- YouTube begins streaming 1080p insecurities next week
Ready to have your imperfect complexions scrutinized by every anonymous coward on the Internet? You'd better 'cause YouTube has announced the move from 720p to 1080p video streaming to make use of those cheap, Full HD camcorders flooding the market. Now puff up that keyboard courage -- the ruthless bashing of your peers is set to begin next week.Filed under: Portable Video
YouTube begins streaming 1080p insecurities next week originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Arduino-packin' Didgeridoo features 17 effects controls, drones with the best of 'em (video)
You know, we don't see too many didgeridoos in these parts (and for good reason, seeing as how it is little more than a pipe with a hole in it) but wait'll to you get a load of this aerophone-wielding maniac: Kyle Evans has grafted an
Arduino Bluetooth module to his "didge" (as we say 'round the drum circle) and supplied a wireless mic to transmit audio to his laptop, where the sound is manipulated via custom-built audio processing software. The controllers for the various effects are situated on the instrument itself (including six push button switches, six pots, and five toggle switches), bringing your avante-garde dreams one step closer to reality. Tell La Monte Young we said "Hi." Video after the break.
[Via
Make]
Continue reading Arduino-packin' Didgeridoo features 17 effects controls, drones with the best of 'em (video)
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Arduino-packin' Didgeridoo features 17 effects controls, drones with the best of 'em (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- PhoneSuit Primo adds extra juice, minimal bulk to your iPhone / iPod
We were suitably impressed by Mophie's Juice Pack Air extended battery / iPhone case when we got a chance to
try one out earlier this year, but if you're looking for an extended battery without the case you might want to consider this new Primo micro battery pack form
PhoneSuit. Designed for use with various iPods in addition to the iPhone, this one packs an 800mAh battery inside its tiny enclosure, which promises to add up to 45 hours of music playback time to your iPod, or up to three hours of extra talk time to your iPhone 3G. Better still, it has a fairly reasonable price tag of $35, or you can snag a three-pack for $89.95 if you like to be extra prepared (or are looking for a few stocking stuffers). We'll also be checking this one out ourselves shortly, so stay tuned to see if it actually lives up to its claims.
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio
PhoneSuit Primo adds extra juice, minimal bulk to your iPhone / iPod originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Sony's 2010/2011 OLED and flagship XBR series LCD roadmap leaked?
Ready to dig deep, really deep, for a tiny but magnificent OLED television? You'd better be 'cause some purportedly leaked Sony documents are showing a new "KDL-ZX Series OLED" on the 2010 / 2011 roadmap. All the sets are listed as prototypes so they may or may not make it to market for retail. But with Sony's two year old, 11-inch XEL-1 OLED TV now dwarfed by LG's new 15-inch OLED TV and a 20-incher promised for 2010, well, we expect Sony will want to regain its leadership in the new year. The docs also show updates to Sony's flagship XBR series with the XBR11 LED W-backlit LCD and XBR12 Advanced LED RGB-backlit LCD sets coming in sizes from 32- to 60-inches featuring 240Hz Motionflow, a new Bravia Engine 3 PRO with HD Video processor, and UV2A panel technology. Unfortunately, some of the XBR information (the most important, presumably) is blacked-out and we're only looking at 2 of what appear to be 24 pages of leaked content. Boy would we love to peak behind that curtain. XBR11 spec sheet on display after the break.
[Via OLED-Display]Continue reading Sony's 2010/2011 OLED and flagship XBR series LCD roadmap leaked?
Filed under: Displays, HDTV
Sony's 2010/2011 OLED and flagship XBR series LCD roadmap leaked? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- GameStop to start testing game downloads early next year
GameStop has been dropping hints about its digital download plans for a little while now, but it looks to have done its most extensive and official talking about the matter yet at the recent BMO Capital Management Digital Entertainment conference, where it confirmed that it will start testing the program "early next year" with kiosks in an unspecified number of stores. That program will apparently work in conjunction with services "such as Microsoft Corp's Xbox Live and Sony Corp's PlayStation Network," and will focus primarily on add-on content rather than full game downloads. Why's that, you ask? Well it seems that GameStop thinks "a large market for full game downloads is not imminent, (but) the add-on downloadable market will grow" -- a view that some would obviously beg to differ with.
