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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

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Visualized: Android's device diversity cut up into 3,997 little pieces

Posted: 16 May 2012 02:53 PM PDT

Visualized: Android's device diversity cut up into 3,997 little pieces


Visualized: Android's device diversity cut up into 3,997 little pieces
Some call it diversity, some call it fragmentation. However you slice it, there's a lot of Android devices out there. OpenSignalMaps has tracked a staggering 3,997 unique phones, tablets and other Google-powered gadgets, and has put them into a chart weighted by popularity. Not surprisingly, it's powerhouses like Samsung's Galaxy S II and HTC's Desire line that dictate the platform, while that Concorde Tab you bought in Hungary sadly doesn't have much traction. The normally signal mapping-oriented crew is careful to warn that the actual variety might be less: there's 1,363 one-timers in the group, and some of those may be custom ROMs and the endless carrier-specific variants that OEMs are sometimes eager to make. There's even more to look at through the source, including Android 2.3's continuing dominance and the mind-boggling number of Android screen resolutions, so click ahead for an even fuller picture.Visualized: Android's device diversity cut up into 3,997 little pieces originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 17:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Phone Arena | OpenSignalMaps | Email this | Comments

IIHS Releases 2012 'Top Safety Pics'

Posted: 16 May 2012 02:53 PM PDT

IIHS Releases 2012 'Top Safety Pics'


IIHS Releases 2012 'Top Safety Pics'
Top crashworthiness picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Porsche 918 Spyder prototype returns to the road with polished black and white s...

Posted: 16 May 2012 02:16 PM PDT

Porsche 918 Spyder prototype returns to the road with polished black and white shell


Porsche 918 Spyder prototype returns to the road with polished black and white shell
It may not be the first time Porsche's 918 plug-in hybrid has had a chance to flex its 770 horse power for the camera, but when we last saw the pricey insanely expensive speed demon strut its stuff on record, it certainly didn't look like this. The freakish prototype has emerged as a beautiful, high-performance vision of efficiency, blasting its way past 100 kilometers of terrain for every three liters of petrol (78 miles/gallon). The $845,000 machine pairs a combustion engine with electric motors to achieve that consumption rating, and sports a carbon-fiber reinforced-plastic monocoque (self-supporting) shell, rear-axle steering and that unique upward-venting exhausted system that you may have noticed in the shot above. The 918 Spyder is slated for its initial production run beginning in September of 2013, with the first models making their way to US customers late next year. It's time to start saving -- just a few thousand blog posts to go.Gallery: Porsche 918 SpyderContinue reading Porsche 918 Spyder prototype returns to the road with polished black and white shellPorsche 918 Spyder prototype returns to the road with polished black and white shell originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Porsche Drive | Email this | Comments

It’s Time For A Larger iPhone

Posted: 16 May 2012 01:38 PM PDT

It's Time For A Larger iPhone


It's Time For A Larger iPhone
The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that Apple is currently ordering larger screens for the next iPhone. With the usual nonsense, the WSJ cited people familiar with the matter and stated these screens measure at least 4-inches diagonally. Production is set to begin next month, they say. The Journal better be right, though. A 3.5-inch screen is just too small now. At this point to say anything to the contrary is pure fanboi nonsense. The standard argument that consumers don't want a large phone is tired and overused. Besides, it's effectively proven wrong by the 20 million Galaxy S II phones sold by Samsung last year. It's time for a larger iPhone.

Viacom and Time Warner Cable call truce, TWC TV mobile apps will stream Colbert...

Posted: 16 May 2012 01:38 PM PDT

Viacom and Time Warner Cable call truce, TWC TV mobile apps will stream Colbert after all


Viacom and Time Warner Cable call truce, TWC TV mobile apps will stream Colbert after all
Good news ahoy if you've liked Time Warner Cable's TWC TV streaming app but were frustrated with content providers pulling channels over licensing rights: the cable giant and Viacom have reached a settlement that will see Viacom's channels return to your Android or iOS gear. Comedy Central, CMT, MTV and other channels will be back in the next several weeks, and the two sides even managed to bury the hatched over "unrelated business matters," according to a joint statement. Just what led to the about-face is being kept secret, although Viacom's tendency to sue over retransmission rights in the digital realm raises the possibility that TWC had to fork over an extra amount. At least now you can watch The Daily Show on your iPad knowing your cable provider and the studio are singing "Kumbaya."Viacom and Time Warner Cable call truce, TWC TV mobile apps will stream Colbert after all originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 16:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Viacom Blog, Time Warner Cable Untangled | Email this | Comments

Boost Mobile set to offer Smith Micro's Visual Voicemail features starting on Ma...

