simple and fast way to rent or buy movies on-the-go. It is a first-of-its-kind digital retail download service that has more than 800 new release and popular movie titles available through its interactive touchscreen kiosks. Digiboo kiosks are currently available exclusively through airports in the United States, an ideal distribution channel to offer more choices for people to buy or rent the entertainment they love while traveling. These movies can be downloaded in as little as 30 seconds to USB, or just minutes directly to your device via WiFi and played back on any Windows-enabled PC, laptop or tablet. Digiboo delivers a fast and convenient way for people to watch movies. Digiboo was founded in 2008 by film industry veterans Richard Cohen, former MGM Home Entertainment and Consumer Products president, Jeff Karbowiak, EVP of MGM's Home Entertainment Group, David Beddow CTO at Movielink, and Blake Thomas GM of MGM Home Entertainment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 10 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Considering that SIGGRAPH focuses on visual content creation and display, there was no shortage of interesting elements to gawk at on the show floor. From motion capture demos to 3D objects printed for Hollywood productions, there was plenty of entertainment at the Los Angeles Convention Center this year. Major product introductions included ARM's Mali-T604 GPU and a handful of high-end graphics cards from AMD, but the highlight of the show was the Emerging Technologies wing, which played host to a variety of concept demonstrations, gathering top researchers from institutions like the University of Electro-Communications in Toyko and MIT. The exhibition has winded down for the year, but you can catch up with the show floor action in the gallery below, then click on past the break for links to all of our hands-on coverage, direct from LA. News and Hands-Ons
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| FTC and Facebook settle privacy dispute, skip the fine Posted: 10 Aug 2012 09:36 AM PDT Well, Mark Zuckerberg is finally trying to make things right after admitting to a "bunch of mistakes" when dealing with user privacy on his juggernaut of a social network. The FTC and Facebook had agreed to settle the dispute in November, and now the final details of the deal have been ironed out. Noticeably missing from the list of concessions is cash. The government isn't asking Facebook to cough up any dough as part of the settlement -- avoiding the sort of hefty fine that Google recently found itself on the wrong end of. The company will, however, have drastically revamp how it handles user data and subject itself to privacy audits every two years for 20 years. Customers will now be provided with "clear and prominent" warnings any time information is shared. And, before anything can be shared, users must give express consent to for that information to be distributed. Ideally, these measures would have been in place on day one, but we'll take what we can get at this point. For more details, check out the FTC's press release after the break. FTC Approves Final Settlement With Facebook The settlement requires Facebook to take several steps to make sure it lives up to its promises in the future, including by giving consumers clear and prominent notice and obtaining their express consent before sharing their information beyond their privacy settings, by maintaining a comprehensive privacy program to protect consumers' information, and by obtaining biennial privacy audits from an independent third party. The Commission vote to approve the final order and letters to members of the public who commented on it was 3-1-1 with Commissioner J. Thomas Rosch dissenting and Commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen not participating. The Commission issued a statement authored by Chairman Jon D. Leibowitz and Commissioners Edith Ramirez and Julie Brill. The Commission statement affirmed that, based on the extensive investigation of the staff, there is a strong reason to believe that the settlement is in the public interest, and that the Order's provisions make clear that Facebook will be liable for a broad range of deceptive conduct. As set forth in his separate statement, Commissioner Rosch dissented from the acceptance of the final consent order, questioning whether Facebook's express denial of liability provided "a reason to believe" that the settlement was "in the interest of the public" and expressing concern that the final consent order may not unequivocally cover all representations made in the Facebook environment. (FTC File No. 092-3184; the staff contact is Laura Berger, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-460-8364; see press release dated November 29, 2011.) The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC's online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC's website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colloidal Display uses soap bubbles, ultrasonic waves to form a projection screen (hands-on video) Posted: 10 Aug 2012 09:24 AM PDT If you've ever been to an amusement park, you may have noticed ride designers using some non-traditional platforms as projection screens -- the most common example being a steady stream of artificial fog. Projecting onto transparent substances is a different story, however, which made this latest technique a bit baffling to say the least. Colloidal Display, developed by Yoichi Ochiai, Alexis Oyama and Keisuke Toyoshima, uses bubbles as an incredibly thin projection "screen," regulating the substance's properties, such as reflectance, using ultrasonic sound waves from a nearby speaker. The bubble liquid is made from a mixture of sugar, glycerin, soap, surfactant, water and milk, which the designers say is not easily popped. Still, during their SIGGRAPH demo, a motor dunked the wands in the solution and replaced the bubble every few seconds. A standard projector directed at the bubble creates an image, which appears to be floating in the air. And, because the bubbles are transparent, they can be stacked to simulate a 3D image. You can also use the same display to project completely different images that fade in and out of view depending on your angle relative to the bubble. There is a tremendous amount of distortion, however, because the screen used is a liquid that remains in a fluid state. Because of the requirement to constantly refresh the bubbles, and the unstable nature of the screen itself, the project, which is merely a proof of concept, wouldn't be implemented without significant modification. Ultimately, the designers hope to create a film that offers similar transparent properties but with a more solid, permanent composition. For now, you can sneak a peek of the first iteration in our hands-on video after the break. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops Posted: 10 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today we're getting down to the very important business of helping you sift through laptops, and you can always head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Freshman year of college may no longer be the gateway to the magical world of laptop ownership, but even if you already have a notebook, who can resist a new machine in the spirit of starting fresh when September rolls around? Whether you're looking for a Core i5 companion to get you through semesters of paper-writing, Facebooking and WoWing, or a super-sleek centerpiece to your bare-bones dorm, there's a vast playing field of machines to choose from. While sifting through the countless options would surely get you back in the academic research frame of mind, it's a daunting task. We're here to take some of the work off your plate with nine solid mainstream laptops that should satisfy every budget. On the cheap
Mid-range
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| | $1,100 and up at HP | | $1,000 and up on Amazon |
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Stuffed Toys Alive! replaces mechanical limbs with strings for a much softer feel (hands-on)
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:32 AM PDT
It worked just fine for Pinocchio, so why not animatronic stuffed bears? A group of researchers from the Tokyo University of Technology are on hand at SIGGRAPH's Emerging Technologies section this week to demonstrate "Stuffed Toys Alive!," a new type of interactive toy that replaces the rigid plastic infrastructure used today with a seemingly simple string pulley-based solution. Several strings are installed at different points within each of the cuddly gadget's limbs, then attached to a motor that pulls the strings to move the fuzzy guy's arms while also registering feedback, letting it respond to touch as well. There's not much more to it than that -- the project is ingenious but also quite simple, and it's certain to be a hit amongst youngsters. The obligatory creepy hands-on video is waiting just past the break.