[Via Joystiq]Filed under: Gaming
GameStop to start testing game downloads early next year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Trust in Casio's Japanese Exilim EX-FS10S, it'll turn your bogeys into birdies
Sure, we could rattle off a list of specs -- and if you're curiuos, it's a 9.1 megapixel sensor with 3x optical zoom and 720p video -- but you know what's really gonna have Casio's Exilim EX-FS10S flying off shelves? The ability to stand it behind your tee and show you exactly how you screw up your swing, with special help of the company's trademark 1000 frames per second burst mode. The catch is, while the EX-FS10 is already available in US, only the Japanese model seems to have your golf buddy. Bummer.Filed under: Digital Cameras
Trust in Casio's Japanese Exilim EX-FS10S, it'll turn your bogeys into birdies originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- The daily roundup: here's what you might've missed
 | Palm Pixi review
Can the Pixi find a place in the smartphone race, or does it do too little to distance itself from the pack? |  | Xbox LIVE gets 1080p Zune Video store, Twitter, Facebook and more on November 17th
Get ready folks, just five days! |
 | AT&T adds Verizon's Island of Misfit Toys holiday ads to lawsuit, demands they be yanked off the air
The spotted elephant, in a surprised manner, asks the iPhone "What are you doing here? You can download apps and browse the web!" and a Dolly for Sue asserts that "Yeah. People will love you [the iPhone]."
| Other news of import |
| | |
| Comcast TV Everywhere launch details: December, free for existing subs, really goes anywhere
Yes, this does still count against the 250GB monthly cap if used at home and still no word on HD streaming. |  | BlackBerry Storm2 hands-on and impressions
Waterloo is clearly woefully unequipped to handle the creation of exceptional, effortless usability that's demanded of a lustworthy mobile device these days. |
| | |
The daily roundup: here's what you might've missed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Ask Engadget: Best multitouch monitor?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Matthew, who just can't wait to let his fingers do the talking within Windows 7. "With all the new multitouch capable monitors coming out, which one is the best? With the release of Windows 7 I really want a touchscreen monitor for my desktop. I'm looking to get a Full HD monitor that supports multitouch and can still look great during gaming and movies. Which one has the best specs for the price?"
We know this sector is still in the early stages, but we're guessing there are a few options out there and on the horizon for those looking to take advantage of one of Win7's most enticing features. Any tips here, wise ones?Filed under: Ask Engadget, Displays
Ask Engadget: Best multitouch monitor? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Motorola's MT710 OPhone for China makes us dream of Droids without keyboards
While it's busy trying to rebuild market share on the backs of Android-powered devices in North America and Europe, Motorola's already got a bustling business in China, so it makes sense that they'd want to contribute some Google juice over there as well. That dovetails nicely with China Mobile's Android-based Open Mobile System -- which runs those so-called OPhones -- and Motorola has yet to bring an OPhone to market, so that's where this little beast appears poised to come into play. The MT710 is said to feature an 854 x 480 display clocking in at 3.7 inches and 3G support (using China Mobile's up-and-coming TD-SCDMA network), but beyond that, little is known; rumor has it that Motorola will intro a total of seven Android models in China over the next year, though, and this is clearly one of them. Shave three or four millimeters off the Droid's girth with this puppy, and count us in.
[Via PMP Today]Filed under: Cellphones
Motorola's MT710 OPhone for China makes us dream of Droids without keyboards originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Samsung responds to Symbian claims, says it's still supporting it
Contrary to popular belief (and reports from yesterday), it seems that Samsung actually isn't planning to ditch Symbian anytime soon -- or at least it's not prepared to tell the public. Shortly after announcing its own Bada OS, rumors began to fly that Symbian support would fade in the near future; according to a company representative speaking with Mobile Burn, however, that's simply not true. To quote:
"Samsung is an initial member of Symbian Foundation and continues to cooperate with Symbian Foundation. At the same time, Samsung supports various existing open operating systems including Symbian, Linux, Android, and Windows Mobile. To provide more choices to meet consumers' many different tastes and preferences, we will continue our 'multi-OS' strategy."
'Course, just because it's "continuing" to support Symbian doesn't mean that the hammer won't fall tomorrow, but at least for now it seems the Big S is safe from seeing one of its own jump ship. Phew.Filed under: Cellphones, Software
Samsung responds to Symbian claims, says it's still supporting it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Windows Marketplace's newest anti-piracy measures already thwarted
Yar, that was fast. Less than a day after Microsoft updated its Windows Marketplace for Mobile with new advanced anti-piracy measure, some apt xda-developers community member has managed to crack the new code -- in under two hours, according to Chainfire's posting. The hack itself won't be posted, but we're sure other astute programmers, many of more nefarious intention, will be able to have their way with it just as easy. Sad for developers who've been wanting something more secure -- better luck next update.