Posted: 16 May 2012 01:38 PM PDT

Boost Mobile set to offer Smith Micro's Visual Voicemail features starting on May 31st


Boost Mobile set to offer Smith Micro's Visual Voicemail features starting on May 31st
Up until now, the Boost Mobile crowd's been missing out on those fancy visual voicemail creations, but that's about to change starting on May 31st. Earlier today, Smith Micro announced it's delivering its Visual Voicemail features to the prepaid-friendly carrier, with the upcoming Boost-branded HTC EVO Design 4G being the first slab to offer said tidbits. Smith Micro is also adding an optional service dubbed "Voicemail-to-Text," which -- for an extra $1.99 per month -- will essentially turn those vocal messages into words and send them to you via text message or email. With the launch of the "four-gee" waves in mind, we're certain you're enjoying all the incoming news of late.Continue reading Boost Mobile set to offer Smith Micro's Visual Voicemail features starting on May 31stBoost Mobile set to offer Smith Micro's Visual Voicemail features starting on May 31st originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Smith Micro | Email this | Comments

Rare Commodore KIM-1 hits eBay, shows you the PET's barebones roots

Posted: 16 May 2012 01:37 PM PDT

Rare Commodore KIM-1 hits eBay, shows you the PET's barebones roots


Rare Commodore KIM-1 hits eBay, shows you the PET's barebones roots
Most of us think of Commodore's pre-C64 computing history in terms of the still-legendary PET-2001, but an eBay auction run by Lawrence Bezuska shows just how far back the tradition really goes. He's selling a KIM-1, the stripped-down hobbyist computer from Chuck Peddle that was the foundation for what the PET became. It's so old that it was originally made by MOS Technologies in 1976 -- Commodore bought the company and kept making the KIM-1 until 1981. Inside, you're still looking at a 6502 chip, although you get just 1.12Kb of RAM and lose more than a few things that even DIY enthusiasts take for granted today, such as a power supply. There's no way you'll play Doom on it, then, but the winning bidder does get the luxury of a keypad just inches away from bare circuitry. If you're quick enough to make the May 17th auction deadline and miss the days of very, very low-level programming, be sure to check the source link.Rare Commodore KIM-1 hits eBay, shows you the PET's barebones roots originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Retro Thing | eBay | Email this | Comments

Antique EVs get their due at auctions, new museum

Posted: 16 May 2012 01:02 PM PDT

Antique EVs get their due at auctions, new museum


Antique EVs get their due at auctions, new museum
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA As Americans buy more Nissan Leafs, Chevrolet Volts and other electric-drive vehicles, some of those models' forefathers are getting their due by way of auctions and museum exhibits. A 1909 Walker Vehicle Co. delivery van recently sold on eBay for $127,500, signifying that old-school vehicles that predate the Nissan Leaf by a 100 or so years can fetch a pretty penny, according to the Wall Street Journal. The 1909 Walker, which is mounted on solid rubber tires, is one of hundreds of EVs produced around the turn of the 20th Century as early car customers looked for a quieter, cleaner alternative to what were loud and dirty internal combustion engines. Chicago-based Walker also made early variants of hybrid vehicles, according to the WSJ. With contemporary EV sales expected to rise during the next few years, car collectors are seeking out and paying for early versions of battery-electric vehicles. In fact, those thinking that the Walker set some sort of pricing record from the eBay sale would be mistaken. Last August, an 1899 Columbia Electric Landaulet sold at an auction for $550,000, making it the priciest antique EV ever sold. Meanwhile, America's Car Museum, which opens in Tacoma, Washington, on June 2 will have an "Alternative Propulsion" exhibit that will include a 1912 Standard Electric Open Tourer (still roadworthy, the museum says) and a 1914 Detroit Electric Priscilla. In all, the 165,000-square-foot museum will have more than 350 cars, trucks and motorcycles.Antique EVs get their due at auctions, new museum originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Eton anticipates next natural disaster with self-powered FRX radios

