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Engadget News |
- Square CEO hints at Windows Phone app, says Starbucks funding will go toward 'international efforts'
- Google's revamped voice search coming to iOS, tackles Siri on her home turf
- Google Knowledge Graph coming to all English-speaking nations tomorrow, adds lists to results
- PSA: T-Mobile Galaxy Note now available for your purchasing pleasure
- Acer breeds LEDs with lasers, new hybrid projector is born
- Engadget's back to school guide 2012: ultraportables
- iFixit produces repair manual for MacBook Pro with Retina display, tests DIY's limits
- 3D printed 'Magic Arms' give a little girl use of her limbs
- Internet Archive makes 1 million public-domain files available with BitTorrent
- US Government Accountability Office recommends FCC reassess radiation limits for mobile phones
- Exogear's Exovolt Plus 'stackable' battery pack claims to be the first of its kind
- Evernote updates for iOS, adds tap anywhere to edit
- Windows Photo Gallery and Movie Maker refresh: Vimeo integration, camera stabilization
- Intel's Thin Mini-ITX platform gets stuffed inside a monitor
- New Sony Xperia T photos bare all, show its 'Mint' condition
- Meet the Vers 1Q: the wooden, portable Bluetooth speaker gets Kickstarted, ships this November
- Nikon makes $201 million quarterly profit, nearly 50 percent drop from last year, blames strong yen
- Is this the Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Image posted on official site looks worryingly familiar
- IDC: Android and iOS continue to carve up the world, another record quarter for smartphones
- Live streams come to Cablevision's Optimum App for the Kindle Fire
- Verizon's 'secret menu' Share Everything plans offer 20GB for $150
- Scientists generate 281-gigapixel cell map using electron microscope
- Dell debuts new 27-inch U2713HM monitor: its first AH-IPS panel, $799 (updated)
- Apple seizes on Samsung internal document as proof of mimicry
- Dropbox now lets you print documents at FedEx Office retail stores, online too
- Windows 8 RTM will include 'do not track' by default for Internet Explorer 10
- Starbucks switches to Square for payments, invests $25 million and will support Pay with Square
- Amazon, Apple stop taking key account changes over the phone after identity breach
- Google Now hits some rooted devices, adds topping to your Ice Cream Sandwich
- Aereo doubles DVR space to 80 hours for early adopters
- Sony's Nasne TV tuner finally set to go on sale later this month in Japan
- Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook gets official: on sale August 21st for $1,399 and up
- SiriusXM launches On Demand radio, gives offline access to iOS apps
- Road safety project simTD connects cars, infrastructure. Hopes to save lives, time
- Facebook SDK 3.0 for iOS arrives in finished form, mobile ads tag along in beta
- appBlaster 2.0 gets friendly with Android handsets, brings new AR features
- Google Maps adds live traffic for over 130 cities, boosts existing coverage
- MetroPCS lights up Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services, starts selling LG Connect 4G
- Sony takes SOEmote live for EverQuest II, lets gamers show their true CG selves (video)
- Throwaway NFC keyboard improves productivity, reduces bank balance
| Square CEO hints at Windows Phone app, says Starbucks funding will go toward 'international efforts' Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:46 AM PDT As you probably have heard -- it's created quite some buzz, after all -- Starbucks just announced a partnership with Square to accept mobile payments via the Pay with the Square app. That's huge news for Square, which currently processes transactions for some 75,000 merchants, as the coffee retailer is one of the largest national chains to integrate with the payment service. At a breakfast in New York today, Square CEO and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz fielded questions about the partnership's importance. While most of the talk centered on the rollout that will bring Square payments to 7,000 Starbucks stores ahead of the holiday season, the discussion also touched upon other areas of expansion for the mobile payments company. Currently, the Pay with Square app is only available on iOS and Android. Asked whether a Windows Phone app is in the making, Dorsey said, "We will definitely build for where the users are, and we're excited about the Windows Phone interface." Take that as you will. Starbucks will start accepting Square payments ahead of the holiday season, and Dorsey said the coffee retailer's $25 million investment will be used for hiring and to expand "international efforts." Starbucks, which has 18,000 stores in 60 countries, would certainly be a natural partner in any overseas plans. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google's revamped voice search coming to iOS, tackles Siri on her home turf Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:33 AM PDT Google has been offering the ability to search the web with your voice using its iOS app for some time. But, it always just spit out a pile of links. While the next version wont be getting quite as creepy as Google Now, it'll be bringing with it the vocalized responses that debuted as part of Jelly Bean's revamped search offerings. The UI is also getting an overhaul to bring it inline with Now and Mountain View's recent aesthetic tendencies towards sharp lines and limited color schemes. Obviously, the new app also taps the Knowledge Graph, allowing you to make natural language queries like, "what's the weather like in San Francisco," and get a detailed vocalized response. According to Google the update should be hitting the App Store in "the next few days," but don't expect it to keep tabs on your favorite sports team for you.
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| Google Knowledge Graph coming to all English-speaking nations tomorrow, adds lists to results Posted: 08 Aug 2012 10:07 AM PDT Google launched its contextual and intelligent search service, Knowledge Graph, only a few months ago. Till now, it's been limited in its availability and, while most nations will still be left out, tomorrow it will be coming to all "English-speaking" countries. The ability to discern your intended search goal and present you with relevant information immediately, as opposed to just a page of links, is the next step in search technology and the secret sauce powering the somewhat creepy Google Now in Jelly Bean. The Graph has also received a few few enhancements and tweaks, including the ability to answer queries with collections and lists. So, say you're looking for rides in Disney World, a thumbnail of every attraction will appear at the top in a horizontally scrollable list. How much longer till our Spanish, French or Chinese speaking pals can get in on the action? That's anyone's guess. But, if English is the native tongue of your home, then rest assured your flavor of Google has just gotten a little bit smarter.
