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Tuesday, May 8, 2012

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Bridgestone ratchets up "One Team, One Planet Spent" tire-recycling program

Posted: 08 May 2012 03:23 PM PDT

Bridgestone ratchets up "One Team, One Planet Spent" tire-recycling program


Bridgestone ratchets up "One Team, One Planet Spent" tire-recycling program
Filed under: Green Culture, North America, USA Burning rubber? Not on Bridgestone's watch. That's what the world's largest tire and rubber company is saying by ratcheting up its tire-recycling program. Bridgestone Americas is looking to ensure that, by the end of the year, 100 percent of the used tires returned to its company-owned stores when new tires are purchased are recycled for other uses. The effort is part of Bridgestone's One Team, One Planet Spent Tire program. In addition to enforcing recycling for its company-owned stores, the Nashville-based company will, next year, start pushing affiliate retail stores to recycle all used tires as well. So far, the company appears to be pretty vigilant about its tire-recycling efforts, as it currently has a 98-percent tire-reusage rate at the company's 2,200 U.S. stores. That compares favorably to the 85-percent recycling rate for "spent" tires, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association.Continue reading Bridgestone ratchets up "One Team, One Planet Spent" tire-recycling programBridgestone ratchets up "One Team, One Planet Spent" tire-recycling program originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fujitsu app analyzes zits and skin tone, delivers professional advice to your phone

Posted: 08 May 2012 03:23 PM PDT

Fujitsu app analyzes zits and skin tone, delivers professional advice to your phone


Fujitsu app analyzes zits and skin tone, delivers professional advice to your phone
That's right, you can finally get rid of that Tamagotchi you've been using to pick those perfect skincare products. Fujitsu is teasing a new app that's capable of measuring specific characteristics of the skin, even with less-than-ideal lighting conditions. We normally have to put up with the hassle of having to visit our friendly neighborhood skincare professional every time we need accurate info about our zits, blemishes or what color makeup to wear to the Star Trek convention. Fujitsu wants to put that power in your pocket, identifying appropriate products before you get to the beauty bar. Maybe this one isn't destined for record downloads, but it could make life a little bit easier -- take a look at the descriptive graphic above if you don't believe us.Fujitsu app analyzes zits and skin tone, delivers professional advice to your phone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 18:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Fujitsu | Email this | Comments

Hands-on with the Nyx Mobile Lyuba Max and Fun mockups

Posted: 08 May 2012 03:23 PM PDT

Hands-on with the Nyx Mobile Lyuba Max and Fun mockups


Hands-on with the Nyx Mobile Lyuba Max and Fun mockups
When PR reps have something they think is truly special, things can get a little cloak and dagger. While we were hanging around the Nyx Mobile booth, a rep quietly sneaked up on us, to offer a glimpse of two new handset his company is working on. When we enthusiastically agreed (after our heart rate dropped), he led aside -- away from prying eyes -- and produced a pair devices, delicately wrapped in a silk handkerchief, from his suit's inside pocket. We won't lie, things got a tad disappointing when we realized they were non-functioning mockups, but if the company can pull of these frame-less designs we'll be quite impressed. Due to begin manufacturing within the next two or three months, the Lyuba Max and Lyuba Fun aim to make bezels a thing of the past. The lack of a frame on the five-inch, 63mm wide Max makes it even trimmer than the significantly smaller-screened Galaxy Nexus, which checks in at about 68mm wide. While we won't make too many judgments on the feel and design based on a non-functioning prototype we actually found the Max easier to hold and reach all corners of the screen with a single hand than the Nexus or the Note. The four-inch Fun, felt a good half-inch smaller than its specs -- more akin to an iPhone in size. Both devices will come rocking Ice Cream Sandwich, but it'll be powered by some rather mid-range hardware. Both will pack a 1.2GHz processor, likely of the single-core variety, and neither is boasting impressive screen resolutions. The Max is checking in with a decidedly dated 800 x 480 LCD, while the Fun drops to a lowly HVGA panel. Check out the gallery below for some images of the mockups. Gallery: Nyx Mobile Lyuba Max and Lyuba Fun mockup hands-onHands-on with the Nyx Mobile Lyuba Max and Fun mockups originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Huawei Ascend Y200 hands-on at CTIA 2012