Best Buy founder wants slashed prices, Apple-style customer service in $10 billion rescue plan
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:06 AM PDT
Best Buy founder Richard Schulze is proposing a plan to turn around the ailing electronics store as part of a $10 billion buyout. He's proposing the retailer slashes prices to compete with online rivals like Amazon, while offering Apple Store-levels of customer service. He's concerned that the current closure and size-reduction policy will spell the end of the business, which is rumored to announce another round of closures shortly. It's yet to be seen if his plan, which would mean running Best Buy at a loss for several years, would be accepted by the company's management, who are meeting to discuss the proposals at the end of the month.
Cheap NFC-based chips run on your phone's radio waves, can be read and written
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 07:39 AM PDT
Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD spills the beans (and its guts) at the FCC
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 07:14 AM PDT
There isn't much we don't already know about Huawei's 10-inch MediaPad FHD, revealing most of its secrets well before its launch later this month. Now that it's swung through Washington to be poked and prodded by the screwdriver-clutching mavens at the FCC, we know that the US Government thinks it's safe for human consumption. The slate's impressed even the surliest of our staffers when we played with it, making us deeply excited for its arrival in stores. Those interested in seeing what lies beneath that glass-and-aluminum surface should check out the autopsy gallery we've got for you below.
Scientists release biggest ever 3D map of the universe, lacks turn-by-turn navigation (video)
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 06:49 AM PDT
The stargazers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have released a huge three-dimensional map of outer space, a core part of its six-year survey of the skies. Encompassing four billion light-years cubed, the researchers hope to use the map to retrace the movements of the universe through the last six billion years. Using the latest Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III), the center says the data will help improve their estimates for the quantity of dark matter in space and the effect that dark energy has on the universe's expansion, "two of the greatest mysteries of our time" -- if you're an astrophysicist. Even if you're not, you'll still want to board the animated flight through over 400,000 charted galaxies -- it's embedded after the break.
Distro Issue 52: Does the MakerBot Replicator signal the dawn of in-home 3D printing?
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 06:30 AM PDT
Almost every day it seems like folks are finding a way to add to the number of practical uses for 3D printers. What was once a hobbyist's dream gadget is now being used to produce faux arteries for lab-grown tissue and Magic Arms. As the pricey peripherals work their way into the mainstream, are they soon to be found in most homes? That's the quandary we tackle in this edition of our weekly tablet mag as Brian Heater spends some quality time with the MakerBot Replicator at Engadget's NYC Headquarters. Not really into $2,000 output devices? No sweat. The Meizu MX 4-core, Toshiba U845W and Parrot Zik headphones all get the proper review treatment. "Hands-on" visits SIGGRAPH, "Weekly Stat" examines the shortcomings of our handsets, "Reaction Time" discusses THQ, "IRL" packs in three more of our gadget confessions and GameStop CEO Paul Raines admits his affinity for Jelly Bean in this week's Q&A. Go on and usher in the weekend by hitting up your download link of choice down below.
Distro Issue 52 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro APK (for sideloading)
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This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:53 AM PDT
If you thought the One X's capacitive button layout jarred with the Ice Cream Sandwich experience you saw on the Galaxy Nexus, you'll like what HTC's just told us. An update to version 4.0.4, launching today, will allow users to map menu functionality to the lower right 'recent app' key, while it will also treat its owners to white balance and continuous autofocus improvements within its well-received camera app. Expect a handful of stability improvements as well as a dedicated tab switcher for the built-in browser -- if you haven't already made the leap to Chrome. According to HTC, the update for the international iteration rolls out today, with the AT&T version already doing the rounds. The full statement's included below. Let us know how you get on.
As part of our ongoing commitment to ensure customers are receiving software updates that improve their user experience, we are pleased to announce our next upgrade for the HTC One X will be released on August 10th.
The primary update will include an upgrade to Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), in addition to an improved Sense experience which will: enable the ability to map menu function to the 'recent app' key (improving visual presentation in non ICS apps like Facebook); improve tab management in the browser with a dedicated tab switching button and enhance camera capabilities such as white balance and continuous autofocus. Furthermore, customers can expect enhancements to memory, platform stability and the overall browsing experience. Other improvements include a Single Sign-On for Facebook allowing user access across applications and browsers and upgrades to Beats audio, which reflect our dedication to providing an authentic sound experience.
From a developer perspective, we are expanding SDK support for Media Link and providing a framework for video call applications to achieve improved performance and quality.
Zotac's ZBOX ID84 mini PC sports Cedar Trail CPU and optional NVIDIA, starts at $229
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:19 AM PDT
As recent history would kindly tell us, Zotac really, really loves its tiny computing boxes. Now the outfit's introduced yet another one to its mini PC mix: enter the ZBOX ID84. The standalone unit -- which lacks an HDD and memory sticks -- is set to be priced at a not-too-shabby $229, while the "Plus" model will carry a more expensive $319 price tag, but does come sporting a decent 320GB (5,400RPM) hard drive, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA's GeForce GT 520M GPU alongside the dual-core Intel Atom D2550 CPU. Ports-wise the ZBOX ID84 Plus is pretty well-stacked, sporting two USB 3.0, four USB 2.0, a notorious 6-in-1 card reader, gigabit Ethernet, plus DVI and HDMI. All in all, it looks like Zotac's latest miniature could get most anyone through the days, though we wouldn't blame you if you're interested in something with a little more power under the hood.
Dish Network rumored to have bought Clearwire's $400 million debt in secret transaction
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 04:41 AM PDT
Sprint Announces Senior Notes Offering
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), August 09, 2012 - Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) announced today that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of notes due 2020 and notes due 2022.
