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Friday, May 18, 2012

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The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET!

Posted: 18 May 2012 02:49 PM PDT

The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET!


The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET!
Man, what a show we've got for you this month. For starters, we popped by the Smithsonian, to check out the museum's Art of the Video Game exhibit. And while the awesome Fifth Avenue Frogger game didn't actually make it into those hallowed halls, we did take a close up look at the hacked arcade cabinet for the show. Speaking of video games (which we seem to be doing a lot these days), we'll also pay a visit to the newly reborn Chinatown Fair and speak to the directors of Indie Game: The Movie. All of that, plus a performance by musician Alex Winston and the month's latest and greatest gadgets. Keep your browsers locked to this spot!Continue reading The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET!The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

ITC bans Motorola mobile devices for infringing Microsoft patent

Posted: 18 May 2012 02:49 PM PDT

ITC bans Motorola mobile devices for infringing Microsoft patent


ITC bans Motorola mobile devices for infringing Microsoft patent
At the end of last year, an Administrative Law Judge issued an initial ruling that Motorola's mobile devices infringe a bit of Microsoft's IP. Now, the Commission has affirmed that decision and issued an exclusion order to ban Moto's offending devices from importation into the US. Developing...ITC bans Motorola mobile devices for infringing Microsoft patent originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 17:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink FOSS Patents | ITC (PDF) | Email this | Comments

Facebook’s Acquisition of Karma Brings Mobile Commerce, App Monetization Prowess

Posted: 18 May 2012 02:49 PM PDT

Facebook's Acquisition of Karma Brings Mobile Commerce, App Monetization Prowess


Facebook's Acquisition of Karma Brings Mobile Commerce, App Monetization Prowess
Facebook has just acquired mobile commerce startup Karma, which makes apps for gifting friends and family. The terms of the deal are undisclosed but 16 employees of the startup will be joining Facebook. The purchase will help Facebook build up monetization prowess on mobile platforms -- an area that it had said it's admittedly weak in. With the deal, Facebook gets two extremely experienced leaders in building and monetizing mobile apps. Karma's chief executive Lee Linden and its co-founder Ben Lewis were behind Tapjoy, a company that became a huge force in distributing and making money from mobile games. Both he and Lewis were product managers at Google and Microsoft. Linden and Lewis have known each other since they were kids and have been building companies together for a couple years. Note: This was a real product acquisition, not a lower-priced, talent-based one. Karma had done one venture round with Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers.

Sprint introduces My Wireless STS service to assist folks with speech disabilities

Posted: 18 May 2012 02:14 PM PDT

Sprint introduces My Wireless STS service to assist folks with speech disabilities


Sprint introduces My Wireless STS service to assist folks with speech disabilities
Sprint's had text-to-speech services on devices like the Samsung Epic 4G for quite some time, and now, looking to build up on that, the company's introducing its My Wireless STS feature. The new speech-to-speech service aims to help people with speech disabilities by giving them access to an operator-assisted line every day of the week and all year round. Folks wanting to use the My Wireless STS will have to dial *787 from their device, after which a Now Network rep will start a call and repeat every spoken word -- or ones that are unclear -- depending on users choice. Relay Director, Michael Ellis, says Sprint is "the first in the industry to bring this service to market," and that the project was developed closely with the help of speech disabled communities. If you're interested in learning more, there's a mighty presser waiting on you just past the break.Continue reading Sprint introduces My Wireless STS service to assist folks with speech disabilitiesSprint introduces My Wireless STS service to assist folks with speech disabilities originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Sprint | Email this | Comments

Gogo and AeroSat get friendly on Ku-band, bring international in-flight WiFi closer

Posted: 18 May 2012 01:41 PM PDT

Gogo and AeroSat get friendly on Ku-band, bring international in-flight WiFi closer