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:49 PM PDT

Huawei Ascend Y200 hands-on at CTIA 2012


Huawei Ascend Y200 hands-on at CTIA 2012
Huawei's at CTIA Wireless 2012 in New Orleans, and we got to spend a little time with one the company's newest devices geared toward the youth and first-time smartphone users: the Ascend Y200. Power users need not apply here, as the Gingerbread handset offers a not-so-tantalizing 3.5-inch HVGA display, 1,400mAh battery, 3.2MP fixed-focus camera and 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7625A single-core processor (the listed spec here is different from the 800MHz spec we've heard previously, which makes us wonder if this has been overclocked for the US market). It also features a lot of fingerprints, courtesy of its glossy plastic build. The UI of the Y200 closely resembles most Huawei Gingerbread phones we've played with, such as the Honor. All told, the Ascend Y200 is decidedly low-end, with some European venues offering the device for €100. We may see it on a few prepaid carriers in the US, but this certainly won't be of any interest to those who crave the latest and greatest smartphones. Terrence O'Brien contributed to this post.Huawei Ascend Y200 hands-on at CTIA 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Live from CTIA with Jim Cramer and the CEOs of the four largest US carriers!

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:49 PM PDT

Live from CTIA with Jim Cramer and the CEOs of the four largest US carriers!


Live from CTIA with Jim Cramer and the CEOs of the four largest US carriers!
In one corner, we have CNBC's Jim Cramer. And in the other corner stands the heads of the four largest mobile operators in the United States: Ralph de la Vega (AT&T Mobility), Dan Mead (Verizon Wireless), Dan Hesse (Sprint) and Philipp Humm (T-Mobile). We fully expect Jim to lob a few hardball questions at these gentlemen, and there's no doubt zingers will be flung around. Who knows -- maybe we'll even get some news out of this keynote, so join us as we liveblog the Tuesday afternoon CTIA keynote, won't you? May 8, 2012 5:30 PM EDTLive from CTIA with Jim Cramer and the CEOs of the four largest US carriers! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

DirecTV adds 81,000 subscribers during Q1 in the US, increases revenue by 12 per...

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:49 PM PDT

DirecTV adds 81,000 subscribers during Q1 in the US, increases revenue by 12 percent


DirecTV adds 81,000 subscribers during Q1 in the US, increases revenue by 12 percent
Unlike with Comcast, Wall Street experts weren't surprised by DirecTV's latest Q1 results -- in fact, they were quite disappointed. The satellite provider only managed to add 81,000 subscribers in the US of A during the quarter, which is more than a 50 percent decrease compared to last year's Q1 (184,000). Meanwhile, DirecTV did see a 12 percent increase in revenue, pushing the total to about $7.05 billion. That last bit thanks in large part to landing over 590,000 new customers in Latin America, though that didn't keep its current share price from dropping about 2.7 percent to $46.60. Nonetheless, DirecTV CEO, Mike White, says his company "delivered another strong quarter [..] highlighted by double-digit revenue, EPS and cash flow growth." Us? Well, we're wondering why those "roadside ditch" commercials aren't luring more Stateside folks away from cable...Continue reading DirecTV adds 81,000 subscribers during Q1 in the US, increases revenue by 12 percentDirecTV adds 81,000 subscribers during Q1 in the US, increases revenue by 12 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Yahoo! Finance | Email this | Comments

Is it the Forone? Smart will start e-bike deliveries in UK this month

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:13 PM PDT

Is it the Forone? Smart will start e-bike deliveries in UK this month


Is it the Forone? Smart will start e-bike deliveries in UK this month
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, SMART, On Two Wheels, UK, Daimler Daimler's Smart division, best known for its ForTwo two-seat vehicles, will start deliveries of its battery-electric bikes in the UK this month after winning a Red Dot Design Award. The bike, which was unveiled last year, has a 250-watt electric motor that can provide as many as 62 miles of range. The Smart will be available in two color schemes - the white with "electric green" trim that we've seen many times now and grey with orange trim, Smart UK said. Last year, Smart estimated that e-bike sales in Germany alone almost tripled to 200,000 units in 2010 from 70,000 bikes in 2007. European e-bike sales reached 700,000 units in 2010. Smart also said in March that it would start selling its special-edition Brabus e-bike by the end of the year. That bike will have a 25-mile-per-hour top speed and an electric motor delivering 500 watts of power.Is it the Forone? Smart will start e-bike deliveries in UK this month originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung outs new Series 5 550P notebook in the UK, Ivy Bridge and numeric keypad...