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| PSA: T-Mobile Galaxy Note now available for your purchasing pleasure Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:58 AM PDT It's August 8th: do you know where your Samsung Galaxy Note is? If you're a T-Mobile customer, the fantastically famed phablet is now ready to drain your finances. Feel free to head into your local store or go online -- if the idea of a sequel coming in three weeks doesn't deter you from plunking down $250 in exchange for a fresh two-year commitment. Head to the source below to begin your shopping adventure. Note (no pun intended): Walmart is offering the T-Mobile Galaxy Note for $350 with no contract attached. We're not sure if this is a limited-time deal, but it's strongly worth considering. [Thanks, Joe!] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acer breeds LEDs with lasers, new hybrid projector is born Posted: 08 Aug 2012 09:33 AM PDT Acer usually graces our pages for its pico projector range, but the company's taken a leaf out of the high-end book for its latest non-portable model, the K750 LED-laser hybrid. The world's first combo projector spits out 1080p, just as you would expect, at a contrast ratio of up to 100,000:1. Acer claims the color brightness, saturation and fidelity are significantly better than mercury lamps, and appears to be leaning towards the business and education markets, citing the K750's instant on / off capability to sway the productive types. If you fancy one of these in your house, however, better start saving your cash -- AVForums claims it'll be available in the UK later this month bearing a price tag of around £1,700 (approximately $2,650). Acer Debuts World's First 1080p Hybrid LED-Laser Projector - Unique mercury-free technology improves brightness, color, and light-source lifetime The Acer K750 is the world's first 1080p projector equipped with a hybrid laser-LED light technology, improving color saturation by 55% to deliver outstanding, energy efficient projection. The K750 projector uses both LED and laser light sources, which is not only hazardous substances free - like mercury of halogen gases – but also significantly improves color brightness when compared to high-pressure mercury lamps. This technology also increases the light-source lifetime to 20,000 hours in ExtremeECO mode and enables as much as 90% power savings, helping to reduce TCO over its life, thus positioning the K750 as one of the most environmental friendly projectors. What's more, this innovative hybrid light-source technology enables flexible color settings and a wider color gamut to deliver better color saturation up to 85% NTSC and offers superior color fidelity through a system of three independent color lighting sources. With a brightness of up to 1,500 lumens and a contrast ratio up to 100,000:1 projects perfect and crispy content, while the 1080p Full HD resolution allows enjoying HDTV and watching Blu-ray movies in fantastic clarity and detail. The HDMI® port delivers uncompressed digital signals and multi-channel audio, providing easy connectivity to high-definition presentation and entertainment. In addition to it, the K750 projector is equipped with at least two connectors for multiple-PC source input, including D-Sub and HDMI®, offering more flexible connectivity and instant switching. In order to empower usability, the K750 features instant on/off capability, which means no cool-down period is needed after turning the projector off. This is an important productivity feature especially in the business and education world. Moreover, the Acer SmartFormat technology instantly synchronizes with wide-format displays without any resolution adjustments from the notebook, while supporting multi-format for instant projection. This projector sports an elegant gray-and-white portable design: the control pad is embedded on the sleek gray and metal surface, reflecting Acer's premium craftsmanship; the sculpted lines on the ventilation grill add sophistication to the design, while the smooth, rounded contours provide a comfortable touch. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget's back to school guide 2012: ultraportables Posted: 08 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 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 August we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- you can hit up the hub page right here! Given their roots -- luxury machines like the original MacBook Air ($1,800) and last year's Samsung Series 9 ($1,649) -- you'd be forgiven if you initially dismissed Ultrabooks as being too extravagant for a college-bound student. Thankfully, though, prices have sunk so low that you can now find a thin, fast, ultraportable laptop for as little as $700. The only problem, perhaps, is a paradox of choice: the selection is already crowded with dozens of contenders, and there are 100-some-odd more models in the pipeline, according to Intel. Fortunately for you, dear readers, we've had the chance to handle or even review many of them, and were able to whittle down the offerings to a handful of promising contenders. Whether you're prepared to spend $750 or $1,400, we have something that'll fit the bill. On the cheap
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| | From $1,400 on HP.com | | $1,300 on Amazon |
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iFixit produces repair manual for MacBook Pro with Retina display, tests DIY's limits
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 08:36 AM PDT
While we've been fans of the MacBook Pro with Retina display, iFixit hasn't been so keen -- a company based around DIY repairs isn't fond of a system where most components are glued or soldered into place. That hasn't stopped the team from developing a repair manual for those who want to give maintenance a try. A total of 16 guides show us how to disassemble or remove those parts that stand a realistic chance of leaving the system unscathed. While that does include some key components, iFixit continues to fly some caution flags: getting to one part often requires taking apart others, and removing the battery carries the very real possibility of permanent damage. If you'd still prefer to upgrade the SSD yourself (when an option) than pay Apple more for a custom order, there's now a helping hand for your thriftiness.
3D printed 'Magic Arms' give a little girl use of her limbs
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 08:09 AM PDT
Don't get us wrong, we adore 3D printers and the whole additive manufacturing movement. But, if all you're going to get out of the ABS-jets are some companion cubes and a raptor claw, well then, we don't think there's much hope for the technology. Thankfully there are people out there (much better people than us, we might add), who have turned to 3D printers to actually improve peoples lives. Take, for example, the tale of two-year-old Emma, born with the congenital disorder arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC). The disease causes a person's joints to become locked in a single position, in Emma's case, it was her arms. There are prosthetics that can help, but most are made of metal -- including the anchor vest -- which would make them too heavy for a 25-pound girl.
Instead of going off the shelf, doctors turned to a 3D printer from Stratasys to create custom molded parts and a lightweight vest for Emma. The result: the two-year-old who once could not lift her arms is now able to play, color and feed herself. Printing the parts also solves another major issue -- Emma is growing... quickly. The adorable tot has already outgrown her first vest, but her mother just calls the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and has a new one made. The same goes for replacement parts. Should a hinge or brace break, it need only be a matter of hours (not days or weeks) before a new one is delivered. For more details check out the heartwarming video after the break.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Internet Archive makes 1 million public-domain files available with BitTorrent
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 07:46 AM PDT
The Internet Archive is making over a million pieces of archived content available through BitTorrent. The site's collection of public-domain books, audio and video is being added and tracked -- with Asimov's Foundation Trilogy, Plan 9 From Outer Space and Night of the Living Dead among the top 25 most popular downloads. Unfortunately, it'll be a while until Manos: The Hands of Fate falls out of copyright, but it's something we've got to look forward to.
[Original Image: The I.T. Crowd / TalkBack Thames]
The Internet Archive Releases over 1,000,000 Files of Freely Downloadable Music, Movies and Books Using BitTorrent® Software
Non-profit digital library turns to BitTorrent to make its materials available to the world
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today the Internet Archive, a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge", is making over one million pieces of archived content available to the world via the BitTorrent protocol.
"Thank you to BitTorrent and its community for evolving such a useful technology to distribute public materials quickly, efficiently, and inexpensively."
The Internet Archive offers permanent storage of and free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and over 2 million public-domain books. Today all of the archives' live music concerts, the Prelinger movie collection, the librivox audio book collection, feature films, old time radio, lots of books, and all new community uploads will be available as torrent files.
BitTorrent protocol-based software is the now fastest way to download complete items from the Archive, because the BitTorrent client downloads simultaneously from two different Archive servers located in two different datacenters, and from other Archive users who have downloaded these torrents.
"We're committed to building a sustainable future that empowers creative content, effects the social good and ultimately persuades institutional change," said Eric Klinker, chief executive officer for BitTorrent. "We were happy to find that our interests align with those of the Internet Archive as we strive to protect and maintain society's cultural artifacts - creating new ways to discover media and share it worldwide. Combined with the vast amount of content from the Internet Archive and the size and scope of the BitTorrent community, this is truly a worthy cause and we look forward to continuing to build new content solutions for the digital world."
Said Brewster Kahle, founder and digital librarian for Internet Archive, "Thank you to BitTorrent and its community for evolving such a useful technology to distribute public materials quickly, efficiently, and inexpensively."
The distributed nature of BitTorrent protocol-based swarms and their ability to retrieve torrent files from local peers may be of particular value to patrons with slower access to the Archive, for example those outside the United States or inside institutions with slow connections.
To download the torrent file from an archive.org details page, click the torrent link at the bottom of the download box; your BitTorrent protocol-based client can use the torrent file you get to download all the files in the Archive item, including the original item files, plus all derivative and metadata files. Individual files can be selected (or deselected) from the list within most BitTorrent protocol-based clients, allowing torrent files to be used to retrieve both an entire item, or, a specific subset of files within it.
The Internet Archive is already starting to track some BitTorrent statistics, which can be fun to watch.