Sprint intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, redemptions or service requirements of outstanding debt, network expansion and modernization and potential funding of Clearwire Corporation and its subsidiary Clearwire Communications LLC.
The joint book-running managers for the offering are J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. These securities are being offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the offering have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may obtain a preliminary prospectus supplement and prospectus by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at Attn.: HY Syndicate, 383 Madison Avenue, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10179, or by calling collect 1-212-834-4533; Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. at Attn.: Prospectus Group, 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005-2836, or by calling toll free 1-800-503-4611 or by emailing prospectus.CPDG@db.com; Barclays Capital Inc. at c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, or by calling toll free 1-888-603-5847 or by emailing barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com; Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at Attn.: Prospectus Department, 222 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10038, by calling toll free 1-800-294-1322 or by emailing dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com; Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at Attn.: Citigroup Prospectus Delivery Department, Brooklyn Army Terminal, 140 58th Street, 8th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11220, or by calling toll free 1-800-831-9146 or by emailing batprospectusdept@citi.com; or Goldman, Sachs & Co. at Attn.: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, or by calling 1-212-902-1171.
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 04:03 AM PDT
As noisy as we found Project Morpheus' tethered flight test, its untethered follow-up was far, far louder. Yesterday, the experimental lander suffered a hardware component failure, which NASA says "prevented it from maintaining stable flight." This caused it to crash into the ground and well, explode. On the upside, the space agency says that these kinds of failures were anticipated, stating that they are a normal part of the development process and will be used to build better systems moving forward. You didn't think Curiosity made its touchdown on Mars without learning from a few mistakes, did you? Click onwards to check out the test -- and its aftermath -- in 5, 4, 3, 2, er...
Researchers create Meshworm robot, beat it up (video)
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 03:25 AM PDT
We've seen a number of options for controlling real worms, but never a worm robot, until now. Enter Meshworm, the latest creation from researchers at MIT, Harvard University and Seoul National University. The bot is made from "artificial muscle" composed of a flexible mesh tube segmented by loops of nickel / titanium wire. The wire contracts and squeezes the tube when heated by a flowing current, but cut the power and it returns to its original shape, creating propulsion in a similar way to its living kin. Taking traditional moving parts out of the equation also makes it pretty hardy, as proven by extensive testing (read: hitting it with a hammer). DARPA is known for getting its fingers in all sorts of strange pies, and it also supported this project. We can't see it being the fastest way of gathering intel, but the potential medical applications, such as next-gen endoscopes, sound plausible enough. Full impact tests in the video after the break.
Disney's REVEL could turn the whole world into a tactile touchscreen (video)
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 02:59 AM PDT
Disney Research think it can go one better on Tactile and Haptic touch displays by using electrical fields to add sensation to nearly anything you can touch. Using Reverse Electrovibration, REVEL works by strapping an electrostatic signal generator to your body, so when you come into contact with an object on the same electrical plane, that low-level field can be altered to create friction. It's hoped that the technology could revolutionize touchscreens, add a whole new level of feeling to augmented reality and help blind people feel their way around. There's a video after the break, but be warned, it's light on the sort of cartoony hijinks you'd normally expect from the House of Mouse.
Red claims Dragon is 'single most significant sensor in the history of image capture'
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 02:36 AM PDT
Red Camera's bombastic CEO, Jim Jannard, says that internal testing of the new 6K Dragon sensor proves that it's the new "resolution and dynamic range king." He also claims it will be "the cleanest sensor you have ever seen, ISO 2000 looks better than MX [the current sensor] at ISO 800." The imaging chip was first outed at NAB in April, promising 15+ stops of DR and 120fps at a full 5K of resolution, with $6,000 upgrades for Epic customers by the end of the year. Owners of the $9,700 (brain only) Scarlet-X will also get the Dragon, though no price or date has been given yet for that camera. Needless to say, some independent testing will be needed to substantiate his claims, but Jannard sure does sound confident.
PBS delves into the finer points of buggy behavior in 'The Art of Glitch' (video)
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 02:17 AM PDT
To think that all those times people were cursing at their terminals every time they got the Blue Screen of Death, they should've been charging for admission. At least that's the idea one would get after checking out PBS' latest Off Book short doc, The Art of Glitch. The six-minute video takes a closer look at a movement that views a typically frustrating electronic phenomenon and considers it to be glorious, wonderful art instead. From neon signs on the fritz to digital files that are edited to cause buggy behavior, the range of glitch art is as broad as the imaginations of the people who prize them. The short doc is the latest offering from a web-original series that looks at "cutting edge arts" such as animated GIFs and 8-bit creations. In the meantime, you can bug out on the finer points of glitch art by checking out the video below.
India's prime minister reportedly working on giving free handsets to low-income families
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 02:02 AM PDT
We've seen companies like Microsoft help out low-income people by dropping prices on its hardware and software in the past, and now India's prime minister's allegedly taking a similar approach but with mobile handsets being the focus behind this nice gesture -- and better yet, at no cost whatsoever. Per the Times of India, sources have told the publication Manmohan Singh's got a plan in the works that'd bring one mobile device to "every family living below the poverty line," with said "Har Hath Mein Phone" scheme expected to be announced as early as next week. Notably, if all goes according to the purported plan, this would help over 6 million Indian families, most of which are currently lacking any sort of communication device in their household. There's still a few days until we find out whether the project is indeed real, for now let's just hope our friends in India don't experience some more power outages anytime soon.
Doodle friday: End your week with a penalty shootout
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:39 AM PDT
Relive the nail-biting insanity and inherent unfairness of soccer's penalty shootout over at Google right now, as you try to match our first-attempt score of 18 points and two gold stars. (We'll update this post as soon as an Engadget editor gets a result we can be proud of.) It's a ballistic way to end a run of Doodles that has already involved canoeing, hoops, hurdles and all-round Olympic work avoidance. Post your scores here at your own risk.
Update: Did we say 18? We meant 81, but forgot to take a grab, so officially we'll have to make do with a top score of 34.