[Via WMPoweruser]Filed under: Cellphones
Windows Marketplace's newest anti-piracy measures already thwarted originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Samsung Behold II hits T-Mobile on November 18th, unboxed today (now with video!)
Dubbing itself the "multimedia powerhouse" for T-Mobile's expansive Android lineup, the Samsung Behold II has just been confirmed for that rumored November 18th launch on T-Mobile (still no word on price, though we're hearing a predictable $200). The slate-style touchscreen handset has a 3.2-inch AMOLED display, and puts it to good use with a hearty skinning job on the part of Samsung, porting in most (but not all) of its TouchWiz UI -- unfortunately for us, that silly cube menu made the cut. Underneath is Android 1.5, and what seems to be a pretty standard processor.
Hardware-wise there's really nothing to complain about on this phone. It's heavy, relatively thin (not iPhone-thin, but just fine), with solid materials and wonderfully tactile face buttons. The screen is everything you'd expect out of an AMOLED display, though high-resolution phones like the Droid dampen that enthusiasm somewhat. One wonderful Samsung addition to the traditional Android experience is a "real" camera button on the side, which can even register half-presses for focus. For someone who doesn't want a physical keyboard, but doesn't want their handset to feel like a toy (sorry, myTouch) there's plenty to love. However, we're more concerned about the software side of things. We're not morally opposed to Samsung adding in TouchWiz, but we are afraid of anything that has the potential to slow down the OS, and on first glance we'd say it's notably less responsive than stock Android. We'll of course be going further in-depth to see just how usable this iteration is, but let us just put this out on the table: a virtual 3D cube to launch media apps is no way "intuitive," "helpful" or "cool." OK, maybe it's kind of cool, but seriously Samsung, stop it. Check out our unboxing below.
Update: We added some video after the break. Behold the cube! Continue reading Samsung Behold II hits T-Mobile on November 18th, unboxed today (now with video!)
Filed under: Cellphones
Samsung Behold II hits T-Mobile on November 18th, unboxed today (now with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- AT&T responds to Verizon's 3G ad campaign -- by bragging about EDGE
My iPhone 3GS, in downtown Chicago, as I wrote this post.
With both 3G and EDGE coverage, customers can access the Internet, send e-mail, surf the Web, stream music, download videos, send photos, text, talk and more. The only difference - with some data applications, 3G is faster than EDGE.
Right, right -- the only difference. That must be why Apple named it the iPhone EDGE Slightly Faster.
Now, AT&T has a valid point when it says that its 3G map covers 75 percent of the nation's population, and that Verizon's conflation of total 3G coverage with actual network quality is slightly misleading. But you know what? We watch our iPhones drop from 3G to EDGE and even to GPRS all day long in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, and that has nothing to do with the damn map, and everything to do with AT&T's actual network quality. Let's put it this way: Verizon's ad campaign would be totally ineffective if it didn't ring so true, and the best way for AT&T to counter these ads is to build a rock-solid network, not filing lawsuits and issuing press releases bragging about freaking EDGE. We all clear on this? Good.Filed under: Cellphones
AT&T responds to Verizon's 3G ad campaign -- by bragging about EDGE originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Artist crafts Pentium Nikes but Mom buys us AMD Keds anyways
If there are two things we love here at Engadget, it's our PCs and our kicks -- that's why we were tickled when trash artist and
bon vivant Gabriel Dishaw decided to memorialize the
Nike Blazer with a sculpture rendered from an old circuit board. Titled "Nike Blazer Pentium 1.0," this is the first part of a series of classic sneakers -- and we must say, this one looks pretty good, if somewhat uncomfortable. Hit the read link to inquire about purchasing some art for yourself, but not before getting a closer look or two after the break.