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:13 PM PDT

Samsung outs new Series 5 550P notebook in the UK, Ivy Bridge and numeric keypad onboard


Samsung outs new Series 5 550P notebook in the UK, Ivy Bridge and numeric keypad onboard
We saw a lot of things back at CES, and from the PC makers, it was mainly new Ultrabooks. Samsung, however, did present a pair of "regular" notebooks, and it looks like they're just about to stretch their legs in the UK. The Series 5 550P is available in 15- and 17-inch varieties, sporting 1366 x 768 and 1600 x 900 displays respectively. Calling the shots will be quad-core Ivy Bridge Core i7 chips supported by 8GB of RAM. Graphics are dished up by a 2GB GeForce GT 650M, and there's a Blu-ray optical drive plus capacity for up to 2TB of storage. Like the Series 7, sound is handled by integrated JBL speakers complete with "Max Bass Boost" subwoofer -- crikey! Lower specification models will also be available (swapping the Blu-ray for DVD, and using shared graphics) when they hit UK stores this month.Continue reading Samsung outs new Series 5 550P notebook in the UK, Ivy Bridge and numeric keypad onboardSamsung outs new Series 5 550P notebook in the UK, Ivy Bridge and numeric keypad onboard originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

HTC EVO Design 4G for Boost Mobile hands-on

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:13 PM PDT

HTC EVO Design 4G for Boost Mobile hands-on


HTC EVO Design 4G for Boost Mobile hands-on
No, your eyes aren't deceiving you -- that's the very same EVO Design 4G we reviewed late last winter when it bowed on Sprint's lineup. Surfing along the carrier's increasingly antiquated 4G WiMAX network, this handset's getting a new berth on Boost Mobile priced at an affordable $299 for pre-paid customers. Much like its girthier Android cousin the EVO V 4G, the physical construction and internal specifications of this device have remained unchanged. It's still packing a 4-inch 960 x 540 qHD display, single-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon S2, 1.3 megapixel front-facing / rear 5 megapixel cameras and 4GB of internal storage. So, for the price the prepaid carrier's asking, it's not a bad deal. The phone is still just as pleasant to hold in hand, owing to a soft touch plastic back that's broken up by a smooth piece of aluminum plating. Again, if you've seen its earlier incarnation, you know what you're getting into, but there is a distinct difference here -- a combo of Sense 3.6 and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Luckily for prepaid consumers, the phone's set to launch sometime this June with that software combo pre-loaded; a sweet perk given its place on the lower end of the consumer spectrum. Hit up the gallery below for a further peek at this re-badged handset. Gallery: EVO Design 4G hands-on Myriam Joire contributed to this report.HTC EVO Design 4G for Boost Mobile hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Plum Mobile nicely KIRFs the Galaxy Note: hands-on with the Might

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:13 PM PDT

Plum Mobile nicely KIRFs the Galaxy Note: hands-on with the Might


Plum Mobile nicely KIRFs the Galaxy Note: hands-on with the Might
You've likely never heard of Plum Mobile before, and to be honest, neither had we before CTIA. Nonetheless, the smartphone creator is here to make a name for itself in New Orleans, even if it needs to ride on the coattails of other manufacturers. It goes without saying that of all the smartphones on display, it was the Might that immediately caught our eye. From a distance, it appeared to be a rebranded Galaxy Note. We then turned it on and discovered a clock widget that's undeniably reminiscent of HTC. The phone features Android 2.3.6 with an unusual UI that combines features of Sense, TouchWiz and stock Gingerbread, and while it's a bit of a mishmash, it's reasonably intuitive. Plum Mobile stopped short of cloning the Galaxy Note, but the resemblance is uncanny. Sadly, there's no stylus to speak of. The Might features a 650MHz CPU, a 5-inch display and a beefy 2,800mAh battery. Unlike the previous KIRF of the Note that we'd seen, this one features only a 5 megapixel camera, which is accompanied by an LED flash and a front-facing VGA. While none of the specs stand out as amazing -- including the display, which was a bit blurry -- we're told the phone will sell for approximately $180. Most fascinating about the Might, however, is its dual-SIM capabilities. Unfortunately, when we tried to play around with this functionality in the phone's settings, it locked up the phablet and we were unable to proceed. We know you're curious to see more, so be sure to check the gallery below. Sean Cooper contributed to this report Gallery: Plum Mobile nicely KIRFs the Galaxy Note: hands-on with the MightPlum Mobile nicely KIRFs the Galaxy Note: hands-on with the Might originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Microsoft patent details pressure-sensitive Xbox controller for storing players'...