BeagleBone gets plenty of expansion options with new 'cape' add-ons
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:27 AM PDT
Arduino has shields and now BeagleBone has capes. The Cortex A8-based hobbyist board has earned a number of fans for its speed and affordability. Now it's adding simple versatility with 20 expansion capes, ranging from touchscreens, to cameras and even weather stations. Some have been available for some time, but the latest -- the Camera Cape -- allows you to easily capture 3.1 megapixel images. Obviously, the perfect partner cape would be one of the several displays available, such as the seven-inch 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen. Really, they're essential if you hope to preview your photos before snapping them. To check out all the available boards hit up the source link, and check out the PR after the break.
BeagleBoard.org hobbyists unleash 20 new "cape" plug-in boards, fueling Linux development on BeagleBone, a credit-card-sized computer platform
- BeagleBone adopted by thousands for creative development of electronics and applications.
- BeagleBone eliminates barriers with easy development on one-of-a-kind, credit-card-sized Linux computer platform based on ARM® Cortex™-A8 processor that runs Android 4.0 and Ubuntu software.
- Open-source Linux developers can now easily create exciting new features with "capes": camera, touch screen, motor control, battery power and more on BeagleBone.
DALLAS, Aug. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- "Throwing a bone" to designers, makers and hobbyists looking to easily and affordably develop creative, Linux-based electronics, BeagleBoard.org today announced the availability of more than 20 new plug-in boards for the widely-adopted BeagleBone Linux computer platform. Creatively calling the plug-in boards "capes" in reference to the cape worn by a beloved cartoon beagle super hero, the active open source BeagleBoard.org community designed the plug-in boards to foster an even wider range of innovations such as robot motor drivers and sensors that measure location and pressure. Adding cape plug-in boards to the popular and expandable BeagleBone computer that is used as a development kit allows hobbyists and developers to quickly and easily augment BeagleBone's capabilities with LCD screens, motor control and battery power as well as the ability to create their own circuits. The new cape plug-in boards are made available through www.beaglebonecapes.com.
Today, thousands of designers, makers, hobbyists and engineers have adopted BeagleBone for its one-of-a-kind functionality as a credit-card-sized Linux computer that connects with the Internet and runs software such as Android 4.0 and Ubuntu. With plenty of I/O and processing power for real-time analysis provided by the Sitara™ AM335x ARM® Cortex™-A8 processor from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), the cape plug-in boards help developers differentiate products and accelerate time to market.
With a feature-rich processor, the BeagleBone computer platform allows developers to fully utilize the technology within a full-featured, open hardware Linux development kit. BeagleBone users also benefit from the thriving BeagleBoard.org community of more than 5,000 active members who interact and collaborate through an online support system.
Inspired to expand development options for their BeagleBone mini computer platforms, participants in the BeagleBoard.org community created cape plug-in boards to enhance the sensors, actuators and interfaces available on the BeagleBone platform. The cape plug-in boards can be plugged into BeagleBone's two 46-pin dual-row expansion headers, providing similar headers so that up to four cape plug-in boards can be stacked at a time.
"BeagleBone has inspired numerous developers to create a wide variety of innovations from self-teaching electronic education kits to underwater robots," said Clint Cooley, president, CircuitCo. "These cape plug-in boards open up endless possibilities for simplified designs and new innovations. I'm excited to see what developers from the BeagleBoard.org community will create next with their BeagleBones."
Popular cape plug-in boards ease application development
The BeagleBone LCD7 Cape, one of the most popular cape plug-in boards, delivers touch screen capability, featuring a 7-inch TFT LCD screen with 4-wire resistive touch and five user buttons. The BeagleBone LCD Cape includes the option of choosing default standoffs or buying a set of piano-black aluminum stands.
The BeagleBone Camera Cape, the newest cape plug-in board, eliminates the need for cameras to consume sometimes scarce USB ports and reduces total system power consumption. The QuickLogic CSSP camera interface (CAM I/F) solution expands the application space for BeagleBone in the automatic identification and data capture, portable consumer, industrial tablet and industrial smartphone markets.
Other currently available BeagleBone cape plug-in boards include but are not limited to:
LCD touch screen capes (7 inch and 3.5 inch) provide LCD solutions with touch screen capability.
BeagleBone Weather Cape provides data including temperature, barometric pressure, humidity and ambient light.
BeagleBone DVI-D Cape provides a DVI-D interface for connecting an external monitor.
BeagleBone Breakout Cape provides access to the various BeagleBone components during troubleshooting.
BeagleBone Breadboard provides powerful prototyping tool without the need of soldering.
BeagleBone CANBus Cape makes use of DCAN1 interface of TI's AM335x processor, enabling interfacing to automotive components and motor controllers, such as TI's Stellaris® ARM Cortex-M-based Jaguar module used in the popular US FIRST® Robotics League.
BeagleBone RS232 Cape provides an RS232 interface.
BeagleBone Battery Cape provides a portable power solution.
"BeagleBone cape plug-in boards give open hardware examples of how to implement various interfaces and tested configurations that can be used for experimentation immediately," said Jason Kridner, community advocate, BeagleBoard.org. "In fact, these capes are inspiring thousands of BeagleBoard.org community developers to build their own plug-in boards. I expect there to be more than a hundred by next year."
To see a list of capes visit: www.beaglebonecapes.com. For more information or to register a cape, visit www.beagleboard.org/capes.
About BeagleBoard.org
A small group of enthusiastic engineers interested in creating powerful, open and embedded devices are pioneering new ground in open hardware and have worked together on the concept and realization of the BeagleBone, BeagleBoard and BeagleBoard-xM. The resulting open-source hardware platforms bridge desktop and embedded development, allowing developers to design to their specification and collaborate with the open source community on creative new applications. The BeagleBoard.org community has more than 5,000 members and aims to engage passionate developers and fuel their innovations, whether they are designing projects for work or fun. With publicly hosted open source software, social media feeds of on-going development and an active community mailing list and live chat, developers have easy access to support and exchange of ideas. Visit www.beagleboard.org to get started today.
