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Sunday, September 4, 2011

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Switched On: The accidental handset company, Part 2

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 03:10 PM PDT

Switched On: The accidental handset company, Part 2


Switched On: The accidental handset company, Part 2
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Last week's Switched On discussed why Google's ownership of Motorola is unlikely to bring major changes to the balance of power among Android licensees. But Motorola also has significant interests in the set-top market. And, of course, there's the question of Android's main licensed rival, Windows Phone 7....

Looks like car-sharing can save the planet

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 02:32 PM PDT

Looks like car-sharing can save the planet


Looks like car-sharing can save the planet
Filed under: Green Culture, Transportation Alternatives What's the best way to avoid the cost of car ownership, keep the flexibility of having four wheels available when you need them and - possibly - save the world? How about car sharing? A large-scale study of 6,281 carsharers by University of California Transportation Center shows that over 80 percent of those entering a car sharing program dropped their personal vehicles when they joined....

Acer W4 hands-on (video)

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 02:32 PM PDT

Acer W4 hands-on (video)


Acer W4 hands-on (video)
Hey, it's our old pal, the Acer W4. We've heard tell of the device and seen our share of mockups, and this week at IFA, we actually got to play with the thing. The 3.6-inch handset is fairly compact, and pretty slick looking, with its black front and curved white backing....

LG's 'Dual Play' TVs let gamers share a single screen, different perspective

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 01:54 PM PDT

LG's 'Dual Play' TVs let gamers share a single screen, different perspective


LG's 'Dual Play' TVs let gamers share a single screen, different perspective
Challenging Sony's PlayStation 3D display, LG's new LW980T "Dual Play" TV lets Xbox users see two different views on the same screen -- ditching the standard split gaming view. Spotted this week at IFA, the technology requires a pair of snazzy all-right / all-left passive specs and a compatible 3D Xbox game to get two different 2D perspectives on one TV....

Mophie cuts the price on the Juice Pack Boost and Powerstation, raises the batte...

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 12:40 PM PDT

Mophie cuts the price on the Juice Pack Boost and Powerstation, raises the battery capacity


Mophie cuts the price on the Juice Pack Boost and Powerstation, raises the battery capacity
Most companies here at IFA figured if they were going to haul it all the way to Berlin, they might as well unveil their products on a stage -- you know, with some prepared remarks, a press release and maybe some disco music to get people pumped (okay, we haven't been subjected to that yet)....

Elgato EyeTV Mobile eyes-on (video)

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 12:02 PM PDT

Elgato EyeTV Mobile eyes-on (video)


Elgato EyeTV Mobile eyes-on (video)
Elgato's been experimenting with live TV on the iPad for over a year now, but until now, that meant streaming programs that were already broadcast online anyway -- a mighty large limitation, wouldn't you say? This week, though, the company announced EyeTV Mobile, a TV tuner that plugs into the iPad 2's 30-pin connector, allowing it to pull in broadcast television....

Zero1 VooMote Zapper remote control for iOS hands-on (video)

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 10:47 AM PDT

Zero1 VooMote Zapper remote control for iOS hands-on (video)


Zero1 VooMote Zapper remote control for iOS hands-on (video)
Are you one of those old-school types who still watches TV programs on an actual television? Then you probably also own one or fifteen of those cordless channel changer contraptions -- you know, the kind that use AA batteries and magic beams of light to command station and volume adjustments....

Skoda kicks off production of electric Octavia Green E Line

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 10:10 AM PDT

Skoda kicks off production of electric Octavia Green E Line


Skoda kicks off production of electric Octavia Green E Line
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Europe/EU Skoda has officially kicked off production of a ten-vehicle trial fleet of its first-ever electric automobile, the Octavia Green E Line. Skoda says that production of the Octavia E Line represents the automaker's next step in its, "continued efforts to reduce emissions and consumption levels throughout the company." The Octavia Green E Line is based on Skoda's series-production Octavia Estate....

Tango video calling en route to Windows Phone Mango?

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 09:32 AM PDT

Tango video calling en route to Windows Phone Mango?