US Government Accountability Office recommends FCC reassess radiation limits for mobile phones
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 07:23 AM PDT
As potential cause for concern, the US GAO has also identified a failure of current testing methodologies. Put simply, manufacturers are currently required to submit specific absorption rates that reflect usage against both the head and body, however in the case of the body test, this is always done with the assumption of a holster. While a distance of 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters may not seem like much, SAR values increase with proximity, and many who use their mobile phones in their pockets -- say, with a Bluetooth headset -- are at risk of exposing themselves to RF limits that exceed current guidelines. The actual absorption rates are currently unknown.
For its part, the FCC has responded to the US GAO and asserts that it has independently arrived at many of the same conclusions, and adds that it has initiated the procedural requirements necessary for the reevaluation of RF safety rules. Those who'd like to learn more can scour the complete recommendation, along with Rep. Kucinich's proposal, at the source links below.
Exogear's Exovolt Plus 'stackable' battery pack claims to be the first of its kind
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 07:01 AM PDT
We've seen (and tested) a fair share of interesting power packs during our time, and Exogear's hoping to make a mark of its own in this very juicy department with what the outfit's calling "the world's first" stackable battery pack. The newly minted Exovolt Plus consists of a main 5,200 mAh kit, which can then be paired -- or, in this particular case, stacked -- alongside a "Sub Battery" unit to create the ultimate portable charging station. One thing worth noting, though, is that each extra stack will be sold separately for nearly $50, while the essential Exovolt Plus is set to run at about $90 minus some change. Given its universal capabilities (30-pin, USB and micro-USB), something tells us the Exovolt Plus won't have trouble landing any suitors despite its somewhat hefty price tag. Still, you'll have to wait a little while before you can snag one of these, as it's currently listed as "coming soon," and its creator's yet to reveal when we can expect it to go on sale.
Evernote updates for iOS, adds tap anywhere to edit
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 06:32 AM PDT
If there's one thing that perpetually frustrates us about Evernote on mobile devices, it's the inability to simply start editing a note when we open it up. As is, you've got open one, then tap the edit button, then you can navigate to the portion of the note you want to tweak. Not exactly the most efficient of workflows. That's finally changed, on the iPad and iPhone at least, and simply tapping anywhere in an entry will immediately open the editing tool, with the cursor exactly where you tapped. It may seem like a minor tweak, but it's one that should help address one of the primarily complaints about the note-taking service's mobile apps -- a lack of convenience. Now, we just hope the same update heads to Android devices. And sooner, rather than later.
Windows Photo Gallery and Movie Maker refresh: Vimeo integration, camera stabilization
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 06:03 AM PDT
Microsoft's stalwart Photo Gallery and Movie Maker won't be hitting high-end studios anytime soon, but a new refresh for Windows 7 and 8 adds useful features that the teeming masses might appreciate. Topping the list for Movie Maker is video stabilization, which fixes camera jitter and "wobble" or rolling shutter -- a desperately needed feature for free software chockablock with shaky soccer mom and skater videos. Redmond has also added audio waveforms and an extra narration track, simple audio cleanup tools and text effects to the video editor.
As for Photo Gallery, the only new tool of note is "auto collage" which should let you create spectacularly cheesy montages using seven or more photos, regardless of artistic talent or effort. Finally, the software giant announced Vimeo as its new "publish partner," letting you upload your Gadget Cribs rip-offs from either program directly to the site. Let's see if the video hoster figures out a way to cordon off the onslaught of new freeware riff-raff from its regular hipster / film school crowd.
Intel's Thin Mini-ITX platform gets stuffed inside a monitor
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 05:31 AM PDT
You don't have to build custom motherboards and source specialty components to build a sleek all-in-one PC. At least not anymore, thanks to Intel's Thin Mini-ITX platform, which it debuted roughly a year ago at Computex. The main board is the same footprint as Mini-ITX (that's a 6.7-inch square), but it calls for a much shallower construction -- with horizontally stacked RAM and a shorter port cluster to keep the whole thing under an inch tall. To maintain its sleek physique, Intel pairs the desktop-class Core processor at the heart with a laptop-style heatsink and fan. It's a pretty interesting standard from Chipzilla, which Tech Report ripped into, peeling back all it's layers like a silicon onion. The layout of all the essential jacks does pose a bit of an issue once the whole thing is set up, but its hard not to be impressed by the elegance and simplicity of the system. To see the whole thing torn down, then reassembled inside the chassis of an LCD panel, hit up the source link.
New Sony Xperia T photos bare all, show its 'Mint' condition
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 05:02 AM PDT
If we didn't know better, we'd say that Sony was playing some sort of protracted game of hang-man with its Xperia line. S... P... U... and now possibly T? It's the phone bearing that latest letter in the cryptic message that we see before us today. In fact -- thanks to nixanbal.com -- we can see it from pretty much every conceivable angle. The S4-powered droid -- complete with foldout memory card slot and protruding camera -- is tipped to be announced pre-IFA, so we'll no doubt have the full skinny then. In the meantime head past the break -- and then tap the source -- to see the minty-phone in all its glory.
Meet the Vers 1Q: the wooden, portable Bluetooth speaker gets Kickstarted, ships this November
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 04:31 AM PDT
If you're in the market for a battery-powered speaker and are willing to splurge a bit, then you'd be wise to check out the 1Q from Vers. The diminutive, 3-inch cube-shaped music system is said to provide some impressive tunes all by its lonesome, but it can also be paired with another 1Q to provide true stereo sound. Also, thanks to a 3.5mm headphone jack and Bluetooth connectivity, the little guy is sure to work with any number of devices. Naturally, much of the 1Q's allure is due to its hand-crafted wooden enclosure, which is available in walnut and bamboo varieties. The Vers 1Q has eight days left in its Kickstarter funding phase, but it's not like the project will need your help across the finish line: it's already surpassed the goal nine times over. Fortunately for you, this provides an opportunity to snag a 1Q for just $95; when it hits the market in November, the speaker will retail for $120. For even more details, be sure to hit up the PR after the break.
VERS, INC REVEALS THE 1Q, A HAND-CRAFTED WOOD BLUETOOTH SOUND SYSTEM
Compact, powerful speaker delivers warm, natural sound from any mobile device; successfully funded on Kickstarter
Saxonville, Mass. – August 7, 2012 – Vers, Inc., a creator of compact, hand-crafted wood sound systems and mobile accessories, is excited to announce the 1Q, a Bluetooth sound system that can fit in the palm of your hand. It has dramatically surpassed its initial funding goal on Kickstarter, and will begin shipping this Fall.
"The response to the 1Q on Kickstarter has been simply amazing, and has exceeded our expectations 10X," says David Laituri, founder of Vers and 1Q designer. "We've also gotten a lot of feedback for our approach from the Kickstarter community, a great co-development experience for everyone at Vers!"
The 1Q is wrapped in a 3" wood cube, and connects to any mobile device (smart phones, tablets, laptops and more) through Bluetooth v2.1. It's the perfect, portable speaker system for anyone who wants to bring along their favorite music. The sound reproduction of wood is unmatched, as it provides a natural warmth.
The 1Q has a 30-foot range, and a rechargeable battery that lasts over 10 hours. The 1Q also has a built-in auto switching capability to convert from mono to stereo when two units are linked to create a micro stereo.