Sony Reader PRS-T2 up for $130 pre-order at J&R
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:09 AM PDT
We first caught sight of Sony's latest reader when it mysteriously swung past the FCC, but now the PRS-T2 has arrived to spill the beans at Park Row's most famous resident. J&R's pre-order page reveals that the 6-inch touchscreen WiFi-only device is packing a 800 x 600 E-Ink display, a battery promising two months life and a built-in stylus. Software options include six dictionaries, Evernote Clearly, Facebook for Reader and a free copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The electronics superstore has the device listed as "coming soon," and when it arrives, will set you back $130 -- but, as its write-up notes, that's the price you pay to avoid being bothered with adverts.
T-Mobile UK confirms unlimited tethering won't be available to new Full Monty customers
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 12:45 AM PDT
Well, well, so much for being "truly unlimited," right? As TechRadar adequately reports, T-Mobile UK's confirmed that any new customer looking to snag the Full Monty data plan won't be offered an unlimited tethering feature on their all-you-can-have bundle. Effective immediately, the change is a sudden move from the carrier and it wasn't quite clear as to what made it backpedal on its initial "unlimited" promise, only saying, "From 8th August, tethering is not permitted for new customers under the terms and conditions of the Full Monty." Surely this is a small blow to UKers hoping to grab the Full Monty for the all-out tethering alone -- but hey, at least you've still got the data, texts and calls.
WatchESPN Android app update finally brings access for Comcast subscribers
Posted: 10 Aug 2012 12:06 AM PDT
Google gives mobile search a makeover for quick-answer queries
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 11:35 PM PDT
If you're looking for flight times, currency conversions, word definitions and more, you'll notice that Google has dressed up the responses in new, Now card type clothing. On top of being prettier, the look is designed to make the data easier to parse and also adds an interactive element -- letting you change a distance or unit when doing metric conversions, for example. Currently the refresh is limited to smartphone and tablet searches, but Google has promised to roll it out soon to desktop searches and international users. The change is part of an ever-evolving list of tweaks and updates to Mountain View's venerable search engine -- check the source for more info.
Google Earth adds detailed 3D imagery for Denver and Seattle, might not render the local Starbucks
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 11:13 PM PDT
Google only launched detailed 3D maps in Google Earth for a handful of cities, but it's branching out to provide that extra dimension to a wider swath of the public. Today, it's Denver and Seattle: Android and iOS app users can immediately see the dense, textured 3D City View in their respective western cities. The updates probably won't let Seattle residents spot their hometown coffee brand without going into Street View, but it will let them thread the eye of the Space Needle while their friends in Denver spin past the State Capitol. We can't help but think that Google also enjoys offering some Microsoft staffers a little taste of what they're missing.
PlayBook Mobile Responder app puts police tools in a finger-friendly package
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 10:41 PM PDT
The PlayBook may not have taken off in the consumer market, but its enterprise-friendly features may help it find a home elsewhere -- especially now that it's packing a speedy 4G radio. Fresh on the heels of the LTE edition hitting Canadian shores, Intergraph has unveiled its Mobile Responder app that turns RIM's slate into a formidable tool for police and other emergency responders. The app taps into the company's Computer Aided Dispatch system, which pulls in data from police databases, keeps dispatch centers just a tap away and allows the immediate filing of incident reports. The suite is getting its first public demo next week at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Nova Scotia. For more, check out the PR after the break.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Intergraph® presents the Intergraph Mobile Responder application for the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet at the upcoming Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Annual Conference in Nova Scotia, Canada. Mobile Responder gives police and emergency responders in the field access to Intergraph's Computer-Aided Dispatch (I/CAD) system from a mobile device. Mobile Responder's rich interface allows the transmission of unit status, dispatch reports, incident updates and emergency requests from a BlackBerry PlayBook.
The Mobile Responder application extends the power of the command center to remote teams and accelerates critical decision-making and incident management in the field. Interfacing with a BlackBerry PlayBook, field officers can access local police databases in real-time, view event details and interact with dispatch centers to provide and receive incident reports.
"Intergraph is very excited about Mobile Responder. It offers the functionality officers need in the field, on the platforms being deployed today," says Mark Patrick, Intergraph's Public Safety Business Development Manager in Canada. "The consistent interface will allow officers to be more efficient, whether deployed in vehicles or on foot."
Officers will also benefit from real-time chat capabilities and location verification from GPS tracking capabilities found in the PlayBook. Mobile Responder fosters public confidence with its secured transmission and storage of data found in BlackBerry devices. Police chiefs, field agents and dispatch officers in attendance at CACP will be able to receive personal demonstrations of the Mobile Responder application on PlayBook by Intergraph experts and representatives from BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM). In addition, Intergraph will also demonstrate its Computer-Aided Dispatch (I/CAD) system that is integral to Mobile Responder.
Adding to Intergraph's footprint at the CACP show is the exhibition of a police cruiser outfitted by Darta Enterprises, a contracted manufacturer to public safety agencies. A Darta representative will be in the Intergraph booth with the police cruiser, which will have a BlackBerry PlayBook mounted inside, in place of the traditional cruiser notebook computers. This showcases the emergence of new cruisers where officers will be able to work faster and smarter for their communities.
"Utilizing the BlackBerry PlayBook, Intergraph is bringing useful information to the fingertips of law enforcement officers and emergency responders in a fast, convenient, secure and affordable way," said Paolo DeNarda, Senior Business Development Manager, Research In Motion. "This is another great example of how BlackBerry developers are finding new ways to leverage the power of the BlackBerry solution and add significant value for customers."
Intergraph will be exhibiting in booths 225, 227, 324 and 326 at the CACP Annual Conference, which takes place August 19 – 22, 2012, in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Details can be found online at www.cacpconference.ca.
Ears-on with Klipsch's latest intra-aural headphone lineup: Image S4 (II) series, X7i
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 09:51 PM PDT
Been fancying a new set of in-ear headphones as of late? If you'll recall, it was last week when Klipsch quietly revealed its new $200 Image X7i and a trio of Image S4 (II) series in-ears. Today, after getting our mitts on the new Image One on-ear models at its NYC event, we were able check out the in-ears for the first time. To refresh your memory, the X7i is the company's first set crafted from ceramic materials, featuring balanced-armature drivers and intended as a step-down option from its $350 X10i. The S4 (II) models, on the other hand, are unsurprisingly refreshes of its tried and true S4 line. So if you're interested in finding out more, join us past the break for our detailed impressions.
