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Monday, January 16, 2012

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Hello Kitty pays a visit to CES 2012: If you want it, we got it in pink

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 04:25 PM PST

Hello Kitty pays a visit to CES 2012: If you want it, we got it in pink


Hello Kitty pays a visit to CES 2012: If you want it, we got it in pink
An electronics show wouldn't be an electronics show without celebrity endorsements. But there was one icon who had more product tie-ins than anyone else. Yep, Kitty-chan was in attendance and she had plenty of pink paraphernalia to hawk to unsuspecting fans of all things kawaii. We've collated together all the gear spotted at CES and fortunately, there was more than just a few phone cases and laptop bags....

Must See HDTV (January 16th - 22nd)

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 04:25 PM PST

Must See HDTV (January 16th - 22nd)


Must See HDTV (January 16th - 22nd)
After a CES related hiatus, we're back, and just in time for the premieres of a few of our favorite shows. Since we've been busy watching demo reels instead of what's on, feel free to let us know if we missed anything important during our Las Vegas trip (is anyone watching The Firm?...

Mobile Technology Is Transforming The Health Industry, But To What Extent?

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 03:36 PM PST

Mobile Technology Is Transforming The Health Industry, But To What Extent?


Mobile Technology Is Transforming The Health Industry, But To What Extent?
Technology is in the process of bringing change to every piece of the health industry — wellness, fitness, healthcare, medicine — you name it. And as it always seems with introduction of new technologies, it's awe-inspiring how quickly they can transform entire industries yet, at the same time, make us realize just how far we have to go (or how far behind we really are)....

Verizon to stop allowing legacy Alltel devices to be activated on its network, s...

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 03:36 PM PST

Verizon to stop allowing legacy Alltel devices to be activated on its network, starting today


Verizon to stop allowing legacy Alltel devices to be activated on its network, starting today
It's been three years and two days since Verizon officially closed its acquisition of Alltel, and it looks like Big Red's finally putting the sledgehammer down on activating legacy devices from the purchased network. We just received official word from a Verizon spokesperson that effective today, the carrier will no longer allow you to bring over an Alltel device to a retail outlet and get it activated on their network....

Notion Ink releases ICS Alpha update for Adam tablet, teases new device (video)

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 03:36 PM PST

Notion Ink releases ICS Alpha update for Adam tablet, teases new device (video)


Notion Ink releases ICS Alpha update for Adam tablet, teases new device (video)
We had mixed feelings about Notion Ink's Adam slate when it debuted last year, but if you're one of the converts who took one home, then it looks like your faith is being rewarded with an ICS update. Okay, it's only an alpha build, so not everything is working just yet -- that'd be the camera, 3G, USB storage and flash drive, oh and the light sensor....

DOT's LaHood defends tax credit for plug-in vehicles

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 02:47 PM PST

DOT's LaHood defends tax credit for plug-in vehicles


DOT's LaHood defends tax credit for plug-in vehicles
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, USA U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said tax incentives for plug-in electric vehicles have been an effective way of boosting consumer interest in cars like the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in and the Nissan Leaf battery-electric vehicle, even though the two models had weaker sales than expected, Reuters reported. The $7,500 federal tax credit, which critics say has been used mostly by people wealthy enough to...

Suprise! People like free stuff, Amazon's lending library a success

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 01:58 PM PST

Suprise! People like free stuff, Amazon's lending library a success


Suprise! People like free stuff, Amazon's lending library a success
You can always count on people's desire to avoid paying for stuff. That's why it shouldn't come as any surprise that Amazon's Lending Library is such a success. The free perk available to Prime customers who also happen to be Kindle owners launched in November with just 5,000 books available....

GroupShot Launches Impressive Face-Swapping, Photo Editing App For iPhone

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 01:08 PM PST

GroupShot Launches Impressive Face-Swapping, Photo Editing App For iPhone


GroupShot Launches Impressive Face-Swapping, Photo Editing App For iPhone
Remember when Microsoft rolled out Photo Fuse, the crazy feature in its Windows Live Photos product that let you swap people's heads around in in your photos order to get the perfect shot? Well, now there's an app that does the same thing, and it's not from Microsoft. It's from an Israeli-based startup called Macadamia Apps, makers of the new app GroupShot....

Some Transformer Prime users unable to upgrade to ICS, serial number 'Unknown'

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 01:07 PM PST

Some Transformer Prime users unable to upgrade to ICS, serial number 'Unknown'


Some Transformer Prime users unable to upgrade to ICS, serial number 'Unknown'
Ice Cream Sandwich for the Transformer Prime was one of the most anticipated updates for one of the most anticipated tablets of recent memory. It was pushed out last week and so everyone's happy -- right? Sadly, some folks are missing out. We've received a number of reports from users who haven't been as successful as we were in updating to Android 4.0, their slates showing an "Unknown" serial number preventing...

CES 2012: HDTV and connected devices round-up

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 01:07 PM PST

CES 2012: HDTV and connected devices round-up


CES 2012: HDTV and connected devices round-up
The Consumer Electronics Show is always a big deal for HDTVs and the devices that plug into them, and the 2012 edition was no different. With the majority of households already owning an HDTV, manufacturers are pressed to convince you to upgrade, and are pulling out all the stops. We've got new display technologies like OLED, 4K and Super Hi-Vision, plus more 3D and internet connected features than ever....