For each tree used in production, 100 are replanted through Vers' partnership with The Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forestry Service. "We're excited to be able to go beyond simply achieving sustainability with 1Q, to helping restore the environment where it's needed the most," says Laituri.
The Vers 1Q comes in Walnut, Bamboo, and a limited Kickstarter red Beech edition. It will retail for $119.99. You can see a full list of pledge options by checking out the 1Q Kickstarter page.
Nikon makes $201 million quarterly profit, nearly 50 percent drop from last year, blames strong yen
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 03:47 AM PDT
Nikon's odd financial calendar means that the camera maker is announcing its first quarter results for 2013. The confusingly-dated documents show that it isn't having the best Spring / Summer, since while it pulled in a net profit of $201 million, that figure is down nearly 50 percent on the $392 million it made in the same period last year. It sold a record number of interchangeable-lens cameras, lenses and a good number of compact cameras, but that was offset against the high cost of the yen.
Its other businesses, Precision Equipment and Instruments both suffered thanks to Government spending cuts, a "harsh business climate" and the now age-old problem of the high exchange rate. It's expecting the situation to remain the same in the next three months, with booming camera sales weight against losses in its other businesses -- with a projected profit of $143 million anticipated in Q3.
Is this the Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Image posted on official site looks worryingly familiar
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 03:44 AM PDT
Hmmm, this is a strange one. Samsung Pakistan just posted the above pic on its official Facebook page. The caption reads, "Picture perfect view made even more perfect with Samsung Galaxy S3," but the picture clearly isn't of a GS III. So, what is it? It's big, that's for sure, and the bezel is quite the opposite. Dare we hope it's a next-gen Galaxy Note, or is it simply render fodder that has been re-posted by Samsung accidentally? There's one big reason to be skeptical, which is that this exact same pic already did the rounds as a potential GS III image before that flagship was launched. The only difference here is that it's on an official outlet, which implies the jpeg in question could be sitting on a member of staff's hard drive.
Oh, and since our brows are already furrowed with doubt, we may as well throw in another rumor that's going about today, which might actually connect with the notion of a thin bezel and no home button. Korea Times is reporting that the Galaxy Note 2 will have a slightly expanded 5.5-inch display that just happens to be flexible -- or at least curved by the time it leaves the factory. We can't vouch for the trustworthiness of their sources, especially since we're still waiting on that 7.85-inch iPad Mini, but then again, Samsung has been exploring flexible AMOLED for ages, not to mention bezel-free panels (see More Coverage).
Update: And just like that, the Samsung Pakistan Facebook page has disappeared. For the sake of posterity (not least our own), we've kept a record of it after the break. Roll on, August 29th.
Update: As keen-eyed commenters have spotted, the page has re-appeared with the photo now captioned as a "Galaxy Note." Mind-boggling.
Update: Now the Facebook pic is truly dead. It's almost a relief. We've linked the main Samsung Pakistan page instead.
[Thanks, Kashif and Leonard]
IDC: Android and iOS continue to carve up the world, another record quarter for smartphones
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 03:29 AM PDT
According to IDC's latest figures, Android and iOS now account for 85 percent of the 152 million smartphones shipped in Q2 2012. Google's OS powered 68.1 percent of all smartphones sold -- with Samsung making the hardware behind for just under half of those. Apple's smartphones now claim a 16.9 percent marketshare and while plenty of phone shoppers are holding out for the iPhone's next iteration, iOS still saw double-digit growth in Q2. There's more bad news for both BlackBerry and Symbian platforms, which, combined, accounted for less than 10 percent of all smartphones shipped last quarter. Windows Phone 7, meanwhile, hasn't quite made it to that hallowed third place it reckons it deserves. The mobile OS continues to grow, however, albeit at a gentler rate than both iOS and Android. Microsoft's likely pinning its hopes on the adjustable widgets and meatier specifications of Windows Phone 8 to draw in some new customers this fall.
Live streams come to Cablevision's Optimum App for the Kindle Fire
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 03:02 AM PDT
The Optimum App for the Kindle Fire has served Cablevision customers in search of a second screen for some time now, but now it's more like its siblings on iOS, PC or Mac. What we mean is that now it can stream live and on demand content subscribed to via your Cablevision service. That's the good news, the catch is that you have to be connected to your home network for the live streams to work, but at least all the channels are available, rather than a subset like some providers. Of course if you aren't interested in watching video on the small screen, you can still use the aforementioned Kindle Fire app as a remote as well as to manage your DVR or discover new content while the action plays on the big screen for the rest of those in your home to enjoy.
CABLEVISION LAUNCHES POPULAR OPTIMUM APP ON KINDLE FIRE
Latest Device To Be Enabled With Groundbreaking App Featuring Complete Array Of Live TV And On Demand Programming, Interactive Guide Information, DVR Management And Other Key Elements
BETHPAGE, NY – August 7, 2012 – Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today announced the launch of its popular Optimum App on the Kindle Fire. The Optimum App for Kindle Fire allows cable television customers to watch all the channels they subscribe to live when connected to their home network, in addition to all of the On Demand content they receive as part of their cable television service. The app also includes additional features like an enhanced guide, the ability to use the Kindle Fire as a remote control for conventional televisions in the home and also to manage DVR recordings and schedule new recordings, right from the device.
The Optimum App – the first and still only from any cable provider to make a customer's full cable service available on an array of smaller devices functioning as televisions in the home – is now available on Apple iOS devices (iPad, iPhone and iPod touch), Mac and PC laptop computers and the Kindle Fire. A previous version available on Kindle Fire included guide information and DVR scheduling, but not the ability to watch live or On Demand programming.
"When we launched the Optimum App on the iPad a year ago, we said we planned to bring it to every screen in the home capable of functioning as a television, and now the Kindle Fire has joined that expanding list, our first Android deployment," said Bradley Feldman, Cablevision's vice president of video product management. "We are pleased to enable our app on another device in the home, with an emphasis on program discovery, advanced category filtering, and personalized ratings and recommendations, to help customers further unlock the value of Optimum."
Optimum App for Kindle includes features like:
Live TV and On Demand – customers can experience the channels they receive as part of their home cable television service, live, when connected to their home network, as well as all the On Demand programming that is part of their monthly service.
Enhanced User Interface and Channel Guide – customers can review and search through program listings, filter listings across a variety of categories and then choose to watch on the Kindle Fire or use the device to control conventional television sets in the house.
DVR Management – customers can use the Optimum App to manage previously-recorded DVR content, or schedule new recordings.
Program Ratings and Recommendations – customers can use the app to rate programs they are watching, and receive viewing recommendations that become more accurate based on previous ratings.
Parental Controls, Closed Captioning and other options in settings.
Cablevision customers have downloaded the Optimum App more than one million times so far.
Verizon's 'secret menu' Share Everything plans offer 20GB for $150
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 02:18 AM PDT
Like Starbucks' Short Latté, Fatburger's Hypocrite and Wendy's Meat Cube, Verizon is offering its own not-so-secret menu on its Share Everything data plans. Big V's Brenda Raney told Computerworld that there are five more tiers beyond the 10GB top-limit shown on the company's website -- that are only available if you ask on the phone or in stores. The options run from 12GB for $110 all the way to 20GB for $150, but only as long as you've agreed the limit in advance of blowing all that data. If not, then you'll be spending another $150 in penalty charges for your overage. There's no official word if you need to offer a secret password or handshake, but we'd do it anyway -- if only to feel a bit like James Bond.