Gogo and AeroSat get friendly on Ku-band, bring international in-flight WiFi closer
Gogo has a virtual lock on in-flight WiFi for the US, but most of us forget that everything goes dark the moment you decide to cross the border. The company already has a deal with Inmarsat for Ka-band Internet connections, and now it's partnering up with AeroSat to bring Ku-band satellite access. The tie-in will let Gogo offer precious relief from tedium on international flights, whether it's a modest hop to the Great White North or an hours-long trip across the ocean. Gogo considers the deal an interim step until Inmarsat's technology is ready, making for much quicker availability than if it had just waited until it could use Ka-band: Ku-band satellite linkups should be on airliners as soon as the end of 2012, while Ka-band won't even show its face until at least late 2014. It's unknown what kind of premium we'll pay over the $13 maximum Gogo normally charges, but if AeroSat lets us squeak in a few more Twitter updates on our way home from Barcelona, it'll be worthwhile.Continue reading Gogo and AeroSat get friendly on Ku-band, bring international in-flight WiFi closerGogo and AeroSat get friendly on Ku-band, bring international in-flight WiFi closer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Mitsu Previews i-MiEV Pikes Peak Car

Posted: 18 May 2012 01:41 PM PDT

Mitsu Previews i-MiEV Pikes Peak Car


Mitsu Previews i-MiEV Pikes Peak Car
The 3-motor EV racer bears little resemblance to the i it's based on.

Automaker-backed study sounds the alarm against E15

Posted: 18 May 2012 01:09 PM PDT

Automaker-backed study sounds the alarm against E15


Automaker-backed study sounds the alarm against E15
Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, Legislation and Policy, North America, USA Another day, another opinion on the feasibility of E15. This time, a group called the Coordinating Research Council released a study saying that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to push for allowing gas with a 15-percent ethanol blend (aka E15) to be sold to the general public for newer cars may have been a bad one because of potentially harmful effect the fuel may have on older vehicles, the New York Times reports. E15 may compromise the durability of the engines of most of the cars on the road because automakers didn't design the vehicles to run on E15, which has 50% more ethanol than the current maximum of a 10-percent ethanol blend (i.e. E10), the group says. Of course, Coordinating Research Council is backed by - wait for it - eight automakers as well as the American Petroleum Institute (API), according to the Times. The automakers have long pushed to delay E15 approval because of engine durability concerns while the API represents a petroleum industry whose demand is inversely related to how much ethanol's being used in light-duty vehicles. With that in mind, Patrick B. Davis, an Energy Department program manager specializing in vehicle testing, said in a blog post that the new study is "flawed" in part because the study didn't involve the testing of E10's impact on engines. Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen called the report "junk science." The EPA in April approved the first applications to make E15 amid protests from automakers and recreation vehicle makers that have claimed that the higher alcohol content may damage engines and fuel systems. The government has gone back and forth on the issue, both pushing for higher ethanol production levels to cut foreign-oil dependence while last year terminating a 30-year tax subsidy on corn-based ethanol. Recently, The Auto Channel reported that researchers at University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University estimated that ethanol production cut the average cost of fuel last year by $1.09 a gallon because of lower ethanol prices and broader use of fuels such as E10.Automaker-backed study sounds the alarm against E15 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Zero Motorcycles will pay for your first 25,000 e-motorbike miles, wants you to...

Posted: 18 May 2012 01:09 PM PDT

Zero Motorcycles will pay for your first 25,000 e-motorbike miles, wants you to ride guilt-free


Zero Motorcycles will pay for your first 25,000 e-motorbike miles, wants you to ride guilt-free
If you've been staring lustfully at an electric motorcycle but needed that little extra push to make the jump, Zero Motorcycles has a unique incentive in store: it'll pay for your first 25,000 miles on the road. Should you take the keys to any one of the company's two-wheelers between now and the end of May, you'll get a Visa gift card for the amount within a few weeks. Of course, the reason it can make such a seemingly generous offer is through the sheer efficiency of an electric engine: at a typical 10 cents for every kilowatt-hour, you're looking at just under $200 for what's likely several months or more of driving, even if you're particularly enthusiastic. Knowing that riding the same amount with a gas-powered bike practically requires taking out a small mortgage in the current economy, though, we'd say that Zero is just reminding us of an an advantage e-motorbikes already have.Zero Motorcycles will pay for your first 25,000 e-motorbike miles, wants you to ride guilt-free originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Zero Motorcycles | Email this | Comments