Tango video calling en route to Windows Phone Mango?
Good news, folks -- Tango is about to reach Windows Phone. No, not that Tango. We're referring to the video calling service that's already popular on iOS and Android devices, but has had absolutely no presence on Microsoft's platform at all. Of course, there's a blatantly obvious reason for that: the OS didn't support front-facing cameras until Mango came along....

Pico Dolly replaces homemade roller skate tripods for smaller camera productions...

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 08:54 AM PDT

Pico Dolly replaces homemade roller skate tripods for smaller camera productions (video)


Pico Dolly replaces homemade roller skate tripods for smaller camera productions (video)
Instead of precariously perching your DSLR on a skateboard in the name of film, perhaps it's time to invest in something a little more stable -- like the extremely affordable Pico Dolly. Machined from aluminum, this 3.5-inch, three pound dolly has wheels akin to those found on Rollerblades, plus three screw mounts to attach the optional 11-inch friction arm....

Refresh Roundup: week of August 29, 2011

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 07:37 AM PDT

Refresh Roundup: week of August 29, 2011


Refresh Roundup: week of August 29, 2011
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging to get updated. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix....

2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger get 31 mpg thanks to 8-speed trans

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 06:22 AM PDT

2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger get 31 mpg thanks to 8-speed trans


2012 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger get 31 mpg thanks to 8-speed trans
Filed under: MPG, Chrysler, Dodge The first eight-speed automatic transmission in a domestically manufactured automobile will debut in both the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger for 2012. The eight-speed slushbox, developed by German transmission specialist ZF and often found packed in luxury vehicles from automakers including Audi, Bentley, BMW, Range Rover and Rolls-Royce, will be mated to Chrysler's 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine on select models within the 300 and Charger lineups. The result,...

Philips GoGear 3 Android PMP hands-on (video)

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 06:22 AM PDT

Philips GoGear 3 Android PMP hands-on (video)


Philips GoGear 3 Android PMP hands-on (video)
One of the fun things about attending a show that's open to the public like IFA is that you tend to get the same pitch from companies as folks walking in off the street. And the pitch with the latest Philips GoGear is quite simple: this is the company's shot at the iPod touch....

Amazon, 7-Eleven team up to bring delivery convenience to your corner store

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 05:44 AM PDT

Amazon, 7-Eleven team up to bring delivery convenience to your corner store


Amazon, 7-Eleven team up to bring delivery convenience to your corner store
Allow us to set the scene: It's late Friday night. You've just finished working and decide to hit up the local 7-Eleven on your way home for a Slim Jim, Mountain Brew and... your Amazon package? Why, yes, as absurd as it seems there could very well be a P.O....

Solar-powered rollerblading robot carries you to work on a chariot of humiliatio...

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 04:29 AM PDT

Solar-powered rollerblading robot carries you to work on a chariot of humiliation (video)


Solar-powered rollerblading robot carries you to work on a chariot of humiliation (video)
Bob Schneevis is at it again. The man who turned George W. Bush into a robotic Roman warrior has now developed something he calls the Solar Electric Robot Chariot. Showcased at this year's Maker Faire Bay Area, Schneevis' single-motor, bot-drawn carriage features a set of battery-juicing solar panels and an array of cameras that control its chauffeur's mechanized movements....

Apple wins German injunction against Samsung, Galaxy Tab 7.7 pulled from IFA

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 02:36 AM PDT

Apple wins German injunction against Samsung, Galaxy Tab 7.7 pulled from IFA


Apple wins German injunction against Samsung, Galaxy Tab 7.7 pulled from IFA
Apple's ongoing patent battle with Samsung has taken yet another twist, now that Cupertino has won an injunction blocking German sales of the recently unveiled Galaxy Tab 7.7. According to FOSS Patents, Samsung pulled its new Android tablet from both the IFA show floor and its German website on Saturday, in compliance with a Friday decision handed down by the same Düsseldorf Regional Court court that banned sales of the Galaxy...