Scientists generate 281-gigapixel cell map using electron microscope
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 01:32 AM PDT
Electron microscopes can produce incredibly detailed and even 3D views of sub-cellular structures, but often at the cost of losing the bigger picture. Researchers at Leiden University in the Netherlands, however, have leveraged a technique called virtual nanoscopy that enables researchers to observe the whole of a cell and its intricate details in a single image. With the method, the team stitches together nanometer resolution photographs of what's gone under the scope to create a map with adjustable zoom a la Google Maps. Their study created a 281-gigapixel image (packed with 16 million pixels per inch) of a 1.5-millimeter-long zebrafish embryo. If you'd like to take a gander at the ultra-high resolution fish or read up on the group's findings for yourself, check out the source links below.
Dell debuts new 27-inch U2713HM monitor: its first AH-IPS panel, $799 (updated)
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 12:45 AM PDT
What's this? Appearing on its Japanese blog, ahead of any English language announcement, Dell's new monitor pairs a backlit LED with a 27-inch AH-IPS display. The U2713HM marks the company's first Advanced High Performance IPS panel, which cranks viewing angles up to 178 degrees and adds Dell's name to a pretty exclusive list of manufacturers. The screen can output up to 2,560 x 1,440 (WQHD) resolution, with Dell promising a 37 percent reduction in energy consumption compared to the preceding U2711. If you've got HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA or DVI-D, you'll likely be well-prepared for the monitor, which also has a four-port USB 3.0 hub embedded. However, that high-quality panel corresponds with a suitably high price tag; on the other side of the Pacific, the U2713HM has been marked up at 50,000 yen and is available starting today.
Update: Dell has now announced pricing for the US. This UltraSharp slab will set you back just shy of 800 bucks. Visit the source to get your order in.
Apple seizes on Samsung internal document as proof of mimicry
Posted: 08 Aug 2012 12:04 AM PDT
As much as Apple would love for Kwon Oh-hyun to turn up at court and tearfully confess to being a copycat, that's probably not going to happen. Instead, Cupertino's lawyers are burrowing through Samsung's history in search of a legal smoking gun, and one of their latest submissions has been presented as just that. It's a 132-page document written in 2010 by Sammy engineers that directly compares the iPhone against the Galaxy S and makes recommendations about how the latter should be more like the former. The excerpt shown above, which focuses on the aesthetics of icons on the rival handsets, even appears to contain advice about how Samsung should copy Apple without appearing to copy them so much, whereas the full document embedded after the break reveals how all-encompassing the internal guidance was. On the flip-side, Samsung may well argue that any responsible company should compare itself to its competition in this manner, and you can bet there's an army of lawyers beavering away right now to make that sound convincing.
[Thanks, Alex]
Dropbox now lets you print documents at FedEx Office retail stores, online too
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 11:22 PM PDT
The cloud locker behemoth that is Dropbox has taken to Twitter to announce it's now allowing users to "easily" print documents at FedEx Office stores, both retail and online. But just how "easy" is it, really? Well, the physical deal's fairly simple: head over to the nearest FedEx Office shop and self-serve yourself to a friendly three-step method, which includes picking Dropbox as the service of choice (there's also Box and Google Docs), entering the appropriate credentials and, naturally, selecting whatever doc you're looking to print out. Unfortunately, both companies failed to mention how much the handy service will cost, but we can't imagine it'd be much different -- if at all-- than the fees you're accustomed to now.
Windows 8 RTM will include 'do not track' by default for Internet Explorer 10
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 10:31 PM PDT
Many advertisers weren't thrilled when Microsoft proclaimed that 'do not track' would be the default for Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8, but that reaction hasn't made the folks in Redmond flinch. Brendon Lynch, the company's Chief Privacy Officer, announced that the 'do not track' default is already baked into the code of the October-bound operating system that has been released to manufacturers. Upon booting Windows 8 for the first time, users will be greeted with a choice between "Express Settings" or "Customize," the former of which has "do not track" enabled. IE 10 on Windows 7 will receive a similar treatment, with a "prominent notice" about the setting being switched on appearing alongside a link to additional information. Despite Microsoft's efforts, it's possible that advertisers could ignore the web browser setting if they feel their negotiations have been for naught. Considering the response to Microsoft's initial default announcement, we suspect this won't be the last development in the saga.
[Image credit: Tomas Fano, Flickr]
Starbucks switches to Square for payments, invests $25 million and will support Pay with Square
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 09:40 PM PDT
While Square's mobile payment processing platform has already picked up some major players in retail to go along with more than a million small businesses, its biggest shot in the arm to date is a new partnership with Starbucks. The chain will use Square to process credit card payments in nearly 7,000 US locations along with investing $25 million in the company, while Starbucks president, chairman and CEO Howard Shulz is joining its Board of Directors. Also notable for Square is that this fall Starbucks will be pushing features like its Pay with Square app that lets customers pay via iOS and Android apps, as well as the Square Directory of local businesses. In a letter, Square CEO Jack Dorsey pushed the platform as a way enhance local businesses and communities, but we'll see how friendly your local coffeeshop employees are when a familiar green logo shares their payment processor.
Starbucks Accelerates Mobile Payments Leadership by Choosing Square for Payments
Groundbreaking Partnership to Stimulate Small Business Growth and Enhance Payment Experience for Millions of Customers
SEATTLE and SAN FRANCISCO, – August 8, 2012 – Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX), with its leading mobile payment platform, and Square, the company revolutionizing everyday transactions between buyers and sellers, announced a broad innovative partnership to bring the best possible payment experience to both sides of the Starbucks counter.
The partnership terms include:
Customers will be able to use Pay with Square, Square's payer application, from participating company operated U.S. Starbucks stores later this fall, and find nearby Starbucks locations within Square Directory;
Square will process Starbucks U.S. credit and debit card transactions, which will significantly expand Square's scale and accelerate the benefits to businesses on the Square platform, especially small businesses, while reducing Starbucks payment processing costs;
Using Square Directory, Starbucks customers will be able to discover local Square businesses -- from specialty retailers to crafts businesses -- from within a variety of Starbucks digital platforms, including the Starbucks Digital Network and eventually the Starbucks mobile payment application;
Starbucks will invest $25 million in Square as part of the company's Series D financing round;
Starbucks chairman, president and ceo Howard Schultz will join Square's Board of Directors.
By accepting Pay with Square, Starbucks is giving millions of customers another way to enjoy a quick and seamless payment experience at approximately 7,000 Starbucks stores. The partnership will also accelerate the ability of small businesses to grow with Square's innovative technology and a stronger and more widely available Square network.
"As the largest retail mobile payment platform in the U.S., we're excited and proud to accept payments with Square," said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo. "The evolving social and digital media platforms and highly innovative and relevant payment capabilities are causing seismic changes in consumer behavior and creating equally disruptive opportunities for business. Both Starbucks and Square take a similar approach when building products and running our businesses, and together we can bring the best possible payment experience to Starbucks customers."