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:12 PM PDT

Microsoft patent details pressure-sensitive Xbox controller for storing players' profiles


Microsoft patent details pressure-sensitive Xbox controller for storing players' profiles
Biometrics and laptop security go together like business meetings and boardrooms, but this Microsoft patent hints that gaming could be the next frontier for fingerprint recognition. The claims for "personalization using a hand-pressure signature" detail a product that may look like your standard 360 controller, but it features sensors to detect a user's identity. It seems that, based on each gamer's unique hand pressure patterns, the controller can determine who is holding the device at any given moment and deliver personalized content based on that user's gaming profile. Whatever Microsoft's mystery controller may be, E3 is just a few weeks away, so perhaps we'll learn more then.Microsoft patent details pressure-sensitive Xbox controller for storing players' profiles originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | USPTO | Email this | Comments

HTC EVO V 4G (Virgin Mobile USA) hands-on

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:12 PM PDT

HTC EVO V 4G (Virgin Mobile USA) hands-on


HTC EVO V 4G (Virgin Mobile USA) hands-on
Does that handset above look familiar to you? It should because you've seen it once before when Sprint debuted it as the EVO 3D. This time, however, the phone that failed to ignite much consumer interest is back with a rebranded moniker -- EVO V 4G -- a new home on Virgin Mobile, a 2D-only screen and a $299 price. We managed to get some hands-on time with the device and for better or for worse, it's still packing the same list of specs: 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.3 megapixel front-facing / dual 5 megapixel rear cameras, dual-core 1.2GHz processor buffered by 1GB RAM and packing 4GB of internal storage with an additional 8GB furnished by an included microSD card. Cosmetically, nothing has changed from its postpaid to prepaid journey, so you're still getting that same bulky build, jarring button layout for the 3D to 2D slider and the three quarter grooved plastic back. What counts, however, is the software it runs, namely Android 4.0.3. Yes, right out of the gate the company intends to ship this 4G WiMAX device (sorry, it's not future-proofed for LTE) with a Sense 3.6 skin running atop Ice Cream Sandwich. It's not HTC's latest lightweight 4.0 UX, but for the market it's aimed at, it'll do just fine. Check out our gallery below for additional shots of this fat smartphone ahead of its planned June launch. Gallery: EVO V 4G hands-on Myriam Joire contributed to this report.HTC EVO V 4G (Virgin Mobile USA) hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Is it the Forone? Smart will start e-bike deliveries in UK this month

Posted: 08 May 2012 01:38 PM PDT

Is it the Forone? Smart will start e-bike deliveries in UK this month


Is it the Forone? Smart will start e-bike deliveries in UK this month
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, SMART, On Two Wheels, UK, Daimler Daimler's Smart division, best known for its ForTwo two-seat vehicles, will start deliveries of its battery-electric bikes in the UK this month after winning a Red Dot Design Award. The bike, which was unveiled last year, has a 250-watt electric motor that can provide as many as 62 miles of range. The Smart will be available in two color schemes - the white with "electric green" trim that we've seen many times now and grey with orange trim, Smart UK said. Last year, Smart estimated that e-bike sales in Germany alone almost tripled to 200,000 units in 2010 from 70,000 bikes in 2007. European e-bike sales reached 700,000 units in 2010. Smart also said in March that it would start selling its special-edition Brabus e-bike by the end of the year. That bike will have a 25-mile-per-hour top speed and an electric motor delivering 500 watts of power.Is it the Forone? Smart will start e-bike deliveries in UK this month originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft patent details pressure-sensitive Xbox controller for storing players'...