LG Thrill 4G officially arrives at AT&T for $100, fairy tales can come true

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 01:58 AM PDT

LG Thrill 4G officially arrives at AT&T for $100, fairy tales can come true


LG Thrill 4G officially arrives at AT&T for $100, fairy tales can come true
C'mon, admit it -- you didn't really think the LG Thrill 4G would ever be released, did you? After several weeks of unexplained delays, the AT&T-branded Optimus 3D is truly, honestly available on the carrier's website for sale at a respectable $100. The device, announced at CTIA 2011 in March, isn't hiding anything we didn't already know: it's got a 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4 CPU with 512MB of RAM, Froyo,...

Final Cut Studio on sale again via Apple telesales, video editors worldwide brea...

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 11:30 PM PDT

Final Cut Studio on sale again via Apple telesales, video editors worldwide breathe sighs of relief


Final Cut Studio on sale again via Apple telesales, video editors worldwide breathe sighs of relief
If you're one of the many Final Cut Pro users unhappy with Apple's latest version -- and you haven't been lured into Adobe's open arms -- today brings good news. According to MacRumors, Cupertino will continue to offer the previous, discontinued version via telephone sales. Calling 800-MY-APPLE and asking for Final Cut Studio (part number MB642Z/A) will net you Final Cut Pro 7, Motion 4, Soundtrack Pro 3, DVD Studio Pro...

RED EPIC-X starts shipping to lucky shooters with deep pockets

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 09:40 PM PDT

RED EPIC-X starts shipping to lucky shooters with deep pockets


RED EPIC-X starts shipping to lucky shooters with deep pockets
It's been almost two years since we first got a peek at the specs on RED's EPIC-X, and the 5K-shooting, roughly $30,000 rig is just now shipping out to customers. That's not terribly shocking considering the company's notoriously long development cycles and, if you ordered one, you should be too excited about getting a new toy to worry about how long it took to build....

Ask Engadget: best desktop OS for kids?

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 09:03 PM PDT

Ask Engadget: best desktop OS for kids?


Ask Engadget: best desktop OS for kids?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Ryan, who can't wait to get his kid fixated on the wonderful world of computers. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "My son (five years...

Engadget Mobile Podcast 102 - 09.03.2011

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 07:15 PM PDT

Engadget Mobile Podcast 102 - 09.03.2011



Engadget Mobile Podcast 102 - 09.03.2011
While Myriam explores the boundless mysteries of the Nevada desert, Dante Cesa and Zach Lutz join Brad Molen to explore the boundless mysteries of the week in mobile technology news. Host: Brad Molen Guests: Dante Cesa, Zachary Lutz Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Daestro - Light Powered (Ghostly International) 00:03:40 - Samsung Galaxy S II LTE ready for your reservation on Rogers 00:05:57 - Samsung Galaxy S II logs confirm NFC support for AT&T, none for Sprint 00:11:45 -...

Nokia 701 hands-on

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 06:38 PM PDT

Nokia 701 hands-on


Nokia 701 hands-on
Living in the States, it's easy to forget just how large a global presence Nokia has managed to maintain, in spite of some difficulties keeping up with the likes of iOS and Android. The company certainly had a presence at IFA this year, between its own booth and appearances in Vodafone's show offerings....

Team-Touchdroid dual boots Android on TouchPad -- touchscreen not included

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 05:25 PM PDT

Team-Touchdroid dual boots Android on TouchPad -- touchscreen not included


Team-Touchdroid dual boots Android on TouchPad -- touchscreen not included
The race to get Android working on the now budget-friendly HP TouchPad is on. We've already heard rumors of the little green robot coming pre-installed on the ill-fated slate and we've seen the first CM7 boot, but no one's gone all the way quite yet. While progress is slow, a team of dedicated TouchPad hackers, calling itself Team-Touchdroid, is now showing off a dual-boot configuration with Android 2.3.5....

Haier's mind control TV prototype hits IFA, we go foreheads-on (video)

Posted: 03 Sep 2011 04:48 PM PDT

Haier's mind control TV prototype hits IFA, we go foreheads-on (video)


Haier's mind control TV prototype hits IFA, we go foreheads-on (video)
The remote control revolutionized the way we watch television, doing away with the need for frequent trips to the set in order to change channels. One prototype in Haier's portfolio makes the whole remote thing look like a back breaking chore by comparison. The Brain Wave (definitely not a final product name) television protoype showcased at IFA this week brings mind control into the picture, promising users a future where channels...