"We're proud that Starbucks chose Square, as we share the value of always putting customers first," said Jack Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of Square. "More than 2 million individuals and businesses can already use Square. This partnership will accelerate our ability to provide them with the tools they need to grow their business and thrive in today's economy."
Beginning this fall, in addition to the existing iPhone® and Android™ Starbucks mobile payment applications, Starbucks customers will be able to use Pay with Square to pay for their purchases at participating company operated Starbucks locations in the U.S. Customers simply need to download the Pay with Square application and set up an account on their iPhone® or Android™ device.
More than two-thirds of the 27 million small businesses in the U.S. currently do not accept credit or debit cards, in large part because of the expensive interchange fees associated with payment processing, cumbersome application process and required credit checks. Square enables merchants of any size – from sole proprietors to national retailers – to accept credit and debit cards.
"As an entrepreneur, I understand how critical it is for new businesses to have easy and affordable access to card processing while also giving customers a choice in how they pay," Schultz continued. "Because Square's revolutionary technology allows anyone to accept credit and debit cards, it gives entrepreneurs an essential tool to jump-start their business while providing existing small companies access to new customers. This development can play a vital role in spurring small business growth and hiring, which remains one of our country's most important issues."
About Starbucks Corporation
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.
About Square, Inc.
Square is revolutionizing millions of everyday transactions between buyers and sellers with its free credit card reader for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, allowing anyone to accept credit cards anywhere, anytime. Square Register serves as a full point-of-sale system for businesses to accept payments, track inventory, and share menu and location information. Pay with Square is the most seamless way to pay, enabling individuals to pay with their names at their favorite local merchants, discover nearby businesses, explore menu listings, and store receipts. Founded in 2009, and headquartered in San Francisco, Square is currently available only in the U.S. More information is available at squareup.com.
Amazon, Apple stop taking key account changes over the phone after identity breach
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 08:40 PM PDT
By now, you may have heard the story of the identity 'hack' perpetrated against Wired journalist Mat Honan. Using easily obtained data, an anonymous duo bluffed its way into changing his Amazon account, then his Apple iCloud account, then his Google account and ultimately the real target, Twitter. Both Amazon and Apple were docked for how easy it was to modify an account over the phone -- and, in close succession, have both put at least a momentary lockdown on the changes that led to Honan losing much of his digital presence and some irreplaceable photos. His own publication has reportedly confirmed a policy change at Amazon that prevents over-the-phone account changes. Apple hasn't been as direct about what's going on, but Wired believes there's been a 24-hour hold on phone-based Apple ID password resets while the company marshals its resources and decides how much extra strictness is required.
Neither company has said much about the issue. Amazon has been silent, while Apple claims that some of its existing procedures weren't followed properly, regardless of any rules it might need to mend. However the companies address the problem, this is one of those moments where the lesson learned is more important than the outcome. Folks: if your accounts and your personal data matter to you, use truly secure passwords and back up your content. While Honan hints that he may have put at least some of the pieces back together, not everyone gets that second chance.
Google Now hits some rooted devices, adds topping to your Ice Cream Sandwich
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:56 PM PDT
Aereo doubles DVR space to 80 hours for early adopters
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:17 PM PDT
Were you so entranced by Aereo's approach to over-the-air TV broadcasting that you signed up even while the legal battles were just getting started? You're likely being rewarded for your trust. The company has confirmed with GigaOM that New Yorkers who subscribed in the "earliest days" will have their cloud DVR storage doubled to 80 hours -- no limited period, no extra charge. There should likewise be some improved tools for overseeing all that extra space in the near future, although just what that might entail is left to the imagination. We won't fret about it much: given the service's still-tentative existence, any upgrades are icing on the cake for customers.
Sony's Nasne TV tuner finally set to go on sale later this month in Japan
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 06:38 PM PDT
Less than a month ago we heard the news of Sony having delayed the release of its Nasne system due to quality control issues, but that all looks to be sorted out now. The electronics giant's said the NAS media streamer will finally be ready to hit Japanese shelves on August 30th for the previously known price of 16,980 yen (about $215) -- which, as you know, offers a decent 500GB of storage for all your entertainment content. There's still a few weeks until the eventual launch date, so that should be plenty of time to gather up some cash and be among the first to call one of these your own.
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook gets official: on sale August 21st for $1,399 and up
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 06:00 PM PDT
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon has been a known entity since May, when the company gave us a look at the 14-inch, Ivy Bridge-packing Ultrabook. Up until now, though, the successor to the ThinkPad X1 remained somewhat shrouded in mystery, with no pricing or specific availability information to its name. But no more -- Lenovo's just raised the official curtain on the Carbon, announcing a pricing scheme of $1,399 and up and targeting an on-sale date of August 21st at Lenovo.com. The entry-level model will run a 1.7GHz Core i5-3317U CPU with 4GB, and it includes a 128GB SSD and Intel's HD integrated graphics. Like on the ThinkPad X1, 3G connectivity will be an optional feature. Head past the break for more info on the business-centric Ultrabook.
A $1,499 configuration has 1.8GHz Core i5 CPU and a 128GB SSD, while the $1,649 model includes the same processor but 256GB of solid-state storage. The top-of-the-line configuration offers a 2GHz Core i7 chipset for $1,849.
In addition to getting Ivy Bridge processors, the laptop steps up from the ThinkPad X1 with a higher-res 1,600 x 900 display (versus 1,366 x 768), and though its panel is an inch larger, the Carbon still weighs 0.7 pounds less and is 0.13 inches thinner than the original X1 (3 pounds and 0.71 inches versus 3.7 pounds and 0.84 inches). And if the name isn't a giveaway, Lenovo crafted this Ultrabook with a carbon fiber shell.
The company is marketing the ThinkPad X1 Carbon as the lightest business Ultrabook, and it included Intel's vPro management technology and BIOS locker to give the machine some corporate cred. Lenovo also stocked the Carbon with its RapidCharge utility, which can juice up the laptop's 45Wh battery to 80-percent capacity in 30 minutes. Speaking of the battery, Lenovo rates the system for up to 6.3 hours of runtime.
SiriusXM launches On Demand radio, gives offline access to iOS apps
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 05:32 PM PDT
It's finally here! SiriusXM On Demand has launched, ushering the satellite radio service into the 21st century. The company's promised library of 200 shows and 2,000 hours of programming are online and available for subscribers to stream at their leisure. Access is free for existing subscribers, and available through the web or the SiriusXM apps on iOS. App users can even download shows for offline playback (which we believe makes them podcasts). Now you'll never need to miss another allegedly hilarious episode of Opie & Anthony again. Though, you might be a better person if you did. Check out the PR after the break for a few more details.
SiriusXM Launches "SiriusXM On Demand," Giving Subscribers Access to Exclusive SiriusXM Content Whenever They Want It
NEW YORK, Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced the launch of SiriusXM On Demand, giving SiriusXM Internet Radio subscribers listening via its online media player and on Apple iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, the ability to choose their favorite episodes from a catalog of more than 200 shows and over 2,000 hours of content to listen whenever they want.
"On Demand access to SiriusXM programming broadens the availability of our exclusive content, allowing subscribers to enjoy their favorite shows and try new shows on their own time so they never miss a minute of the programming they love," said Bob Law, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Streaming Services and Products, SiriusXM. "SiriusXM produces great original content, and we are thrilled we can now make so much of it available on our listeners' schedules through SiriusXM On Demand."