[Thanks, daklar]
Continue reading Artist crafts Pentium Nikes but Mom buys us AMD Keds anyways
Artist crafts Pentium Nikes but Mom buys us AMD Keds anyways originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Qualcomm shows off Snapdragon-powered Lenovo smartbook for AT&T
It may still have a few lingering problems with the "smartbook" name, but it looks like Qualcomm is pushing ahead with the still-nascent product category nonetheless, with CEO Paul Jacobs taking advantage of a recent investor get-together in New York to show off a new Lenovo-built smartbook that will apparently be offered by AT&T. Unfortunately, neither Lenovo nor AT&T is saying anything about the device just yet, and Jacobs doesn't seem to have offered much more than what was already known from the standard smartbook specs. There is the requisite low-res photo captured from the webcast, however, and all parties involved should be doing plenty more talking when this one makes its official debut at CES in January.Filed under: Laptops
Qualcomm shows off Snapdragon-powered Lenovo smartbook for AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Comcast TV Everywhere launch details: December, free for existing subs, really goes anywhere
Comcast's Amy Banse just hit the stage at NewTeeVee Live and announced key details about the company's new On Demand Online launch. If you can't check out the video (embedded after the break) here's the important stuff: It will be available at no additional cost to existing subscribers and allow the authorization of up to 3 devices per household. Log in once from home to Comcast.net or Fancast.com, download the Move Networks powered player to authorize your PC and proceed to stream from the very healthy library of VOD, whether at home or anywhere else, despite previous rumors to the contrary. The bad news? Yes, this does still count against the 250GB monthly cap if used at home and still no word on HD streaming, but within the concept of making content available to subscribers wherever they want to view it, this seems like a good first step.
[Via Media Experiences 2 Go]Continue reading Comcast TV Everywhere launch details: December, free for existing subs, really goes anywhere
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet
Comcast TV Everywhere launch details: December, free for existing subs, really goes anywhere originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Xbox LIVE gets 1080p Zune Video store, Twitter, Facebook and more on November 17th (video)
Remember all those fantastic features that Microsoft promised were in the works for its Xbox 360 back at E3? Get ready folks, because they're all arriving in five days. At an undisclosed time on November 17th, users will be able to login to Xbox LIVE and check out the totally bodacious new portals available to kill time and act social without actually combing your hair. As we'd heard, Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm (US and UK only) modules will all be featured, not to mention on-demand 1080p / 5.1-channel HD video through the Zune Video outlet. In case that's not enough (and be honest, it's never enough), users will also see a new "News and More" section in the "Inside Xbox" channel with streams from MSNBC, The New Yorker and Dilbert. Yeah, Dilbert. Hop on past the break for a few video demonstrations, and then get back to your Modern Warfare 2 binge before your teammates see you slacking off.
Continue reading Xbox LIVE gets 1080p Zune Video store, Twitter, Facebook and more on November 17th (video)
Filed under: Gaming, Software
Xbox LIVE gets 1080p Zune Video store, Twitter, Facebook and more on November 17th (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- GSM Palm Pre bound for Mexico, coming to Telcel on November 27th
Remember that FCC filing for a GSM-loving North American Palm Pre? Looks like the mystery's been solved, Encyclopedia Brown, and our culprit is just south of the border. As previously rumored, Mexico's Telcel will get the Pre, SIM card slot and all. Launch date is November 27th, just in time for the US to be thankful for an online community ready to unlock and import this stateside.
[Thanks, Andres]Filed under: Cellphones
GSM Palm Pre bound for Mexico, coming to Telcel on November 27th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- The Engadget Podcast, live at 3:30PM EST!
It's been a relatively quiet week -- at least compared to the past month of chaos -- but there's still an awful lot of news to talk about, and the Engadget Podcast soldiers on. We're also planning to kick back and answer some questions from the audience -- won't you join us? We'll be starting at 3:30PM EST, but the chat below is open now.
Update: Thanks to everyone who joined us -- we had a blast as usual. Be on the lookout tomorrow for the regular podcast post if you missed it!Filed under: Podcasts
The Engadget Podcast, live at 3:30PM EST! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- BlackBerry Storm2 hands-on and impressions
For a company with the most starched, buttoned-up roots of any major wireless manufacturer, RIM's venture out of its enterprise comfort zone to the consumer space went amazingly smoothly thanks to the introduction of the original Pearl, a phone that's still sold in a variety of colors, configurations, and carriers to this day. At some point, though, it became clear that the industry was moving toward touch -- a space RIM had never dabbled in -- and the trend gave birth to the Storm, a product that had obviously been rushed to market with countless software bugs and a dodgy SurePress concept that caused more problems than it solved. With prototypes floating around in the wild mere months after its predecessor's release, RIM's message was loud and clear earlier this year: "we need to fix the Storm, and we need to do it quickly." Ultimately, it's ended up taking the company just about a year to get the Storm2 to market, a product that attempts to tweak Waterloo's touchscreen strategy just enough to undo a few mistakes and send it down the right path. Mission accomplished? Read on.