Posted: 16 May 2012 01:02 PM PDT

Eton anticipates next natural disaster with self-powered FRX radios


Eton anticipates next natural disaster with self-powered FRX radios
Eton, the name behind solar-powered sound systems and emergency radios, is updating its disaster-preparedness portfolio with the new FRX series of self-powered radios. The FRX 1, FRX 2 and FRX 3 use hand-turbine energy to keep the internal lithium ion battery juiced, and all include a glow-in-the-dark indicator, LED flashlight and DC input. While the FRX 1 offers only the basic components, the FRX 2 and 3 have solar panels for recharging, along with a headphone jack and a USB port for powering other gadgets. The FRX 3 boasts a digital alarm and radio -- as opposed to the analog radio on the FRX 2 -- and a display for receiving NOAA weather alerts. Eton priced the radios at $25, $40 and $60, respectively, and it's currently selling the three options with American Red Cross co-branding at outlets such as Amazon, Best Buy and REI. Realizing your crank-powered Raptor is on its last legs? Check out the PR past the break.Continue reading Eton anticipates next natural disaster with self-powered FRX radiosEton anticipates next natural disaster with self-powered FRX radios originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 15:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

How Many Daily Downloads Does It Take To Reach The Top Of The App Store?

Posted: 16 May 2012 12:27 PM PDT

How Many Daily Downloads Does It Take To Reach The Top Of The App Store?


How Many Daily Downloads Does It Take To Reach The Top Of The App Store?
It's hard to underestimate how important ranking in Apple's top 25 in the iTunes store is for mobile app developers. After all, the top 25 is what one of the most important app discovery mechanisms for iOS users. But how many downloads does it take to make it into the top 25? Mobile analytics firm Distimo today published some interesting data that answer just this question. Turns out, in the U.S. store, the answer currently is about 38,400 daily downloads for free apps and 3530 for paid apps. To rank in the top 25 per category, of course, takes significantly fewer downloads, with games unsurprisingly being the most competitive category. It takes 25,300 daily downloads to rank in the gaming top 25 for free apps and 2280 downloads for paid apps.

X-mini KAI capsule Bluetooth speaker review

Posted: 16 May 2012 12:26 PM PDT

X-mini KAI capsule Bluetooth speaker review


X-mini KAI capsule Bluetooth speaker review
Speakers these days! They are everywhere, in constantly evolving iterations, smaller and more versatile than ever before. Singaporean manufacturer X-mini has a pretty good foothold in this game with a consistent brand message of "Sound Beyond Size." That indicates the portability, mass, and reproductive capacity of its products in a pretty nebulous fashion, so we decided to grab its latest offering, the Bluetooth-toting KAI, and place it in our real lives for a few months. It's available now for $99, which will take it off the table for many casual listeners, but those who crave what's next in distributed audio might find KAI to be quite the ear-opener. We got pretty close with it (but not weird close), and we have a couple of things to say about that whole size / sound relationship they're so keen on. Continue reading X-mini KAI capsule Bluetooth speaker reviewX-mini KAI capsule Bluetooth speaker review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | X-mini | Email this | Comments

Motorola Droid 4 gets leaked ICS build, official Android 4.0.4 may soon follow

Posted: 16 May 2012 11:52 AM PDT

Motorola Droid 4 gets leaked ICS build, official Android 4.0.4 may soon follow


Motorola Droid 4 gets leaked ICS build, official Android 4.0.4 may soon follow
We've known for quite some time that Motorola intended to push Ice Cream Sandwich to the Droid 4, but until now the waiting game continued, with no end in sight. It now appears that the smartphone maker is making serious progress on its own Motoblur-infused flavor of ICS, with a stock version of the upgrade making the rounds since last night. According to early adopters, the build seems to enable complete functionality, but upgrading early will leave your device locked to 4.0.4, with no option for future updates. So, for now, it makes sense to hang tight, but it'd be reasonable to assume that Moto-sanctioned ICS is indeed on its way to the Droid 4. Impatient owners will find everything they need at the source link after the break.Motorola Droid 4 gets leaked ICS build, official Android 4.0.4 may soon follow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Android Community | Droid Forums | Email this | Comments

Motorola Motosmart Mix XT550 masks its middling specs with a set of nice headphones

Posted: 16 May 2012 11:52 AM PDT

Motorola Motosmart Mix XT550 masks its middling specs with a set of nice headphones