Posted: 08 May 2012 01:38 PM PDT

Microsoft patent details pressure-sensitive Xbox controller for storing players' profiles


Microsoft patent details pressure-sensitive Xbox controller for storing players' profiles
Biometrics and laptop security go together like business meetings and boardrooms, but this Microsoft patent hints that gaming could be the next frontier for fingerprint recognition. The claims for "personalization using a hand-pressure signature" detail a product that may look like your standard 360 controller, but it features sensors to detect a user's identity. It seems that, based on each gamer's unique hand pressure patterns, the controller can determine who is holding the device at any given moment and deliver personalized content based on that user's gaming profile. Whatever Microsoft's mystery controller may be, E3 is just a few weeks away, so perhaps we'll learn more then.Microsoft patent details pressure-sensitive Xbox controller for storing players' profiles originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | USPTO | Email this | Comments

HTC EVO V 4G (Virgin Mobile USA) hands-on

Posted: 08 May 2012 01:37 PM PDT

HTC EVO V 4G (Virgin Mobile USA) hands-on


HTC EVO V 4G (Virgin Mobile USA) hands-on
Does that handset above look familiar to you? It should because you've seen it once before when Sprint debuted it as the EVO 3D. This time, however, the phone that failed to ignite much consumer interest is back with a rebranded moniker -- EVO V 4G -- a new home on Virgin Mobile, a 2D-only screen and a $299 price. We managed to get some hands-on time with the device and for better or for worse, it's still packing the same list of specs: 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.3 megapixel front-facing / dual 5 megapixel rear cameras, dual-core 1.2GHz processor buffered by 1GB RAM and packing 4GB of internal storage with an additional 8GB furnished by an included microSD card. Cosmetically, nothing has changed from its postpaid to prepaid journey, so you're still getting that same bulky build, jarring button layout for the 3D to 2D slider and the three quarter grooved plastic back. What counts, however, is the software it runs, namely Android 4.0.3. Yes, right out of the gate the company intends to ship this 4G WiMAX device (sorry, it's not future-proofed for LTE) with a Sense 3.6 skin running atop Ice Cream Sandwich. It's not HTC's latest lightweight 4.0 UX, but for the market it's aimed at, it'll do just fine. Check out our gallery below for additional shots of this fat smartphone ahead of its planned June launch. Gallery: EVO V 4G hands-on Myriam Joire contributed to this report.HTC EVO V 4G (Virgin Mobile USA) hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 dock lends its ports to your deprived laptop via Display...

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:54 PM PDT

Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 dock lends its ports to your deprived laptop via DisplayLink, available May 15th for $180


Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 dock lends its ports to your deprived laptop via DisplayLink, available May 15th for $180
We've all been there. When you run into a scenario where your kit is one USB port short of an ideal workflow. Fret not, the ThinkPad USB 3.0 dock from Lenovo will provide help with said issue when it arrives later this month. Powered by DisplayLink's DL-3900 graphics chip, the peripheral adds five of the aforementioned USB ports, dual DVI jacks for implementing multiple displays and both gigabit Ethernet and audio connections. Not too shabby for an expansion set that connects to your chosen workhorse over a single USB 3.0 cable. Looking to take the leap? You'll have to wait a few days, but you can snag one from retailers around the globe for $179.99 beginning May 15th.Continue reading Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 dock lends its ports to your deprived laptop via DisplayLink, available May 15th for $180Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 dock lends its ports to your deprived laptop via DisplayLink, available May 15th for $180 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Nest Learning Thermostat on sale at Lowe's, thinks you should climate control it...

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:54 PM PDT

Nest Learning Thermostat on sale at Lowe's, thinks you should climate control it yourself


Nest Learning Thermostat on sale at Lowe's, thinks you should climate control it yourself
The Nest Learning Thermostat just became a lot more available -- that is, if you happen to be around one of the 500+ Lowe's stores in the US that now carry the smart appliance. Lowe's insists that the product, designed by former Apple employees, is in line with the chain's do-it-yourself focus, seeing as home most buyers will likely install the product on their own. And everyone could stand to shed a some cost from their energy bills, right? More info can be found in the press release after the break.Continue reading Nest Learning Thermostat on sale at Lowe's, thinks you should climate control it yourselfNest Learning Thermostat on sale at Lowe's, thinks you should climate control it yourself originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechCrunch | | Email this | Comments

Qualcomm gets on the Band 41 bandwagon, pledges support for Clearwire's upcoming...