Continue reading BlackBerry Storm2 hands-on and impressions
Filed under: Cellphones
BlackBerry Storm2 hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Panasonic debuts MW-10 photo frame / iPod dock / sound system
Can something manage to be both an iPod dock and a photo frame yet still manage to look like neither? It can if it's Panasonic's new MW-10 "multimedia audio system photo frame," which looks more like a shrunken down LCD TV than anything else. If that suits your decor, however, it looks like you'll get quite a bit from this little package, including a 9-inch WVGA display, 4GB of internal memory, an SD card slot, an FM tuner, some puported "audiophile-quality sound," and even a built-in CD player to complement the iPod dock 'round back. Look or this one to hit US retailers sometime in December for $299.95 -- or if that's too long to wait, you can pick one up in Japan right now, where it launched last month.
Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment
Panasonic debuts MW-10 photo frame / iPod dock / sound system originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- AT&T adds Verizon's Island of Misfit Toys holiday ads to lawsuit, demands they be yanked off the air
Well, you knew this was coming -- AT&T's amended its advertising lawsuit against Verizon to include Big Red's new holiday ads, including that oh-so-cute Island of Misfit Toys spot, and demanded that they be taken off the air. At question is the same map of AT&T's 3G coverage used in the other commercial, which Ma Bell says misleads customers into thinking it has no service at all in large swaths of the country. Best part? AT&T's lawyers had to describe the ad in their new filing, leading to passages like this: The spotted elephant, in a surprised manner, asks the iPhone "What are you doing here? You can download apps and browse the web!" and a Dolly for Sue asserts that "Yeah. People will love you [the iPhone]."
Happy holidays, folks.
Read - Digital Daily
Read - AT&T's amended complaint [PDF]Filed under: Cellphones
AT&T adds Verizon's Island of Misfit Toys holiday ads to lawsuit, demands they be yanked off the air originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Japanese company Greenhouse launches camcorder for women
Filed under: Portable Video
Japanese company Greenhouse launches camcorder for women originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Walmart's $30 deal vaults Pixi from 'meh' to 'sure, I'll take three'
At $100, the underpowered Pixi doesn't look like a great value against its bigger, older brother -- but at the $30 Walmart is charging through its partner LetsTalk, the game changes a bit, doesn't it? Sure, $70 isn't that huge of a difference quantitatively, but emotionally, $30 is basically an overpriced meal or two -- and considering the old adage of "a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips," wouldn't you just rather have webOS? We've heard of some bad experiences with LetsTalk rebates in the past, but in this case, it's just an instant discount, so it seems like it could be a no-brainer for on-the-fencers.
[Thanks, Snake]Filed under: Cellphones
Walmart's $30 deal vaults Pixi from 'meh' to 'sure, I'll take three' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Police Wii Bowling team issued stern rebuke
You know, policing can be a tiresome, thankless task -- that's why we weren't all that surprised when Polk County's finest were caught on camera at the scene of a Florida drug raid engaging in a reported
nine hour Wii Sports tourney. As you'll recall, investigators raided a home back in March on the lookout for drugs and stolen items -- which they found, along with weapons and that infamous Nintendo game console. Fans of police accountability will be pleased to note that when all is said and done, eleven members of the multiagency task force were eventually disciplined with a letter in their permanent records and a couple hours of re-training. According to Polk County sheriff's Chief of Staff Gary Hester, all of those involved "were all remorseful, upset with themselves, [and] apologetic," except one officer who finally bowled a perfect game: "It was totally worth it. The Dude abides."