Motorola Motosmart Mix XT550 masks its middling specs with a set of nice headphones
HTC may be over the idea of including premium earbuds with its smartphones, but Motorola is stepping up to give it the ol' college try with its Motosmart Mix XT550. The phone will sell in China for ¥1,699 and is targeted at "people who really care about music." Along with the bundled set of headphones, you'll also discover a dedicated button to open the Sina Micro Music application. Beyond these selling points, however, the handset is a bit behind the curve. The XT550 features Android 2.3.6, a Qualcomm MSM7255A SoC with an 800MHz CPU, 512MB of RAM, a 3-megapixel camera and a 4-inch, HVGA display. On a positive note, the 1,735mAh battery is said to provide up to 30 hours of music playback. All things considered, however, we're inclined to agree: you'd have to "really care about music" to spring for this one. Undeterred? You'll find the full PR after the break.Continue reading Motorola Motosmart Mix XT550 masks its middling specs with a set of nice headphonesMotorola Motosmart Mix XT550 masks its middling specs with a set of nice headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Phone Arena, Engadget China (translated) | Motorola | Email this | Comments

EVS: Coulomb readying San Francisco with 100 stations, finds "museum tour of ele...

Posted: 16 May 2012 11:15 AM PDT

EVS: Coulomb readying San Francisco with 100 stations, finds "museum tour of electricity"


EVS: Coulomb readying San Francisco with 100 stations, finds "museum tour of electricity"
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EVSCoulomb Technologies' big news at EVS26 was a collaboration with Fuji Electric Corporation of America to add Fuji's 25-kW DC Quick Charging Stations into the ChargePoint Network. In fact, the very first such charger on the network was sitting there in the booth, and actual deployment in the U.S. is scheduled for later this year. Coulomb is already neck-deep in actual deployments of electric vehicle charging stations: more that 6,300 non-residential stations are online now and Coulomb says that about half of all EV drivers in the U.S. have a ChargePoint card. To get the latest, we spoke with Don Karner, Coulomb's chief innovation officer, about the Multicharge SF program and - yes - the SAE combo charger announcement. It's like the museum tour of electricity. It's really kind of scary. First, about Multicharge SF, which is a partnership with the City of San Francisco, Coulomb and PG&E and is funded by the California Energy Commission. The goal, perhaps unsurprisingly for San Francisco, where upwards of 60 percent of people live in multi-family units, is to find a way for apartment dwellers to recharge their EVs. Karner said the city government took the lead and identified places where chargers would be most useful, then reached out to the property owners to get them interested. In the end, about 70 different properties applied to be a part of the $900,000 program - and around 45-50 of them will be selected to actually get some of the total of about 100 chargers. "[The locations] represent all the different demographics: large properties and small properties, condos, co-ops, TICs [tenant in common, which means one mortgage for multiple units] and rental communities," Karner said. The variety extends to different income brackets as well as new and old properties. "One of the things we ran into early on is that there are some incredibly old power systems in San Francisco. Glass tubes in the fuse boxes. It's like the museum tour of electricity. It's really kind of scary." The only way to get this many different groups involved was to start with a diverse set of partners. "It has to be a multi-stakeholder proposition to really work in the region," Karner said. "If I didn't have the city out with its resources, legal and building codes and everything else, it would be impossible for me to organize all those things. It really becomes a great template that other cities and public-private partnerships can use." For example, Karner said, there's a rule in San Francisco that says that if you charge money for a parking space, you need to register as a parking operator. So, how does that apply to EVs? Does every building owner who installs a charger then need to go get a parking license? The city attorney is currently researching the answer to this question, Karner said, adding that the mayor standing by to quickly go to bat and get the rules changed if it is determined that the answer is "yes." With its Chargepoint Network, Coulomb doesn't really care what connector people are using to get their cars on the grid. As long as the communication systems are there, Chargepoint can work with whatever kind of charging station is out there. But Karner did have a few things to say about the SAE combo charger. Specifically, that it doesn't encourage fast infrastructure deployment. "Having that Level 2 standard [J1772] gives certainty to drivers," he said. "With fast charging, because you still have competing standards, I think that makes it a pilot proposition for a lot of communities as far as really getting behind a specific charger type. I think until the market coalesces around a technology, you're still just going to see a lot of uncertainty about what to deploy on any large scale." As Coulomb works to solve some of the infrastructure problems, others arise. The trick is to not have partners hesitate too much, and so get as many chargers into use as makes sense.Continue reading EVS: Coulomb readying San Francisco with 100 stations, finds "museum tour of electricity"EVS: Coulomb readying San Francisco with 100 stations, finds "museum tour of electricity" originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Verizon To Axe Unlimited Data Once Their New Data Share Plans Go Live

Posted: 16 May 2012 11:15 AM PDT

Verizon To Axe Unlimited Data Once Their New Data Share Plans Go Live


Verizon To Axe Unlimited Data Once Their New Data Share Plans Go Live
Verizon Wireless has been working on bringing shared data plans to market for months now, but it turns out not everyone will enjoy making that transition. Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said at an investor conference earlier today that users on those wonderful old grandfathered unlimited data plans will soon have to give them up if they want to move into a 4G device.