Google outs new tilt and roll Maps game, promotes Google+

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 01:07 PM PST

Google outs new tilt and roll Maps game, promotes Google+


Google outs new tilt and roll Maps game, promotes Google+
If you weren't in the know on Google Earth's flight simulator easter egg, rest assured that Google's next map-centric game will be entirely public. A new promotional video pimping Google+ Games invites you to "play your world" by cubing a mapped area of the Earth, and dropping a ball into it....

Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab get security nod, certified for government ag...

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 12:16 PM PST

Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab get security nod, certified for government agencies


Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab get security nod, certified for government agencies
We didn't have much to complain about when it came to Samsung's flagship phone and tablet, so we're glad to see that both the Galaxy S II and Tab 10.1 have managed to jump through the requisite hoops for FIPS certification. The business-centric feature means that both Samsung devices have been given the thumbs up for use in governmental agencies and other similarly stickler-for-the-rule industries....

Surface 2.0 now shipping, packing PixelSense and Gorilla Glass

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 12:16 PM PST

Surface 2.0 now shipping, packing PixelSense and Gorilla Glass


Surface 2.0 now shipping, packing PixelSense and Gorilla Glass
Samsung's SUR40 has been a long time coming. The 40-inch next-gen Surface was unveiled at CES 2011, but it's only just now starting to ship, following the 2012 edition of that gadget show. It finally went up for pre-order in mid-November for $8,400, but at the time we still had no clear date for shipments....

Microsoft To ARM Win8 Tablet Makers: No Dual Boot For You

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 11:24 AM PST

Microsoft To ARM Win8 Tablet Makers: No Dual Boot For You


Microsoft To ARM Win8 Tablet Makers: No Dual Boot For You
This may seem a bit of inside baseball, but it's a fairly interesting fact for folks looking forward to thin-and-light Win8 devices running ARM chips rather than Intel. According Computer World, devices running ARM versions of Win8 will not be able to run other OSes, like Android, thanks to something called Secure Boot. A version of Secure Boot is built into many mobile devices – namely phones and tablets – in order...

Instant Messaging Service Imo.im Launches Real-Time Social Network

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 11:24 AM PST

Instant Messaging Service Imo.im Launches Real-Time Social Network


Instant Messaging Service Imo.im Launches Real-Time Social Network
Imo.im, which you probably know as the multi-platform free instant messaging product for the web and mobile devices is launching its own real-time social network today. For now, the network is only accessible online, but the company says it will soon integrate the new features into its mobile app lineup, which currently includes apps for the iPhone/iPad, Android, BlackBerry and Nokia devices. The goal of the network is to connect users to...

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer's ICS update currently awaiting Google's approval

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 11:24 AM PST

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer's ICS update currently awaiting Google's approval


ASUS Eee Pad Transformer's ICS update currently awaiting Google's approval
Users of the ASUS Transformer Prime may already be enjoying their hot-off-the-press upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich, but when will its predecessor be so lucky? We've heard that it would be inbound sometime in February, but there's still a slight possibility that it'll get here even sooner. On its North American Facebook page, ASUS responded to a curious user, mentioning that it's in the process of getting Google's official stamp of...

Skype exec confirms that Windows Phone product is 'coming soon'

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 11:24 AM PST

Skype exec confirms that Windows Phone product is 'coming soon'


Skype exec confirms that Windows Phone product is 'coming soon'
Who doesn't love a little bit of old fashioned synergy? Speaking to a Microsoft representative in the Microsoft CES booth holding a Microsoft microphone, VP of products for Microsoft-owned Skype, Rick Osterloh, made mention of the VoIP service's plans to make its way onto Microsoft's mobile operating system. Says Osterloh, "We're [...] working on a Windows Phone product that will be coming out soon." We've definitely heard that noise before.Continue reading...

Refresh Roundup: week of January 9, 2012

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 10:30 AM PST

Refresh Roundup: week of January 9, 2012


Refresh Roundup: week of January 9, 2012
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....

Leaving Las Vegas: Team Engadget departs CES 2012

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 09:36 AM PST

Leaving Las Vegas: Team Engadget departs CES 2012


Leaving Las Vegas: Team Engadget departs CES 2012
CES 2012. It's over, but it'll leave a lasting impression on us all. And by "lasting," we mean "eternal." It'll also go down as the most attended CES ever, with more exhibitors and more product launches than ever before. Engadget as a team hit more news than ever before, covered more hands-ons than ever before and just generally sat in awe at the sheer quantity of news that flowed from the...

CES 2012: audio roundup

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 08:40 AM PST

CES 2012: audio roundup


CES 2012: audio roundup
Audio-wares may not be on the forefront of many geek's minds during CES, but that doesn't mean you won't find a bevy of sound-pumping gizmos while traversing across the crowded show floor. From giant AirPlay and iPod dock systems to premium audiophile headphones (and a bevy of dinky iDevice-compatible buds), we've picked out a few of our favorites....