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Qualcomm gets on the Band 41 bandwagon, pledges support for Clearwire's upcoming LTE TDD network


Qualcomm gets on the Band 41 bandwagon, pledges support for Clearwire's upcoming LTE TDD network
Not exactly groundbreaking news here -- Clearwire's impending LTE TDD network is happening, regardless -- but it's always good to have the weight of a mainstay like Qualcomm behind you. Particularly when you're pushing uphill, into the wind, against far more established 4G networks from AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Qually has announced that it'll soon add support for the aforesaid waves, including Clearwire in its list of partners ready to ingest those multi-mode LTE chipsets that are so vital to our future enjoyment. The key here is support for 3GPP's Band 41 (B41) radio frequency, and we're told that the outfit plans to make chipsets supporting that band available "later this year." You're cool to wait, right?Continue reading Qualcomm gets on the Band 41 bandwagon, pledges support for Clearwire's upcoming LTE TDD networkQualcomm gets on the Band 41 bandwagon, pledges support for Clearwire's upcoming LTE TDD network originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Clearwire | Email this | Comments

Zero Motorcycles sees huge sales increase, announces National Demo Day

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Zero Motorcycles sees huge sales increase, announces National Demo Day


Zero Motorcycles sees huge sales increase, announces National Demo Day
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, USAZero Motorcycles has come a long way since the company first showed up on our radar back in 2007, and has only seemed to gain momentum since then. In fact, it just announced a 240 percent increase in year-on-year first quarter sales. It's not been by accident. Yes, it's hired some top executives from around the industry and taken advantage of good press opportunities. The company's also done a pretty decent job at reaching out to consumers. At last year's FIM/TTXGP race at Laguna Seca, for instance, it had a nice booth with a fleet of bikes on hand and gave hundreds of test rides to prospective customers. It was pretty impressive. Mostly though, it's latest sales success comes down to product. Its line up has expanded from the initial Zero X dirt bike to a whole family of machines whose quality and specifications have improved with each successive generation. Not surprisingly, Zero believes the component that's been most improved is also responsible for its recent achievements. The latest ZF9 battery pack allows its S and DS models to claim a 114- and 112-mile range, respectively, (in the city) and that has translated into lots of cha-ching. Indeed, not long after the 2012 bikes reached retailers, Hollywood Electrics claimed to have sold more of them in a few short weeks then it had all the previous model years combined. If you'd like to see what all the fuss is about, Zero Motorcycles has announced a "National Demo Day" for the 19th of May at participating dealerships in the U.S. (you can click here to find one near you). Along with test rides, Zero will have factory reps at many locations available to answer questions and get feedback. Who knows, you may just find yourself riding one home. Scroll below for the official press release.Continue reading Zero Motorcycles sees huge sales increase, announces National Demo DayZero Motorcycles sees huge sales increase, announces National Demo Day originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 08 May 2012 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

NEC announces Ivy Bridge processors for some, not all, of its series refreshes

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:15 PM PDT

NEC announces Ivy Bridge processors for some, not all, of its series refreshes


NEC announces Ivy Bridge processors for some, not all, of its series refreshes
Ivy Bridge continues to subsume its aging Sandy brother, this time as part of NEC's refresh of both its laptop and desktop families. However, only two machines have been gifted Intel's third-generation processors. The ValueStar L desktop series arrives with a Core i7-3770S at 3.1GHz, accompanied by a 2TB HDD and a 23-inch display. The LaVie L series packs a Core i7-3770S clocked at 2.3GHz, alongside a 15.6-inch screen, 1TB hard-disk, USB 3.0 port and digital TV tuner -- well, it is Japan. NEC expects both models (alongside the renewed LaVie S, E, M and ValueStar W and N series) to hit Japanese stores later this month.NEC announces Ivy Bridge processors for some, not all, of its series refreshes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Akihabara News | NEC (translated) | Email this | Comments

Apple inadvertently teases iCloud.com banner notifications, pings your browser i...