Comcast switches on Skype on Xfinity in Boston and Seattle today, eight more met...

Posted: 16 May 2012 11:15 AM PDT

Comcast switches on Skype on Xfinity in Boston and Seattle today, eight more metros this week


Comcast switches on Skype on Xfinity in Boston and Seattle today, eight more metros this week
Now you can Skype on Xfinity, and beyond. Comcast's re-branded cable arm is touting a new trick beginning today, with customers in Boston and Seattle among the first to have access to the new Skype on Xfinity videoconferencing service (Atlanta, Augusta, Ga., Chicago, Detroit, Harrisburg, Pa., Indianapolis, Miami and Pittsburgh will be online by the end of the week). Interested parties can add a $9.95 monthly fee to their Triple Play service to take advantage, enabling "free" (read: $10-per-month) instant messaging and video chatting services. That monthly fee will presumably cover the requisite all-in-one kit, which includes an adaptor, a "high-quality" camera and a spiffy new Skype-enabled remote control with an IM-friendly keyboard on the rear. Naturally, your bud on the other end doesn't need any special equipment, unless of course they plan to chat through their HDMI-capable Comcast box as well. Eligible customers can hit up the source link past the break to sign up, and breeze through the attached PR for a bit more detail.Continue reading Comcast switches on Skype on Xfinity in Boston and Seattle today, eight more metros this weekComcast switches on Skype on Xfinity in Boston and Seattle today, eight more metros this week originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Comcast | Email this | Comments

Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life?

Posted: 16 May 2012 11:15 AM PDT

Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life?


Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life?
Bandwagons, trains and Tranes. Can't say that these three have a heck of a lot in common in most regards, but one thing's for sure: trying to stop this trio would be a Herculean task. And so it goes with laptops -- once upon a time, it was good enough to have something that resembled a portable tower, but these days, the ability to even see the chassis at all feels like a negative. I exaggerate, of course, but the proverbial race in the laptop world is hardly about price; it's about thinness. Intel's unstoppable quest to plaster the Ultrabook term as far and wide as possible has led to a change in the way consumers are viewing portable machines, and Apple's devilishly thin MacBook Air certainly played a role, too. What we're left with is a very curious priority list, and I'm wondering if too many OEMs have stopped to wonder if the "obvious" is indeed the "right." I'll be the first to confess that I love the look of thin. Samsung's Series 9 and Acer's Aspire S5 might just be two of the sexiest machines to ever be built, and Dell's original Adamo was primarily of interest due to one thing: it's jaw-droppingly thin frame. But there's some saying about putting form before function that seems to apply here, particularly when keying in on battery life. I've no doubt that the marketing and research teams for PC makers far and wide understand the realities of the market place, and perhaps the average consumer really doesn't need more than four to six hours of life on a single charge. Five years ago, squeezing that much life from machines under an inch thick would've required some sort of wizardry that exists only in a rarely visited corner of West Hollywood. But today, I'm a dreamer. And I'm dreaming of a laptop with "all day battery life" -- something that could be screamed from the rooftops, and honestly, something that could probably be accomplished tomorrow if our laptop options weren't on such a diet.Continue reading Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life?Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Verizon CFO says grandfathered unlimited plans on the way out

Posted: 16 May 2012 11:15 AM PDT

Verizon CFO says grandfathered unlimited plans on the way out


Verizon CFO says grandfathered unlimited plans on the way out
Verizon Communications CFO Fran Shammo shattered many a hopes and dreams today speaking at the J.P. Morgan Technology, Media and Telecom conference. During his address, Shammo indicated that customers who have been grandfathered in to the unlimited data plan may soon find themselves pushed into tiered territory, with the debut of the carrier's shared data plans. "Everyone will be on data share," Shammo said, clarifying that, "a lot of our 3G base is on unlimited... [and] when they migrate off 3G they will have to go to data share." Obviously, with many customers clinging desperately to their truly unlimited usage in the shift to LTE, such a move would ruffle more than a few feathers. It's not clear if this will affect customers who have already made the leap to LTE devices or if it will be limited to customers migrating from 3G phones after a particular cut off date. We've reached out to Verizon for comment, but so far Big Red is keeping mum. We'll just have to take Shammo at his word for now. We hope you like data caps. To hear the comments in full hit up the source link. Update: We just finished listening through the entire webcast (we're still waiting for the transcript) and found the quote that is going to make most customers shake their fists in anger: "LTE is our anchor point for data share. So, as you come through an upgrade cycle and you upgrade in the future, you will have to go on to the data share plan. And moving away from, if you will, the unlimited world and moving everyone into a tiered structure data share plan." Doesn't get much clearer than that, but we're still hoping Verizon will come back and say Shammo was speaking out of turn... fingers crossed.Verizon CFO says grandfathered unlimited plans on the way out originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 13:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink FierceWireless, Mobileburn | Verizon | Email this | Comments