SiriusXM On Demand will give subscribers at no extra charge:
Recent Shows: Access to more than 200 shows from exclusive talk and entertainment, commercial-free music, comedy, and sports.
Selections from The Vaults: For the first time, SiriusXM is curating and making selections from its vast audio archives-spanning many years of exclusive shows, specials and series-accessible to listeners.
Updated content: SiriusXM's On Demand offerings will be updated daily with great selections from its audio entertainment catalog, and the available catalog will be expanded on a regular basis.
Featured Content: Regularly updated "Featured" section allows subscribers to discover more content, including timely interviews, brand new shows, "pop-up" channels, and seasonal series.
Easy Navigation: Using a mouse or finger, listeners can scan what's playing or easily find a specific point on many shows.
SiriusXM listeners will have On Demand access to over 2,000 hours of SiriusXM content, including more than 200 shows from sports, comedy, exclusive talk and entertainment, and commercial-free music from many genres such as The Howard Stern Show, Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour, Tom Petty's Buried Treasure, select Jimmy Buffett concerts, The Opie & Anthony Show, The Jamie Foxx Show, Ask Martha featuring Martha Stewart, Dr. Laura, The Bob Edwards Show, Mad Dog Unleashed featuring Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo, Ripken Baseball, Rotten Tomatoes™ Radio and many more.
SiriusXM listeners will also have access to curated selections from deep within the SiriusXM archives, including SiriusXM's exclusive Artist Confidential series and Town Hall specials with Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters, Tom Petty, Usher, Ringo Starr, Coldplay, Nirvana, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Coach K, and many others. In addition, listeners will get access to exclusive subscriber events, music specials, interviews from across SiriusXM's sports channels, and much more.
On Demand programming will be presented with minimal commercials on select shows. Music programming will have no commercials.
SiriusXM Internet Radio subscribers listening on Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch will also be able to store select On Demand shows for a period of time on their devices and listen to content when not connected to the Internet. This allows offline listening while traveling on planes or anywhere at anytime without a wireless connection. Subscribers will also get automatic notifications when favorite programs become available for On Demand listening on Apple mobile devices.
SiriusXM On Demand will also soon be available on compatible Android devices.
Listeners can register for a complimentary 7-day trial to listen to SiriusXM Internet Radio online and on Apple smartphones and other connected devices. For more information on SiriusXM Internet Radio, please visit www.siriusxm.com/internetradio.
About Sirius XM Radio
Sirius XM Radio Inc. is the world's largest radio broadcaster measured by revenue and has more than 22 million subscribers. SiriusXM creates and broadcasts commercial-free music; premier sports talk and live events; comedy; news; exclusive talk and entertainment; and the most comprehensive Latin music, sports and talk programming in radio. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company in the U.S., from retailers nationwide, and online at siriusxm.com. SiriusXM programming is also available through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for Android, Apple, and BlackBerry smartphones and other connected devices. SiriusXM also holds a minority interest in SiriusXM Canada which has more than 2 million subscribers.
Road safety project simTD connects cars, infrastructure. Hopes to save lives, time
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 05:08 PM PDT
Live traffic info likely prevents many a clenched fist meeting steering wheel every single day. A new trial scheme in Frankfurt Germany, however, could prevent even more unnecessary road-rage. The project involves 120 vehicles from a range of manufacturers, loaded with "car-to-x" technology. Cars will communicate with each other, and with general infrastructure, in an attempt to make roads safe and less congested. As well as basic location data, other tools include a brake light that advises the car behind it once activated, and an obstacle warning system to share information on the presence and location of hazards -- as well as what those blockages are. The project is a collaboration between Universities, research institutes, telecom providers -- and of course -- the auto industry. We're keen to see how the trial turns out. Even if it's just to lower our next taxi fare.
Ford Begins Real-World Testing of Future Car-to-Car and Car-to-Infrastructure Communication Technologies
Ford Motor Company today begins real-world testing of future technologies as part of a research programme aimed at advancing car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communication to European roads.
"Car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications represent the next major advancements in vehicle safety," said Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation. "Ford is committed to further real-world testing here and around the world with the goal of implementation in the foreseeable future.
Ford is contributing 20 specially equipped S-MAX models to a 120 vehicle fleet being used to test 20 experimental driver assistance technologies as part of the four-year research project "Safe Intelligent Mobility – Testfield Germany" or simTD. The project's goal is to better understand the potential for car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure to improve traffic safety and personal mobility.
Experts believe using mobile communications technology to integrate vehicles with each other and with transport infrastructure could make roads safer and reduce congestion. Engineers from Ford's European Research Centre in Aachen, Germany and simTD research project partners so far have tested the developmental technologies in a controlled environment. The technologies will now be tested on public roads in and around Frankfurt in real-world driving conditions.
Technologies being tested as part of the simTD research project include:
Electronic Brake Light, which delivers a message from the lead vehicle to a following vehicle if an emergency braking procedure is carried out, even if the incident occurs out-of-sight, for example around a bend in the road; Ford is leading the development and integration of this application
Obstacle Warning system, which enables a vehicle to inform other road users of the presence, position and type of potentially hazardous obstacles on the road
Traffic Sign Assistant, which remains in continuous contact with traffic management centres to access up-to-date information on variable speed limits, temporary restrictions and diversions; as well as providing details of current and approaching permanent regulations, such as fixed speed limits and right of way
Public Traffic Management, which provides exact traffic prognosis based on comprehensive information; this includes identifying likely traffic scenarios and their impact at the point in the journey when they are encountered rather than at the point of departure
In-car Internet Access, which, for example, can enable the driver to reserve and pay for parking en-route
"The vehicles will cover thousands of kilometres in test drives and evaluations to gather valuable research data from every-day driving scenarios," said Christian Ress, technical expert, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.
Ford is a global leader in researching car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications. In 2004 it engaged in a partnership with Minnesota Department of Transportation, U.S., to equip 100 state vehicles with sensors to collect traffic-related data including vehicle speed, location, heading and even localised weather conditions, with the aim of developing the next generation of transportation and driver information systems.
Ford was also the first vehicle manufacturer in the U.S. to demonstrate intelligent vehicle communication technologies to the public, with a multi-city tour that began in 2010.
The company continues its involvement in such testing programmes in Europe, the U.S. and around the world, with the objective of harmonising global standards for messaging and hardware. Collating results from these programmes will ultimately enable Ford to deliver new technologies to global customers with greater speed, efficiency, and with minimal cost.
The increasing use of car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure technology is part of Ford's "Blueprint for Mobility," which was outlined by Executive Chairman Bill Ford during his keynote address at the 2012 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February. The "Blueprint for Mobility" details the company's early thinking on how to tackle the issues of mobility in an increasingly crowded and urbanized planet between now and 2025.
The funding for the simTD project is approximately €53 million, of which €30 million of direct project promotional support has been provided by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology together with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
The project is further supported by infrastructure investment from the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building, and Urban Affairs as well as funding from the state of Hessen. The consortium involves representatives from all major interest groups, including Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Opel, Volkswagen, Bosch, Continental, Deutsche Telekom, regional infrastructure operators and German Research Institutions (Technische Universität München und Berlin, Universität Würzburg, Fraunhofer).