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Apple inadvertently teases iCloud.com banner notifications, pings your browser iOS 5-style


Apple inadvertently teases iCloud.com banner notifications, pings your browser iOS 5-style
Apple already made clear that it was expanding iOS 5-like notifications to the desktop with OS X Mountain Lion, but it now looks as though that's extending to your web browser, too. Some visitors to iCloud.com have reported seeing notifications show at the top of the page that were both based on iOS' look and which were clearly not ready for prime time -- not unless Default Title for English is a new iCloud feature, at least. There's no indication of how advanced notifications might become in Apple's web portal, or if they'll transition from development cocoon to public butterfly at all. In the meantime, though, keep an eye on the top of your browser and let us know if you see anything leap out in the near future.Apple inadvertently teases iCloud.com banner notifications, pings your browser iOS 5-style originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink AppleInsider | iCloud.com | Email this | Comments

Google's Vic Gundotra tries Project Glass on for size

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Google's Vic Gundotra tries Project Glass on for size


Google's Vic Gundotra tries Project Glass on for size
Looks like we're starting to get a little insight into Google's Project Glass testing process. Seems like the augmented reality glasses need to make their way onto every head on the Google staff, before the company feels confident moving ahead with them. First we caught sight of co-founder Sergey Brin, then it was Sebastian Thrun of Project X fame, and now social exec Vic Gundotra is getting a crack. He looks reasonably happy, so that's probably a good sign, right? Update: Looks like Google employee Sebastian Thrun actually tried one on... and got a photo of what it looks like from the inside. Head on the past the break for a glimpse.Continue reading Google's Vic Gundotra tries Project Glass on for sizeGoogle's Vic Gundotra tries Project Glass on for size originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Google+ (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

Sony Xperia Acro HD for NTT DoCoMo hands-on (video)

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Sony Xperia Acro HD for NTT DoCoMo hands-on (video)


Sony Xperia Acro HD for NTT DoCoMo hands-on (video)
We just happened upon the Sony Xperia Acro HD for NTT DoCoMo, which is sold as the SO-03HD and recently launched with the Japanese carrier. As many of you are aware, the handset is a variant of the Xperia Ion, but with a few features for the locals such as a built-in TV tuner, mobile payment and infrared support. The Acro HD offers a respectable list of specs, which include a Qualcomm MSM 8260 SoC with a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU, a 4.3-inch, 720p display and a 12.1 megapixel camera that includes Sony's Exmor R sensor and is capable of shooting 1080p video. It also includes 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and an 1,840mAh battery. As a final notable aspect, the Xperia Acro HD is waterproof and can remain submerged in up to one meter of water for a half-hour. The phone is available in a variety of colors, which include Blue, Pink, White and Black -- the last being the particular variant that we sighted today. While there are many aspects of the phone we liked, such as its high-quality display and refined aesthetics, a number of its design elements such as the extendable TV antenna and atrocious number of doors for ports struck us as quite flimsy. The phone runs Android 2.3.7 with a heavy amount of skinning from the carrier, which you can see in our hands-on video after the break. Sean Cooper contributed to this reportContinue reading Sony Xperia Acro HD for NTT DoCoMo hands-on (video)Sony Xperia Acro HD for NTT DoCoMo hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Microsoft touts 98-percent 'Smoked by Windows Phone' success rate, a few beg to...

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Microsoft touts 98-percent 'Smoked by Windows Phone' success rate, a few beg to differ


Microsoft touts 98-percent 'Smoked by Windows Phone' success rate, a few beg to differ
Microsoft's "Smoked by Windows Phone" challenge has been long on claims that Windows Phone can outrace your smartphone platform of choice in day-to-day tasks, but it's been short on hard numbers. Until now, that is. Company Evangelist Ben Rudolph claims that over 50,000 smartphones -- or 98 percent of all contenders -- have been beaten in the challenges since the company started running them back at CES, with just 638 people having proved their devices faster at a trade show or a Microsoft Store. That's good news for advocates, although it doesn't come without its share of controversies over fairness and whether or not the challenges overlook the advantages of your Android phone, BlackBerry or iPhone. Ultimately, the real challenge for Microsoft may be translating those successes into real improvements for its so-so market share.Microsoft touts 98-percent 'Smoked by Windows Phone' success rate, a few beg to differ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Windows Phone Blog | Email this | Comments

Give Your Silver Tongue A Workout With GroupCall’s Super-Simple Conference Calls

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Give Your Silver Tongue A Workout With GroupCall's Super-Simple Conference Calls


Give Your Silver Tongue A Workout With GroupCall's Super-Simple Conference Calls
Conference calls aren't always the most interesting things to take part in, but they can be just as much a hassle to set up as they are to sit though. That's where a new app called GroupCall comes in -- developed by the folks over at Parlor, GroupCall aims to make coordinating secure conference calls accessible for folks who just want something that works. What really makes GroupCall shine is how little work it takes to get your conference calls up and running -- there's no signup or registration required. Once you pop into the app proper, you're given the option to select users to invite to your conference call by picking them out of your contact list or punching in either their phone number or their email address.