2012 Kia Rio — Flash Drive

Posted: 16 May 2012 11:14 AM PDT

2012 Kia Rio — Flash Drive


2012 Kia Rio — Flash Drive
MSN Autos editors take a drive in the high-value Kia Rio EX 5-door.

Evernote 4.0 for Android sweeps in new home screen, list UI (video)

Posted: 16 May 2012 10:36 AM PDT

Evernote 4.0 for Android sweeps in new home screen, list UI (video)


Evernote 4.0 for Android sweeps in new home screen, list UI (video)
'Tis the season for major Android app remakes, this time with Evernote going for a much appreciated adaptation to a more swipe-friendly universe. The 4.0 update of the note-taking app has a new home screen that lets you swipe out a hidden menu to get to your notes without having to always jump backwards -- one of our pet peeves. Much of the overall navigation now leans towards swipes over buttons, and the list views for notes and notebooks are a good deal simpler. Combined with new contextual action bars, the revamp puts the text, audio and photo recorder much more at home in the Android 4.0 era than earlier versions. It still requires just Android 1.6, so nearly anyone can take a look by visiting the Google Play link below.Continue reading Evernote 4.0 for Android sweeps in new home screen, list UI (video)Evernote 4.0 for Android sweeps in new home screen, list UI (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 13:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Google Play | Email this | Comments

Google launches Knowledge Graph today, wants to understand real things (video)

Posted: 16 May 2012 10:35 AM PDT

Google launches Knowledge Graph today, wants to understand real things (video)


Google launches Knowledge Graph today, wants to understand real things (video)
Americans and Brits might chuckle at their respective understandings of words like chips, pants and biscuits -- a search engine, however, can't be quite so discerning. As it turns out, Google actually thinks it can, and has been working on its Knowledge Graph project to prove it. Beginning today, English searches from Google.com might start seeing a new box appearing alongside (unless you happened to see it via the live-trial). If there is more than one potential meaning to your search term, Google will ask you to specify (trousers, not underwear, for example). Likewise, when it's more confident it knows what you mean, you'll get a summary box instead. (A celebrities place of birth, favorite cheese etc..) Google's Shashidhar Thakur, tech lead for search, told us "We think of this as our pragmatic approach to semantic search." And by pragmatic, he means that for the last two years, Google has been working to map the "Universe of things," not just webpages. Over 500 million things, in fact, creating a total of 3.5 billion attributes and connections so far. The hope is, that as this technology evolves, you'll be able to ask more complex questions, like "Which US airports have a Cinnabon stall." Or, you know, other such deep and meaningful queries. If you see some info, and happen to know better, there's a feedback system, so you can let Google know, hopefully making Knowledge Graph continually evolve in accuracy. While it's only rolling out for English searches, it's not just desktop, with mobile and tablet search getting the goods too. There are plans to spread this out to other languages, but no specific dates for this just now.Continue reading Google launches Knowledge Graph today, wants to understand real things (video)Google launches Knowledge Graph today, wants to understand real things (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Google | Email this | Comments

2012 Kia Rio — Flash Drive

Posted: 16 May 2012 10:35 AM PDT

2012 Kia Rio — Flash Drive


2012 Kia Rio — Flash Drive
MSN Autos editors take a drive in the high-value Kia Rio EX 5-door.

LG shows off UI 3.0 for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, says it's 'unobtrusive and s...