Since all of the S4 (II) models are acoustically identical, we specifically used the iPhone-focused S4i (equipped with a three-button remote / mic and available in white or black) and Android-purposed S4A (featuring a one-button remote / mic and only available in black), as the $80 S4 lacks an inline remote. In terms of build quality, Klipsch has thankfully gifted the units with slightly thicker, tangle-proof flat cabling, fixing two of our chief complaints with the past versions. No matter how hard we tried, we were happy to find that we couldn't get the cable twisted up at all. Secondly, although the sets still have straight jacks (instead of the 90-degree kind our pockets prefer), the thicker connection should be less prone to shorting out. Sadly, there is still a fair bit of cable-noise while walking around, that is unless you opt for the "sport fit" by wrapping the wires behind your ears.
Although the button layout is different for both models, the casings are essentially the same and a bit chunkier than that of our OG S4i. The added size may seem like an odd change, but we found it easier to find and more pleasant to hold. In terms of sound quality, the units sound almost exactly the same as S4i: a warm sound with pleasant amount of chunky bass that doesn't overwhelm the highs and mids. If anything, we'd say the new versions might be slightly less sibilant in the treble department -- the S4 series' only glaring abnormality sound wise. Furthermore, the headphones are still using Klipsch's super oval-shaped silicone tips, which also helped drown a fair amount of the loud balcony around us.
Moving along to the X7i, we're not sure we'd choose it over the S4 (II) models. The X7i's balanced-armature drivers deliver a flatter response and cleaner sound than the S4s, but as we experienced with the X10i, we're not sure it'll be a drastic improvement to most for the price. This editor found the treble to be much to bright for his tastes -- especially with rock and pop tracks, it became quite jarring unless we toned it down with our Google Music's EQ. The ceramic is pleasantly cool to the touch, and the 'buds themselves feel nearly as slim as the X10i. Because of the tiny size, however, we had to jam them oddly far into our ear canals to get a tight seal no matter which tips we used (single and dual-flange options are offered). Outside of the earpieces, the cabling is identical to that of the S4is. We'll likely spend more time with the X7i and S4 (II) headphones in the future, but for now, you'll find more info in the press release below.
Klipsch Launches Three New Versions of Popular Image™ Series
Headphones
INDIANAPOLIS (August 14, 2012) - Klipsch, a leading global speaker manufacturer, today
announces the launch of new Image™ S4®, Image™ S4i® and Image™ S4A® headphone models
that serve as updated versions to the already in-market products. With their introduction, Klipsch
delivers enhanced product features while maintaining the same acclaimed acoustics and
unrivaled comfort.
The new Image S4, Image S4i and Image S4A present flat cabling for added strength and
tangle resistance, a more streamlined shape and overall improvements in product durability.
Equipped with the patented oval ear tips for which Klipsch is known, each model allows for
hours of comfortable, long-term wear. Unlike circular-shaped ear tips that put stress on the
pressure points inside the ear, Klipsch's patented oval ear tips naturally fit the contours of the
ear canal. These ear tips also offer superior noise isolation (or passive noise-cancellation),
blocking out almost all ambient noise and providing excellent bass.
Each model produces the same award-winning sound signature through an 8.5 mm dual
magnet micro-speaker. This technology covers a wide frequency range and delivers dynamic
detail for the most strikingly realistic sound reproductions of music libraries.
Image S4
The Image S4 is available in a piano black or pristine white finish and comes complete with four
different-sized oval ear tips, a protective carrying case and two-year warranty. The in-ear
headphone is compatible with any portable device that features a standard 3.5mm headphone
jack. The updated Image S4 retails for $79.99 (U.S. MSRP) and will be available at authorized
retailers and http://www.klipsch.com in August 2012.
Image S4i
In addition to its audio functionality with any device housing a 3.5mm headphone jack, the
Image S4i features a three-button remote that houses a directional mic, granting Apple device
users seamless call and music control, as well as crystal clear conversations. Also available in a
black or white finish, the headset carries a two-year warranty and includes four pairs of different-
sized ear tips, a protective carrying case and clothing clip for the remote and mic. The new
Image S4i retails for $99.99 (U.S. MSRP) and will be available at authorized retailers and
http://www.klipsch.com in August 2012.
Image S4A
Catering to Android's™ mobile and tablet users, the Image S4A presents a fully functioning
headset with in-line remote and mic for advanced controls. Upon download of the free Klipsch
Control App, the headset's single-button remote and mic allows users to play, pause and skip
music tracks, answer and end incoming calls, and voice search. Each of these button functions
and more can be customized through the app. Available in a sleek black finish, this model
comes complete with four different-sized oval ear tips, a protective carrying case, clothing clip
and two-year warranty. This Image S4A retails for $99.99 (U.S. MSRP) and will be available at
authorized retailers and http://www.klipsch.com in August 2012.
First Ceramic Headphone Joins the Klipsch Image™ Series
INDIANAPOLIS (August 21, 2012) - Klipsch, a leading global speaker manufacturer, today
announces the launch of the Image™ X7i, the company's first-ever ceramic headphone model.
Offering unique design, unrivalled in-ear comfort and the brand's renowned sound signature, the
Image X7i exemplifies an undeniable personal audio upgrade-especially when compared to
the variety of plastic headphone models currently available in today's market.
In addition to offering a sophisticated, sleek black or white finish with laser-etched logos, the
Image X7i's ceramic composition provides listeners with significant durability. The headphone
employs the brand's newest cabling that offers users a flat surface area for heightened cord
strength and tangle resistance. Adding to its functionality, the Image X7i features a three-button
remote that houses a directional mic, granting Apple device users seamless call and music
control, and crystal clear conversations.
"With the Image X7i's introduction, we aim to deliver a high-design product that stands out
against its similarly priced competitors not possessing the same level of build quality," said Chris
Aiello, Klipsch product manager for headphones. "By taking conscious steps to both uphold and
evolve our Image series throughout the product development process, we have engineered a
product that delivers our sound caliber through deep bass, clear mids and crisp highs, while
delivering a never-before-seen design element from the brand."