Further information on simTD can be found at www.simTD.de.
Facebook SDK 3.0 for iOS arrives in finished form, mobile ads tag along in beta
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 04:29 PM PDT
Rapid turnaround just may be the name of Facebook's game. Just a few weeks after its SDK 3.0 for iOS reached beta, the new developer tool has surfaced in a polished version. As it's shipping, the SDK continues to emphasize a more iOS-native experience, better API support and slicker session management. Any iOS 6 integration will still have to wait until Apple finishes its software update; Facebook is keeping a separate beta track active to serve forward-thinking developers. The social network's regular members aren't quite getting the same reward, however. The expanded app support is being followed just as quickly by a mobile ad beta. While Facebook is still sparing us from a full-bore marketing assault, it's letting developers pitch their Android and iOS apps from Facebook's mobile portals, with a quick hop to the relevant app store if the title isn't already loaded. While there's no estimated completion date, we have a feeling that this is one Facebook beta where most customers won't mind a delay or two... or ten.
appBlaster 2.0 gets friendly with Android handsets, brings new AR features
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 03:59 PM PDT
We're not sure how many members of the Google army asked for it, but the second-gen, Android-friendly appBlaster's now being delivered to all peripheral buffs. Obviously, one of the biggest improvements in v2.0 of the apptoyz accessory is its much welcomed compatibility with something other than iDevices via a new universal cage -- that said, there's also other fresh augmented reality features which, in theory, should make it a vast improvement over its predecessor. The appBlaster 2.0's only seen a slight price bump in comparison to the first-gen, with RED5 asking for £25 (around $40) for the add-on -- a small amount to pay when you consider all the attention you're going to get. And, well, we know you love that.
RED5.co.uk Launches The New Generation of appBlaster
... And this time the aliens know where to hide...
Monday 6th August, 2012 - London, UK: RED5.co.uk, the ultimate gadget shop, is today launching the appBlaster v.2 to market. With a complete re-design, the appBlaster v.2 now houses iPods, iPhones and Android phones while the updated free augmented reality app sees the alien swarm appear from within the objects in the room.
When your smartphone is docked with the new app, it transforms into an augmented reality gaming machine with cross hair and game data on view. Utilising the accelerometer of your smartphone the appBlaster v.2 app allows the game to rotate, and moves as you do. The result is immersive game play that requires quick reactions and frantic firing as aliens emerge from the walls, ceiling, floor or random objects at every angle imaginable.
To play the game you must defend your location against swarms of aliens, using an assortment of guns and missiles. When you're running low on ammo, reload by quickly cocking the gun by pointing it at the ceiling, and then take aim. Fancy a new weapon or feeling battle weary? Keep your eyes peeled for special weapons and power ups which can be collected throughout the mission.
The appBlaster v.2 is lightweight and the shoulder stock can be removed to give you a shorter device depending on your preference. With two triggers; the rear trigger fires the lasers, whilst the front trigger is for firing missiles.
Never before has the quote "they're coming out of the goddamn walls!" been so apt!
Google Maps adds live traffic for over 130 cities, boosts existing coverage
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 03:25 PM PDT
Google has expanded its Maps traffic coverage before, but rarely on a grand scale. The search giant isn't standing on tradition this time: it just flipped on live traffic data for at least the major roads in over 130 cities. Most of the coverage centers around smaller cities in the US, although Google is tipping its hat to Latin America with first-time support for Bogota, San Jose (in Costa Rica) and Panama City. Coverage has also been improved in a dozen other countries worldwide. While the widened reach still won't ease the burden of anyone already caught in a traffic jam, any democratization of smarter driving directions is good in our book.
MetroPCS lights up Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services, starts selling LG Connect 4G
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 03:02 PM PDT
MetroPCS may not be grand in scale, but it's certainly not lacking for ambition. Just over a year after announcing its eventual transition to Voice over LTE, the carrier has officially launched its VoLTE services. Moreover, it's announcing the first sale of a VoLTE-capable handset at one of the company's Dallas / Fort Worth store locations. The Android-powered LG Connect 4G is the outfit's first (and only, for now) VoLTE-capable phone, but the operator's promising more rollouts and phone options "in the coming weeks." For the consumer, those in range of LTE signals should notice clearer calls, and it's become something of a trend to see carriers (Verizon and Sprint, for instance) moving in this direction as 2G / 3G networks start to show their age. So, DFW residents -- anyone been able to try it out? Let us know in comments below.
MetroPCS Launches World's First Commercially Available Voice Over LTE Service and VoLTE-Capable 4G LTE Smartphone
DALLAS, Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) today reached another innovation milestone by announcing the world's first commercial launch of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services, availability of the world's first VoLTE-capable handsets and the first sale of a VoLTE-capable handset at one of the company's Dallas/Fort Worth store locations. MetroPCS is selling the new VoLTE-capable LG Connect 4G Android™ smartphone at select U.S. stores and will continue to roll out VoLTE services and phones in the coming weeks.
"Being the first operator globally to reach this industry first speaks volumes about our company's innovative spirit and passion to achieve goals that we believe will have long-term benefit for our customers and for the company," said Roger Linquist, chairman and chief executive officer of MetroPCS. "The initial move to LTE and this move to VoLTE allow us to achieve significant spectral efficiencies and will increase network capacity so that we can enhance the 4G LTE experience that our customers have today at a tremendous value. VoLTE also provides a foundational capability for future Rich Communication Services (RCS), which we plan to launch later this year."
The addition of VoLTE capabilities to MetroPCS' 4G LTE handsets will be transparent to consumers as they continue to enjoy all the voice and 4G LTE data services with which they are already familiar. Calls to and from the handset will use VoLTE, regardless of the handset or network used on the other end of the call.
MetroPCS was the first U.S. carrier to deploy a commercial 4G LTE network in September 2010 and has since built out its 4G LTE network to cover roughly 90 percent of its CDMA footprint.
For more information, please visit:
Details on rate plans and service features: www.metropcs.com/plans
Sony takes SOEmote live for EverQuest II, lets gamers show their true CG selves (video)
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 02:41 PM PDT
We had a fun time trying Sony's SOEmote expression capture tech at E3; now everyone can try it. As of today, most EverQuest II players with a webcam can map their facial behavior to their virtual personas while they play, whether it's to catch the nuances of conversation or drive home an exaggerated game face. Voice masking also lets RPG fans stay as much in (or out of) character as they'd like. About the only question left for those willing to brave the uncanny valley is when other games will get the SOEmote treatment. Catch our video look after the break if you need a refresher.
Throwaway NFC keyboard improves productivity, reduces bank balance
Posted: 07 Aug 2012 02:08 PM PDT
NFC is used primarily for enjoyable activities, like buying things, sharing content and making QR codes feel old. But Japanese company Elecom is looking to change all that with a compact keyboard that exploits NFC for productivity. The silicon menace requires a companion app and is compatible with Android phones running Gingerbread (2.3.4) and up. If the bundled case had you sold on the peripheral, you may want to reconsider. The retail price is a sizeable 18,690 yen (approximately $240), and what's worse, the battery is neither rechargeable nor replaceable, so you'll have to bin it after the stated six months to a year 18 months (eight hours a day) of life. Still interested? Then head over the break for a video demo from Norwegian co-development company one2TOUCH.
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