Posted: 16 May 2012 09:58 AM PDT

LG shows off UI 3.0 for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, says it's 'unobtrusive and simple'


LG shows off UI 3.0 for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, says it's 'unobtrusive and simple'
Love them or hate them, those ubiquitous Android skins aren't going anywhere any time soon. Now the latest one to make an entrance to the overlay game is LG's UI 3.0, which the Korean outfits says will make the overall experience of its handsets easier, speedier and "more convenient." The new UI brings features such as a novel drag anywhere-style lock screen, an Icon Customizer for setting your own photos as icons / shortcuts, a revamped Pattern Lock that lets you preset apps for quicker launch and a Voice Shutter trait for taking snaps via voice commands -- à la Sammy S Voice. UI 3.0 is set to make its debut next week with the launch of LG's Optimus LTE II in Korea, while the Optimus 4X HD will also come sporting the fresh skin once it launches in June.Continue reading LG shows off UI 3.0 for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, says it's 'unobtrusive and simple'LG shows off UI 3.0 for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, says it's 'unobtrusive and simple' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 12:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Phone Arena | LG | Email this | Comments

Prototype 3D display maintains resolution, bumps viewing angles, spans dimensions

Posted: 16 May 2012 09:58 AM PDT

Prototype 3D display maintains resolution, bumps viewing angles, spans dimensions


Prototype 3D display maintains resolution, bumps viewing angles, spans dimensions
If 3D has a future in our pockets, then it must be one that requires no spectacles. Not only are the goggles an issue, other key factors like resolution and viewing angles all need to be bettered before it stands a chance of broad adoption. NLT technology knows this, and has prototyped a 3.1-inch 3D LCD display that not only matches 2D resolution (as we've seen before,) but also offers up to six viewing angles. The display is based on existing horizontal double-density pixel technology with "HxDP" (horizontally x times-density pixels,) a new technology for creating multiple viewpoints, thrown into the mix. Standard HDDP gives a 3D image two viewpoints, HxDP allows more depending on density of sub-pixels. It also allows for both 2D and 3D images to be on-screen at the same time, meaning you can decide which version of Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked you prefer side-by-side.Prototype 3D display maintains resolution, bumps viewing angles, spans dimensions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 12:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Nikkei | Email this | Comments

Electric cars race again at 2nd Grand Prix de Pau Électrique [w/video]

Posted: 16 May 2012 09:22 AM PDT

Electric cars race again at 2nd Grand Prix de Pau Électrique [w/video]


Electric cars race again at 2nd Grand Prix de Pau Électrique [w/video]
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Europe/EU, Racing, Videos Once again the electric ice-racing cars of the Trophée Andros have left their snow-capped mountain-top habitat for a little summertime fun at the Grand Prix de Pau Electrique. And, just like last year, the Exagon-prepared buggies put on two shows full of paint-swapping competitive action, whilst giving a kind repose to the eardrums of onlookers from the din of the Formula3 and other internal combustion classes. Local favorite Mike Parisy, winner of last year's Saturday race, started on the pole in first event but couldn't quite hold off the impressive Adrien Tambay. While Parisy may have more familiarity with the Pau street course, Tambay is quite at home in the Andros Evo 2, having placed second overall in last winter's Trophée Andros Electrique. Sunday saw Soheil Ayari turn his third-place finish the previous day into pole position for the final race. That contest turned into one of attrition with only five of the twelve starters making it to the finish line. With a collision taking out the three positions ahead of him on the first lap, Mike Parisy took full advantage of the clear track ahead and made the home crowd proud once again. Close behind him in second was last year's French F4 champion, the talented 17-year old Mathieu Vaxiviere.Scroll down below for footage from both races as well as a cool bonus in-car clip of Parisy demonstrating his abilities, laying down some quick qualifying laps.Continue reading Electric cars race again at 2nd Grand Prix de Pau Électrique [w/video]Electric cars race again at 2nd Grand Prix de Pau Électrique [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Path CEO Dave Morin Joins Eventbrite Board

Posted: 16 May 2012 09:21 AM PDT

Path CEO Dave Morin Joins Eventbrite Board


Path CEO Dave Morin Joins Eventbrite Board
Path co-founder and CEO Dave Morin is joining the board of the event ticketing startup Eventbrite, the company is announcing today. The news of the appointment follows what has been, so far, quite a busy year for the startup, which has now sold 60 million tickets, and is expanding globally with websites in eight different languages. Morin, whose background includes time as the former head of the Facebook Platform and several years at Apple, will bring his knowledge of social to the ticketing company, says Eventbrite.

The Engadget Show returns Friday, May 18th -- get tickets to the taping!

Posted: 16 May 2012 09:21 AM PDT

The Engadget Show returns Friday, May 18th -- get tickets to the taping!