Equipped with the patented oval ear tips for which Klipsch is known, the Image X7i allows for
hours of comfortable, long-term wear. Unlike circular-shaped ear tips that put stress on the
pressure points inside the ear, Klipsch's patented oval ear tips naturally fit the contours of the
ear canal, providing comfortable long-term wear. These ear tips also offer superior noise
isolation (or passive noise-cancellation), blocking out almost all ambient noise and providing
excellent bass.
The Image X7i utilizes a proprietary balanced armature driver, presenting advanced audio
technology that covers a wide frequency range and is capable of delivering dynamic detail for
strikingly realistic sound reproductions.
The Image X7i's audio works with virtually any device that has a standard 3.5mm headphone
jack; however, the mic and three-button remote support select Apple products.
Included with purchase are four different-sized oval ear tips, a protective carrying case, clothing
clip for the remote and mic, as well as a two-year warranty. The Image X7i retails for $199.99
(U.S. MSRP) and will be available at authorized retailers and http://www.klipsch.com in August
2012.
Samsung Exynos 5 Dual white paper confirms new high marks for mobile graphics, memory performance
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 09:12 PM PDT
Our SIGGRAPH demo of the ARM Mali-T604 GPU gave a brief preview of Samsung's upcoming Exynos 5 Dual CPU, but now all the details of the company's next great processor are ready for us to view. Other than that GPU which includes support for up to WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) resolutions -- perfect for the 11.8-inch P10 mentioned in court filings -- and much more, the white paper uncovered by Android Authority also mentions support for features like Wi-Fi Display, high bandwidth LPDDR3 RAM running at up to 800MHz with a bandwidth of 12.8GBps, USB 3.0 and SATA III. It also claims the horsepower to decode 1080p video at 60fps in pretty much any codec, stereoscopic 3D plus handle graphics APIs like OpenGL ES 3.0 and OpenCL 1.1. All of this is comes courtesy of a dual-core 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A15 CPU built on the company's 32nm High-K Metal Gate process and Panel Self Refresh technology that avoids changing pixels unnecessarily to reduce power consumption. There's plenty of other buzzwords and benchmarks floating around in the PDF, you can check them out in the PDF linked below or just sit back and see what tablets and phones arrive with one of these -- or the competition from Qualcomm's S4 and NVIDIA's Tegra -- inside starting later this year.
Foursquare brings nearby check-ins back to BlackBerry and iPhone, saves our pub crawls
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 08:45 PM PDT
The Foursquare 5.0 revamp wasn't all good news for some of the location service's most loyal fans: the design quietly scrapped the option to only see check-ins from nearby friends. After much clamoring, Foursquare has found a way to tuck it back in, starting with BlackBerry and iPhone users. A pull or a tap now filters between check-ins worldwide and just those from friends gallivanting around town -- just in case you'd rather not see your international friends enjoying the weekend before you do. Android phone owners will have to take Foursquare's word that their update is "coming soon," but those who can get it today on other platforms will likely appreciate knowing exactly when it's time to join friends at that fourth consecutive bar.
Google, PayPal, VeriFone and US carriers band together to form Mobile Payments Committee
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 07:53 PM PDT
There's little doubt that mobile payments hold a ton of potential for the future of commerce, but without proper direction (and willingness for adoption), the technology remains little more than an impractical curiosity for the majority of consumers. In an effort to define a way forward for the mobile payment industry, a large number of heavy hitters have banded together under the umbrella of the Electronic Transactions Association to form the Mobile Payments Committee. Not only does the group include all four of the top US carriers, but also Google, Isis, VeriFone and PayPal. Add to that financial institutions such as Wells Fargo and Capital One, along with American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa, and you'll quickly realize that this group is playing to win.
Primary goals of the Mobile Payments Committee include fostering relationships with merchants, ensuring consumer access to modern payment methods, exploring best practices and ensuring interoperability of networks, equipment and financial institutions. The group will also engage in lobbying activities with legislators and regulators, and will additionally work to educate both merchants and consumers about the potential of mobile payments. With so many key players (and competitors) sitting around one big table, what wouldn't you give to be a fly on the wall during those meetings? For a little extra insight, just hop the break for the full PR.
ETA Launches Committee To Guide Emerging Mobile Payments Industry
Mobile Payments Committee Will Include All Four Major Mobile Network Operators and Develop and Implement Industry-Wide Solutions for Mobile Payments
WASHINGTON, DC ─ The Electronic Transactions Association, the trade association of the global electronic payments industry, today launched its new Mobile Payments Committee, an industry-wide task force of representatives from top companies in the innovative market of mobile payments, including all four major mobile network operators – AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The Mobile Payments Committee will develop and implement industry-wide solutions to the complex policy and business issues surrounding the emergence of mobile payments in the U.S and globally.
"Mobile payments represent a game-changing business opportunity for our industry, and ETA's mission is to help our member companies succeed in this business," said ETA Chief Executive Officer Jason Oxman. "Our industry must work collaboratively to ensure that the regulatory and business environment promotes innovation and cooperation. As the trade association of the payments industry, ETA is the hub of activity in mobile payments, and our Mobile Payments Committee will help ensure that consumers and merchants have access to an efficient, reliable and secure mobile payments system."
The Mobile Payments Committee is chaired by Jackie Moran, Executive Director of Federal Relations for Verizon, and includes representatives from ETA member companies engaged in all aspects of mobile commerce, including credit card networks, processors, mobile network operators, developers, financial institutions and device manufacturers. ETA also announced today that all four of the nation's major mobile network operators – AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon – have become ETA member companies and will participate in the Mobile Payments Committee.
"As a nascent industry, the mobile payments market is just beginning to realize its full potential as a robust enabler of global electronic commerce," said Moran. "The Mobile Payments Committee is designed to ensure that the early stages of mobile payments are handled in the best possible way: With insight and ingenuity from all the players – private as well as public sector -- involved in the exciting future of mobile payments."