NHK and JVC develop 120fps Super Hi-Vision projector

Posted: 18 May 2012 12:33 PM PDT

NHK and JVC develop 120fps Super Hi-Vision projector


NHK and JVC develop 120fps Super Hi-Vision projector
If you're cine-cave is already decked out with the Super Hi-Vision display, the Super Hi-Vision camera, and the Super Hi-Vision-supping antenna, we guess you just need the 120fps Super Hi-Vision projector to complete the set? Guess what? Working with JVC, NHK has developed just that. It might not be much to look at, but that hunk of tech up there comes with the extra frame rate that also makes it play fast nice with the sensor technology NHK was kind enough to develop first. The projector will be giving its first public demos on May 24th , and we hope that 7680 x 4320 resolution will make all those hi-res skate-slams come out a charm.Continue reading NHK and JVC develop 120fps Super Hi-Vision projectorNHK and JVC develop 120fps Super Hi-Vision projector originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 15:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | NHK (Japanese) | Email this | Comments

Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET with special guest Chris Z...

Posted: 18 May 2012 12:33 PM PDT

Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET with special guest Chris Ziegler!


Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET with special guest Chris Ziegler!
Making his first appearance on the Engadget Mobile Podcast since Episode 86, Chris Ziegler has returned to dive into the week's wireless news. Joining him will be the wacky duo of Myriam Joire and Brad Molen, so head past the break and hop into our chat at 5PM ET, won't you? May 18, 2012 5:00 PM EDTContinue reading Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET with special guest Chris Ziegler!Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET with special guest Chris Ziegler! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Microsoft sets sandbox boundaries for Metro developers

Posted: 18 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT

Microsoft sets sandbox boundaries for Metro developers


Microsoft sets sandbox boundaries for Metro developers
With so many apps running around the Windows playground, Microsoft wants the grown-ups to be in charge of Metro. Programs for the new interface will be available only through the Windows Store, which will allow one-click installs, user feedback and crash monitoring. Developers shouldn't worry too much, as the heavy lifting for those features will all be handled by the OS. Redmond's demanding some tit-for-tat, however, asking programmers to resist the temptation to invoke APIs not included in the development kit. All the software will be vetted, App-Store style, while access to devices like GPS and cameras must be granted by users before the apps can grab them. We've already seen that the old BSOD is gone, so hopefully this new course plotted by Metro will keep those frowny faces away.Microsoft sets sandbox boundaries for Metro developers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Microsoft Developers Network | Email this | Comments

NHTSA launches inquiry into Fisker Karma garage fire

Posted: 18 May 2012 11:26 AM PDT

NHTSA launches inquiry into Fisker Karma garage fire


NHTSA launches inquiry into Fisker Karma garage fire
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Legislation and Policy, Fisker The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a formal field inquiry into the garage fire that may or may not have been started by a Fisker Karma sedan, Bloomberg reports. The conflagration, which destroyed the Karma, the garage and a few nearby vehicles, took place on May 3rd in Sugarland, Texas. Claude Harris, NHTSA's director of vehicle safety compliance, said that the investigation is "ongoing," adding that "no determination has been made at this time." Until an official cause is isolated, we're betting there will be a good bit of he-said, she-said finger pointing in all directions... It's worth noting that NHTSA has also been actively investigating the safety of battery packs used in the Chevrolet Volt after reports of fires in the wild and after NHTSA's own crash testing procedures.NHTSA launches inquiry into Fisker Karma garage fire originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

$74 MK802 PC-on-a-stick beats Cotton Candy to market, has ICS on board

Posted: 18 May 2012 11:26 AM PDT

$74 MK802 PC-on-a-stick beats Cotton Candy to market, has ICS on board


$74 MK802 PC-on-a-stick beats Cotton Candy to market, has ICS on board
Unless you're lucky enough to live in Scandinavia, you'll have to wait till the end of summer to get your Cotton Candy fix. Aching to nab yourself a computer-on-a-stick before then? If you're willing to step down in specs, the Chinese-made MK802 could be the PC in your pocket. For $74 (versus $199 for the Cotton Candy), this 7-ounce device gives you a 1.5-GHz Allwinner A10 CPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage and, like the Cotton Candy, Android 4.0. FXI's version, on the other hand, packs a dual-core 1.2-GHz Samsung Exynos processor, and while the MK802 offers an HDMI port, the Cotton Candy includes an HDMI connector. The MK802 is slightly bulkier than its sweetly named competitor (3.5 inches vs. 3.1), but that Android logo on the front does wonders for its design cred. AliExpress.com is currently selling the MK802 with free shipping to the US -- click the source link for a gander.$74 MK802 PC-on-a-stick beats Cotton Candy to market, has ICS on board originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Netbooknews | Aliexpress.com | Email this | Comments