The Engadget Show returns Friday, May 18th -- get tickets to the taping!
That's right, the next episode of the Engadget Show is rapidly approaching, and if you love gaming as much as we do, you're in for a treat. For May's episode, we'll be speaking with the directors of the award winning documentary, Indie Game: The Movie. We've also paid a visit to the Smithsonian to check out the museum's Art of the Video Game exhibit and took a look the insanely awesome Fifth Avenue Frogger arcade machine hack. We've also got a look at the newly reborn Chinatown Fair arcade in Manhattan and the month's latest and greatest gadgets -- not to mention an in-studio performance by indie singer-songwriter Alex Winston. Best of all, we still have a few tickets left. If you're in New York City, you can be a part of the live show -- just fire off an email to engadgetshow [at] engadget.com. And if you can't make it in person, fear not, we'll be streaming live at 6PM on Friday. Just bookmark this here URL. Here are the deets: o. The event is all ages. o. We'll open doors and begin seating at 5:15pm on May 18th, and the taping begins at 6:00PM. We'll be closing the doors at 5:50PM. o. A limited number of tickets are available, first come first serve. We will also have a limited stand-by list available. o. Please bring a photo ID with you to the taping. o. The show length is around an hour. If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com. Subscribe to the Show: [iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V). [Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V). [RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.The Engadget Show returns Friday, May 18th -- get tickets to the taping! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Mobile Payments Startup Jumio Takes On Card.io With Credit Card Scanning Toolkit...

Posted: 16 May 2012 09:21 AM PDT

Mobile Payments Startup Jumio Takes On Card.io With Credit Card Scanning Toolkit For App Developers


Mobile Payments Startup Jumio Takes On Card.io With Credit Card Scanning Toolkit For App Developers
Mobile payments and identity verification company Jumio is introducing its Netswipe Mobile SDK today, which allows developers to add credit card scanning functionality to their mobile applications. The SDK (software development kit), is available now for iOS, but an Android version is coming soon, the company says. To jump start usage, Jumio is also waiving transaction fees for the SDK's first users for a temporary period of time.

Samsung exec admits the 15-inch Series 9 could benefit from better viewing angles

Posted: 16 May 2012 09:21 AM PDT

Samsung exec admits the 15-inch Series 9 could benefit from better viewing angles


Samsung exec admits the 15-inch Series 9 could benefit from better viewing angles
When we reviewed the 15-inch Samsung Series 9, we found very little to complain about, save for the narrow viewing angles and the fair-weather trackpad. Turns out, Samsung at least agrees with the first part. In a show of candor, Raymond Wah, VP of PC product strategy, told a group of reporters, "We can make improvements in terms of the viewing angle." That's not surprising, given that Samsung's homegrown 15-inch display doesn't currently make use of the same IPS-like PLS technology as the panel used in the 13-inch Series 9. It would seem, then, that it's occurred to Samsung to develop one, though company reps declined to say when we might see a 15-inch Series 9 with such a panel in tow. For now, anyway, the outfit is giving itself some credit for the laptop's relatively dense 1600 x 900 pixel count (and rightfully so!). Interestingly, Wah's comments come at a time when MacBook Pro rumors are starting to flow fast and furious, and a Retina display is looking like a fair possibility. As to whether Samsung will ever produce a 4K laptop display of its own, Wah declined to comment, but he did note that right now there isn't enough content optimized for that higher resolution, and that such screens would be costlier to produce. Until all that changes, we have to admit we're pretty pleased with the Series 9's resolution too -- after all, anything's better than plain old HD.Samsung exec admits the 15-inch Series 9 could benefit from better viewing angles originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Here’s A Video Of Samsung’s Galaxy S III In The Wild

Posted: 16 May 2012 09:20 AM PDT

Here's A Video Of Samsung's Galaxy S III In The Wild


Here's A Video Of Samsung's Galaxy S III In The Wild
The Galaxy S III is likely the most anticipated Android phone in existence. At least, today it is. Samsung is the king of Android hardware, the Galaxy S II is its most successful phone to date, and a third iteration is only expected to follow in its predecessor's footsteps. Plus, we weren't even comforted by the usual pre-announcement leakapalooza — Samsung reportedly kept early units locked in test boxes, which only made that glorious moment of unveiling all the more wonderful. But we're still waiting and wondering about a potential U.S. release date for what is sure to be Samsung's most popular phone yet, meaning that getting a peek of the device in the wild is near to impossible until "later this summer". But as is the case with almost any phone, someone has gotten their hands on a unit of the S III and set up the good ol' handy cam for our viewing pleasure.