[Via
Joystiq]
Filed under: Gaming
Police Wii Bowling team issued stern rebuke originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Qualcomm chips promises 1GHz speeds in 'mainstream smartphones,' simultaneous HSPA+ / LTE support
Qualcomm's Snapdragon has brought about a new wave of possibilities for smartphones, but evidently those chips are just too exclusive to slip into so-called "mainstream smartphones." In order to remedy such a tragedy, the outfit has today introduced the MSM7x30 family of solutions, which uses an 800 MHz to 1GHz custom superscalar CPU based on the ARM v7 instruction set. The chips support 720p video encoding / decoding at 30fps, integrated 2D and 3D graphics (with support for OpenGL ES 2.0 and OpenVG 1.1), 5.1-channel surround sound, a 12 megapixel camera sensor and built-in GPS. In related news, the outfit also announced that it is sampling the industry's first chipsets for dual-carrier HSPA+ and multi-mode 3G / LTE, which ought to make those champing at the bit for a speedier WWAN highway exceedingly giddy. Hit the links below for all the technobabble.
Read - MSM7x30 solutions
Read - Dual-carrier HSPA+ and Multi-Mode 3G/LTE chipsetsFiled under: Cellphones
Qualcomm chips promises 1GHz speeds in 'mainstream smartphones,' simultaneous HSPA+ / LTE support originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- TomTom to bring free lane guidance, text-to-speech, iPod control to iPhone GPS app
TomTom's probably still dizzy from the hit that Google laid on it just a few days ago, but it has somehow managed to get its bearings long enough to announce that a slew of gratis updates are incoming for its highly-hyped iPhone navigation app. Following in Navigon's footsteps, the outfit has today stated that a free update has been submitted to Apple for approval, and when (er, if) it clears Cupertino's ambiguous review process, it'll deliver advanced lane guidance, text-to-speech, "Help Me," updated map / safety cameras (in select European nations) databases, customizable audio warnings and iPod player control. Not a bad list of additions for the grand total of $0.00, but we wouldn't expect anything less given the lofty admission price.Continue reading TomTom to bring free lane guidance, text-to-speech, iPod control to iPhone GPS app
Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Storage
TomTom to bring free lane guidance, text-to-speech, iPod control to iPhone GPS app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Boxee inks deal with first hardware partner: a 'Boxee Box' is coming
Color us shocked and elated. Boxee, the white-hot startup that has risen from nothing to everywhere thanks to its internet TV software portal, has just announced that a deal has been inked between it and an undisclosed "hardware partner." If you'll recall, we actually heard that the outfit was mulling the production of its own set-top-box back in January, and now it looks like Roku, Apple TV and a host of other mini PCs will have yet another formidable rival vying for space underneath the tele. The firm isn't spilling any details whatsoever on the so-called "Boxee Box," but we are told that mockups and the like will be presented at the Boxee Beta Unveiling on December 7th. Oh, and as if you aren't excited enough already, chew on this -- the company has informed us that they believe "this will be the first of several living room devices you'll see running Boxee in 2010," so don't be shocked if your favorite game console or Blu-ray player gains an embedded Boxee app in the near future.Boxee inks deal with first hardware partner: a 'Boxee Box' is coming originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Vestax Spin might just be the USB-based DJ rig of your dreams, only shinier
Your USB-based
DJ-ing options aren't exactly all that limited these days, but there's few rigs out there quite as eye-catching as this new Spin controller developed by Vestax and Algoriddim. Designed for Mac users only, this one packs two touch sensitive jog wheels front and center, along with a full multi-channel audio system complete with the requisite sliders, mic input (and included microphone), audio output, and of course that USB connection, which also eliminates the need for a power adapter. On the software side of things you'll get Algoriddim's djay 3 mixing application, plus some out-of-the-box integration with iTunes to let you easily pull tracks for your mix. Sold? Then you can snag this one right now for $250.
[Via
OhGizmo!]
Filed under: Peripherals
Vestax Spin might just be the USB-based DJ rig of your dreams, only shinier originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Facebook app developer rejects App Store, irony ensues
We always said that if Apple's
arbitrary,
inconsistent, and quite frankly
baffling approval process didn't get straightened out soon, the defections were going to pick up pace -- and what do we have here? Joe Hewitt, the developer of the well-loved and highly regarded
Facebook iPhone app, has flipped the script and rejected the App Store. And, as you'd expect, our man is not mincing his words, stating that his "decision to stop iPhone development has had everything to do with Apple's policies," and that he's "philosophically opposed to the existence of their review process." While Hewitt can't comment on specific future projects (he's still at Facebook, but the app itself has been handed off to another developer) he has mentioned that he'll be devoting his time to web development for mobile devices. As you know, there is no approval process for the world wide web (which is apparent if you've spent any time on Geocities back in the day). Way to give 'em hell, Joe!