New 802.1aq standard promises to improve Ethernet efficiency

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:15 PM PDT

New 802.1aq standard promises to improve Ethernet efficiency


New 802.1aq standard promises to improve Ethernet efficiency
Yesterday the IEEE announced an update to the 802.11 WiFi standard, and today it's promptly moving on to the Ethernet side of things. The association just approved the 802.1aq Shortest Path Bridging standard, which will streamline the management and build-out of networks by using the latest-gen VLAN with a higher service capacity. Basically, a larger scale for more efficiency and less errors. Head past the break for the full presser.Continue reading New 802.1aq standard promises to improve Ethernet efficiencyNew 802.1aq standard promises to improve Ethernet efficiency originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Apple and Samsung finally agree... to drop a plethora of claims from their paten...

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:15 PM PDT

Apple and Samsung finally agree... to drop a plethora of claims from their patent spat


Apple and Samsung finally agree... to drop a plethora of claims from their patent spat
Last week, Judge Lucy Koh informed Apple and Samsung that they would have to reduce the number of patent claims at issue in the parties' Northern District of California litigation. And now, each has complied, with Samsung dropping its total number of asserted patent claims from 75 to 15, while dismissing two patents from the case altogether. For its part, Apple has reduced its case to one claim from each of its asserted utility patents, its four iPhone and one iPad design patents, and its trade dress claims for those two devices. Keep in mind, however, that they did so without prejudice, which means that either party can reassert these dismissed claims in a later lawsuit. That said, the parties have at least attempted to placate Judge Koh in order to keep their July 30th trial date, which is when the real legal fireworks begin. Feel free to check the filings below for the full scope of this most recent patent pruning.Apple and Samsung finally agree... to drop a plethora of claims from their patent spat originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 13:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink All Things D | Apple filing (PDF), Samsung filing (PDF) | Email this | Comments

Mobile Component Marketplace Verious Expands, Adds Hundreds Of Windows Phone & H...

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:14 PM PDT

Mobile Component Marketplace Verious Expands, Adds Hundreds Of Windows Phone & HTML5 Listings To Site


Mobile Component Marketplace Verious Expands, Adds Hundreds Of Windows Phone & HTML5 Listings To Site
Verious, a new mobile component marketplace (and recent Disrupt finalist), is announcing an expansion of its service today, to also include components for Microsoft's Windows Phone platform as well as those for HTML5 mobile apps. The addition means there are now hundreds more components, SDKs, and open source projects available on Verious's platform, which previously focused primarily on offerings for iOS and Android.

Ustream, Booyah Co-founders Team Up On Stealth Startup With $1.5M From Greylock,...

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:14 PM PDT

Ustream, Booyah Co-founders Team Up On Stealth Startup With $1.5M From Greylock, Kevin Rose & More


Ustream, Booyah Co-founders Team Up On Stealth Startup With $1.5M From Greylock, Kevin Rose & More
Back in November, Ustream Co-founder and longtime CEO John Ham stepped down from the company he had helped found four and a half years earlier. His co-founder, Brad Hunstable, took the reins in his place. Ham continues to serve as chairman of Ustream's board of directors and as an advisor to the company, but as Jason reported, his stepping down in November was an acknowledgement of the Entrepreneurial Call. At the time, Ham was tight-lipped about the particulars of his new venture, which remains true today, as the startup is in double-secret stealth mode. However, Ham is ready to reveal a few more details, including his partner. The Ustream co-founder has teamed up with Keith Lee, the co-founder of venture-backed, location-based mobile app developer Booyah.

Camaro Joins the 11-Second Club

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:14 PM PDT

Camaro Joins the 11-Second Club


Camaro Joins the 11-Second Club
Chevy says a ZL1 Camaro ran an 11.96-second quarter-mile at 117 mph.