Other ETA member companies participating in the Mobile Payments Committee include Google, Isis, Verizon, Wells Fargo, Capital One, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, PayPal, VeriFone, Intuit, First Data, Panasonic and Neustar. The Mobile Payments Committee will address several issues facing the future of mobile payments, including:
• the business relationships needed to foster innovation and achieve network interoperability among merchants, credit card companies, mobile networks, equipment operators, equipment manufacturers and financial institutions;
• exploring the necessity of "best practices" that ensure merchants and consumers have access to the most innovative and effective mobile payments solutions;
• the education of legislators and regulators developing public policy around mobile payments; and
• the education of merchants and consumers about the potential of mobile payments to provide a
more efficient, reliable and secure experience at the point of purchase.
ETA's Mobile Payments Committee will hold its first meeting in late August and hold regular monthly meetings thereafter. The Committee will frequently update companies engaged in the mobile payments industry as well as policymakers on relevant proposals and solutions. While these proposals will remain voluntary, the Mobile Payments Committee will work with member companies to implement them in a comprehensive manner to ensure that the new field of mobile payments provides consumers and merchants with the best, most reliable, and most secure system.
Apple, Samsung reveal sales data to the court, boast of millions served
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 07:18 PM PDT
Have a smartphone from Seoul or Cupertino riding in the pocket of your jeans? You aren't the only one. New documents filed in Samsung and Apple's ongoing legal battle reveal specific sales data going back several years, confirming something we always knew to be true: there are a lot of devices out there. Samsung's filing reveals that it has sold 21.25 million "accused" phones and 1.4 million tablets from June 2010 to June of this year, and further breaks down the data by device and, in some cases, carrier. The Galaxy S II, for instance, takes the lion's share of US sales with over 4.1 million units sold between all models and carriers. The Epic 4G makes an appearance at 1.89 million sold, and the Captivate totals in at 1.39 million. Finally, the Samsung Prevail lives up to its moniker by netting 2.25 million in sales, lagging only behind the Galaxy S II -- though its $180 asking price brought in significantly less revenue per unit.
Apple's charts are a bit less specific, detailing the total sales of its iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch lines rather than the sales of each specific hardware iteration -- though where it falters in detail it makes up in numbers. U.S. consumers have snatched up 85 million iPhones since 2007, alongside 34 million iPads and 46 million iPod touch devices -- bringing in almost $80 billion in revenue, collectively. Puts those quarterly reports into perspective, doesn't it? Check out both charts in full at the source link below.
SlingPlayer survey hints at possible expansion to game consoles
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 06:31 PM PDT
We haven't exactly been lacking in SlingPlayer-supporting devices as of late, but it looks like the placeshifting service could possibly be set to expand to an entirely new area: game consoles. That word comes from a new Sling survey obtained by Zatz Not Funny, which attempts to gauge customers' interest in a SlingPlayer app for game consoles (it specifically asks if they own an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Wii). As you might expect, however, details are light beyond that, with the survey only mentioning that such an app would let you watch video from your SlingBox in full HD, and that you'd naturally be able to control it with your console's controller. Of course, while it does come directly from Sling itself, it is also still just a survey, so we wouldn't recommend getting your hopes up too much for the time being.
Blake Patterson's Byte Cellar: the ultimate man cave for aspiring geeks
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 05:55 PM PDT
Apple IIGS? Of course. Commodore 64C? You betcha. NeXTstation Turbo Color? Booyah! These three classics are just part of Blake Patterson's tricked-out technology den that's known as the Byte Cellar -- and yes, we're seething with jealousy. Take notes, folks, because this is how it's done. In all, the Byte Cellar currently plays home to 69 computers, video game consoles, PDA's and other noteworthy gadgets. Need to switch between the Atari and the Amiga? Not a problem, as each system is thoughtfully laid out on a workbench that allows one to easily scoot between rigs. Even the walls bleed vintage cred with a Space Invaders motif, rare posters and hardware components from bygone eras.
Be sure to take it all in with a panorama photo that's been linked up below, along with a complete list of the equipment currently in Blake's collection. Regardless of whether you agree with his taste in hardware, one thing is for certain: the man must go through a lot of compressed air.
Researchers use bioimpedance as a biometric, let health monitor devices know who you are
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 05:29 PM PDT
Wouldn't it be great if fitness and medical gadgets automatically knew who was wearing them? Researchers from Dartmouth have come up with a new way to provide health monitors just such an ability using a tiny electric current and a bioimpedance sensor. You see, each person's body provides a different amount of opposition to electrical current, so bioimpedance can be a unique biometric identifier. The researchers' idea is to create a bracelet that uses bioimpedance readings to recognize its wearer in a secure, unobtrusive manner and communicate that identity to other wearable devices.
Using such a bracelet, "the devices discover each other's presence, recognize that they are on the same body (and transitively learn from the wrist device whose body), develop shared secrets from which to derive encryption keys, and establish reliable and secure communications." As opposed to other biometrics or password authentication, bioimpedance readings can be taken passively, which is much more appealing than remembering passcodes or scanning fingerprints and retinas. For now, the researchers have created an eight-electrode proof-of-concept bracelet, but its accuracy leaves something to be desired -- it correctly identifies its wearer only 80 to 90 percent of the time, whereas fingerprint recognition has a failure rate of less than 1 in 1,000. So, we're a ways off from bioimpedance-based security, but research is ongoing, and you can learn all about it at the source below.
Mystery Samsung GT-P8110 tablet passes through the FCC (update: likely not the P10)
Posted: 09 Aug 2012 05:10 PM PDT
We know our fair share about the redesigned Galaxy Note 10.1, but wait -- what's this? Another Samsung tablet, the GT-P8110, has made a trip through the FCC to complicate what was looking to be a simple near-future strategy for the Korean tech giant. The likely Galaxy Tab variant isn't a familiar design by any stretch, with curved sides and the absence of a back antenna window pointing to a change in aesthetics. The wireless features of the 16GB model at the agency are the conservative elements -- there's just 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC. Our only current hint at what the unknown slate might be is a mention of the 11.8-inch P10 in court evidence, but we don't know if that's what the P8110 represents or if the P10 is even on track for 2012, as Samsung's roadmap hinted in the past. We're not counting on Mobile Unpacked to shed any more light on the subject than the FCC does today.
Update: We're less inclined to think it's the P10, since the dimensions as we understand them wouldn't realistically support that 11.8-inch screen.
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