[Via
TUAW]
Filed under: Cellphones
Facebook app developer rejects App Store, irony ensues originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Intel shells out $1.25 billion to settle all AMD litigation
Intel sure sells a lot of chips, but man -- it sure blows a lot of that profit on lawyers. Just months after it got nailed with a $1.45 billion fine from the EU in an AMD antitrust case, nearly two years after AMD hit Intel with another antitrust probe and nearly 1.5 years after the FTC sparked up an investigation of its own, Intel has finally decided to pony up in order to rid itself of one of those back-riding monkeys. In an admittedly brief joint announcement released simultaneously by both firms today, Intel has agreed to cough up a whopping $1.25 billion in order to settle "all antitrust and IP disputes" with AMD. In fact, the pair went so far as to say the following:
"While the relationship between the two companies has been difficult in the past, this agreement ends the legal disputes and enables the companies to focus all of our efforts on product innovation and development."
Aside from AMD's coffers filling up with cash, the agreement also gives both firms patent rights from a new 5-year cross license agreement. Of course, we're betting that this isn't the end of this exceptionally bitter rivalry, and we highly doubt Intel wrote a check this large while grinning from ear-to-ear. That said, we're eager to see what AMD does with its newfound cheddar, and if we had our druthers, we'd sit back and watch it invest heavily into beating Intel to the punch with its next few platforms.Filed under: Desktops, Laptops
Intel shells out $1.25 billion to settle all AMD litigation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- AMD spells out the future: heterogeneous computing, Bulldozer and Bobcats galore
Believe it or not, it's just about time for AMD to start thinking about its future. We know -- you're still doing your best to wrap that noodle around Congos and Thubans, but now it's time to wonder how exactly Leo, Llano and Zambezi (to name a few) can fit into your already hectic schedule. At an Analyst Day event this week, the chipmaker removed the wraps on its goals for 2010 and 2011, and while it's still focusing intently on Fusion (better described as heterogeneous computing, where "workloads are divided between the CPU and GPU"), it's the forthcoming platforms that really have us worked up. For starters, AMD is looking into Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) configurations, which "represent the combined capabilities of [practically any] two separate processors." We're also told that the firm may actually introduce its Bulldozer (architecture for mainstream machines) and Bobcat (architecture for low-power, ultrathin PCs) platforms more hastily than similar ones have been rolled out in the past, which demonstrates an effort to really target the consumer market where Intel currently reigns. Frankly, we're jazzed about the possibilities, so hit the links below for a deep dive into what just might be powering your next (or next-next) PC.
[Via Digitimes]Filed under: Desktops, Laptops
AMD spells out the future: heterogeneous computing, Bulldozer and Bobcats galore originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Dell's Inspiron Zino HD on sale now in America: starts at $229, doubles as an HTPC
Dell has taken its sweet time in bringing the 7.75- x 7.75- x 3.5-inch Inspiron Zino HD to market, but just 24 hours after it made its market debut across the pond, this little zinger is finally available to the Yanks in attendance. Starting at just $229, the mini PC is far more exhilarating than most ho hum nettops. Oh sure, the base configuration is fairly unexciting, but thankfully Dell enables you to add up to 8GB of memory, a 1.8GHz dual-core AMD Athlon Neo X2 6850e CPU, up to 1TB of HDD space, an optional Blu-ray drive, a 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4330 discrete GPU and WiFi to the mix. 'Course, speccing it out will obviously raise the price substantially, but it's always nice to see more power than anticipated within such a minuscule box. Of note, Dell also mentions that an optional TV tuner, wireless keyboard and mouse are available, but at least for now, the TV tuner is nowhere to be found in the configuration pages. Other inclusions are a 4-in-1 card reader, four USB 2.0 sockets and a pair of eSATA ports. Who says HTPCs have to breathe fire?
Update: We've just heard that the TV tuner won't be available at launch (sounds a lot like what happened with the Mini 10), so there goes those dreams of immediately gratifying your urge for a new HTPC of the smallest scale.
Filed under: Desktops
Dell's Inspiron Zino HD on sale now in America: starts at $229, doubles as an HTPC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Intel Arrandale chips detailed, priced and dated?