Our Favorite CES 2012 Interviews, Videos And Events

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 07:44 AM PST

Our Favorite CES 2012 Interviews, Videos And Events


Our Favorite CES 2012 Interviews, Videos And Events
CES was a blast this year. It was the best show in recent memory. Everyone from the press to vendors were upbeat and seemingly truly happy to be there. Attendance was up. The show was the largest ever (too big for some). Best of all, we shared a wonderful booth with the Engadget crew, which allowed us to conduct more interviews and chill on some comfy couches when not livestreaming from...

Coby unveils its family of Ice Cream Sandwich slates, we go hands-on (video)

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 07:44 AM PST

Coby unveils its family of Ice Cream Sandwich slates, we go hands-on (video)


Coby unveils its family of Ice Cream Sandwich slates, we go hands-on (video)
It's hard to tell whether CES 2012 beat out last years show for tablet numbers, but there were plenty of slabs less likely to throttle your wallet in 2012. Coby has leapt onto that very bandwagon, with a whole slew of tablets. Several, but not all, made their first appearance at this year's CES and we were itching to see how they would stack up against some very price-savvy devices....

Fisker Karma showcased at Harrods in London

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 06:51 AM PST

Fisker Karma showcased at Harrods in London


Fisker Karma showcased at Harrods in London
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Fisker Want to advertise a new plaything for the wealthy? The front windows at Harrods are the place to be. That's where Aston Martin once displayed the Cygnet city car, and where Lexus showcased its hybrids a short while after. Little wonder, then, that Fisker has opted to park the Karma at the swanky London department store. The Karma display gives prospective British buyers the chance to see the...

Growing the Perfect Pint

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 06:51 AM PST

Growing the Perfect Pint


Growing the Perfect Pint
Beer enthusiasts are turning to their own gardens to grow one of beer's key ingredients: hops. 

CES 2012: interview roundup (video)

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 06:51 AM PST

CES 2012: interview roundup (video)


CES 2012: interview roundup (video)
The Engadget stage was home to many an interview at this year's CES. Many, many interviews. Given the deluge of guests we hosted in Las Vegas this year, you could be forgiven for not keeping up -- for throwing up your hands in exasperation and making a sandwich to heal the hurt....

Intel-powered Windows 8 tablets to struggle for sub-$600 pricing?

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 05:59 AM PST

Intel-powered Windows 8 tablets to struggle for sub-$600 pricing?


Intel-powered Windows 8 tablets to struggle for sub-$600 pricing?
Microsoft has a big battle ahead to overcome the overwhelming popularity of the iPad on the tablet computing front, and its Intel-powered slates might be starting at a distinct disadvantage if a DigiTimes report is to be believed. The site indicates that neither Intel nor Microsoft are willing to cut their prices to help manufacturers, the former providing the Clover Trail hardware and the latter the Windows 8 software, which could...

Samsung Galaxy S II for US Cellular clears FCC, lacks LTE

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 04:17 AM PST

Samsung Galaxy S II for US Cellular clears FCC, lacks LTE


Samsung Galaxy S II for US Cellular clears FCC, lacks LTE
The Samsung R760 has been tossed around as the likely model number of US Cellular's upcoming Galaxy S II, and it's just cleared one more hurdle: the FCC. While this doesn't guarantee that the carrier will indeed get its own flavor of the GSII anytime soon, it's just another piece of evidence to consider....

Face and 'effort' controlled iPad game helps you outrun the competition (video)

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 03:26 AM PST

Face and 'effort' controlled iPad game helps you outrun the competition (video)


Face and 'effort' controlled iPad game helps you outrun the competition (video)
If you're looking for some exergaming action, but don't have the rhythm -- or lack of self awareness -- for some existing sport game accesories, how about a game controlled by effort? Using your iDevice's camera and accelerometer, BitGym has created a control system for playing iOS games while on your exercise equipment of choice (possibly not the trampoline though)....

Sprint remains tepid on Windows Phone at CES, confirms no new WiMAX phones are p...

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 12:56 AM PST

Sprint remains tepid on Windows Phone at CES, confirms no new WiMAX phones are planned


Sprint remains tepid on Windows Phone at CES, confirms no new WiMAX phones are planned
This may have been a fairly big CES for Windows Phone, but it looks like Microsoft still has a fair bit of convincing to do in order to bring all the carriers fully on board. That includes Sprint, which does currently have a Windows Phone in its lineup (and is apparently considering more in the "August-September time period"), but remains decidedly unenthusiastic about the platform as a whole....

INFOBAR C01: Japan’s Newest (And Most Colorful) Android Phone

Posted: 16 Jan 2012 12:07 AM PST

INFOBAR C01: Japan's Newest (And Most Colorful) Android Phone


INFOBAR C01: Japan's Newest (And Most Colorful) Android Phone
Japan's mobile landscape is currently in the midst of an Android revolution, and today KDDI au (the country's second biggest carrier) announced another 5 smartphones with that OS on board for the local market. The most interesting model in the new line-up is the so-called INFOBAR C01 [JP], a candy bar coming with a heavily customized UI (based on Android 2.3). KDDI au introduced a similar model back in May last year,...