Who's up for some more Intel roadmap rumoring? The latest scuttlebutt from "notebook players" over in the far East is that the chip giant has finally settled on names, speeds, and prices for its first three Arrandale CPUs, which are expected to arrive in the first half of 2010. The Core i5-520UM and Core i7-620UM both run at 1.06GHz, while the top Core i7-640UM model speeds ahead at 1.2GHz, with bulk-buying prices of $241, $278, and $305 per unit of each processor. Even if the processing speeds might not impress on paper, these 32nm chips splice two processing cores, the memory controller, and graphics engine all into the same package and thereby deliver major power savings. Platform pricing is expected to remain at around $500 for netbooks, while the ultrathins these chips are intended for should hit the $600 to $800 range... if Lord Intel wills it so.Filed under: Laptops
Intel Arrandale chips detailed, priced and dated? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Palm Pixi review
It's hard to believe that Palm is already pushing its second webOS device, the Pixi, out the door. It seems like just a few weeks ago that we were eagerly awaiting the release of the Pre, a phone that was considered to be the last gasp for the badly ailing company, and now it's poised to add an entirely new handset to the mix. The Pixi -- a sleek, tiny device -- seems clearly aimed at the only market Palm has recently enjoyed unfettered success with: the Centro demographic. From the looks of things, the Pixi is positioned to step into the role of the "cheap and cute" smartphone once firmly controlled by the company's previous (and now discontinued) Palm OS offering. Of course, the landscape in 2009 is very different from the landscape of 2007, with fierce competition -- both from outside as well as the company's own sister product. Can the Pixi find a place in the smartphone race, or does it do too little to distance itself from the pack? We've got the answers inside, so read on to find out!
Continue reading Palm Pixi review
Palm Pixi review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Engadget
Thanksgiving is moving ever closer -- and we all know what that means: the day that comes after. That's right, there's nothing more American than following up a day of thanks with a day of hitting the malls, strip malls, big boxes, and virtual shops up for the hottest deals to be found this side of the Atlantic. We've rounded up a few of the more choice deals we've found on the 'net for you so you don't have to search all alone... and first up, Office Depot's got a 17.3-inch,Windows 7-boasting Toshiba Satellite L555D-S7930 for $649 and a 12 megapixel Nikon Coolipix S570 for $200, while over at Best Buy you can grab up a 120GB PS3 with three games for $300, with a host of cheap video games for Xbox 360 and PS3. Finally mammoth of the retail world Sears has a Canon EOS Rebel XS for $570, plus some of the cheapest digital photo frames around and a DVD player for $18. You're getting excited, aren't you?
We've seen outfit after outfit trumpet their long-lasting optical storage wares before, but Cranberry seems different. Rather than promising that whatever miracle they've just unearthed will be available "in the very near future," this company is selling its wonder product right now. The so-called DiamonDisc -- which is reportedly constructed from "diamond-hard stone" -- is designed to store precious memories for 1,000 years or more, and it's even built to withstand "temperatures extending up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit as well as UV rays that would destroy conventional DVD discs." Unfortunately, each disc holds just 4.7GB of information, and each one will run you $34.95 if purchased individually. Oh, and it's only playable on "most" regular DVD drives, so across-the-board compatibility seems less than likely. The more we think about it, the more sense that whole "just carve it into stone for future generations to see" mantra makes. Kudos, cavemen.
The BBC's iPlayer streaming video / radio service has been available on the Wii in the form of a browser-based app for some time now, but it looks like it's now set to step up its game considerably with a full-fledged iPlayer Wii channel. Launching in the UK on November 18th, the new channel boasts a streamlined, Wii-friendly interface that was apparently the result of extensive testing, and includes a number of other smaller design touches, like some nifty background animations during radio programs, and some use of the Wiimote's rumble feature for added feedback. Best of all, the whole thing's completely free -- now, about that UK-only part...
In just one week, ViewSonic has gone from a glint of a 3G phone maker to having two models prominently on display. We've already seen VPC08 Windows XP phone, and now up to bat is the V901, found in the pages of Microsoft China's official site. The Windows Mobile 6.5, apparently TouchWiz-skinned device has a 3.6-inch, 480 x 800 touchscreen, a Marvell PXA310 processor, 128MB RAM and 256MB ROM storage with microSD expansion, 5 megapixel camera, GPS, Bluetooth, all hailing to the wavelengths we call CDMA EV-DO Rev. A. Launch is Q4 2009, so sometime very soon -- but we get the feeling this is China-only, at least for now.
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