Microsoft encourages students to buy a PC, gives them a free Xbox 360 in return

Posted: 18 May 2012 10:51 AM PDT

Microsoft encourages students to buy a PC, gives them a free Xbox 360 in return


Microsoft encourages students to buy a PC, gives them a free Xbox 360 in return
Students. PCs. Free Xbox 360. The Redmond team's at it yet again. Similar to last year's deal, Microsoft's hooking students up with a 4GB Xbox 360 if they drop some cash on one of its Windows machines. It's simple: shell out over $699 on a PC, or $599 if you're in Canada, and you'll be walking out with a shiny new console free of charge -- naturally, you'll have to do so at participating shops such as Best Buy, Fry's, Newegg, Staples, The Source and, of course, Microsoft's own stores. The promo is set to kick off here in the States on May 20th, while those living in the True North can take advantage of it starting today. And before you ask -- yes, you will need to show your scholar credentials to get in on the bargain.Microsoft encourages students to buy a PC, gives them a free Xbox 360 in return originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Windows Experience Blog | Email this | Comments

The Engadget Show is live tonight!

Posted: 18 May 2012 10:19 AM PDT

The Engadget Show is live tonight!


The Engadget Show is live tonight!
Hey, we're back! And boy howdy do we have a fun show for you this month. You guys like video games, right? Great, because 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. Want to join in on the fun? Of course you do. We'll be getting this streaming party started at 6PM ET, and you can watch us live at this here URL. See you tonight!The Engadget Show is live tonight! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

The 2013 Shelby GT500: 9 Cool Facts

Posted: 18 May 2012 10:18 AM PDT

The 2013 Shelby GT500: 9 Cool Facts


The 2013 Shelby GT500: 9 Cool Facts
MSN Autos just drove the 200-mph Mustang – here's what we can say.

ZTE confirms the Score M has a backdoor, hopes to patch up soon

Posted: 18 May 2012 09:45 AM PDT

ZTE confirms the Score M has a backdoor, hopes to patch up soon


ZTE confirms the Score M has a backdoor, hopes to patch up soon
Who knew that owning a ZTE Score M would mean living life on the edge? ZTE has confirmed that the MetroPCS phone has a backdoor vulnerability which could let a less-than-scrupulous hacker get root-level control over the Android 2.3 phone -- and because it's a unique app baked into the firmware, the login credentials won't change as long as the exploit survives. Other ZTE phones, like the Skate, supposedly face the same hole as well. The company says it should have a patch ready to push over the air in the "very near future," but it hasn't said why the app existed in the first place. Either way, if you currently pocket the Score M or one of ZTE's other recent Android devices, we'd keep watch for any suspicious goings-on until a fix is in place.ZTE confirms the Score M has a backdoor, hopes to patch up soon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 12:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Reuters, John Gruber (Twitter) | Pastebin | Email this | Comments

Ethanol production shaved $1.09 a gallon off of last year's gas prices

Posted: 18 May 2012 09:12 AM PDT

Ethanol production shaved $1.09 a gallon off of last year's gas prices


Ethanol production shaved $1.09 a gallon off of last year's gas prices
Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, Legislation and Policy, North America, USA If you thought last year was a bad one at the gas pump, it could've been worse. That's what one report partially funded by ethanol advocate Renewable Fuels Association says. U.S. ethanol production actually cut wholesale gas prices by $1.09 a gallon last year because of relatively lower ethanol prices and the greater use of ethanol blends, The Auto Channel said, citing a PDF report written by researchers at University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University for Iowa State's Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Ethanol production cut the typical U.S. household's spending on gas by more than $1,200 last year and by an average of $340 a year since 2000, according to the report. Ethanol advocates have been pushing for blends with a higher percentage of ethanol as a way to cut both gas costs and dependency on foreign oil, while opponents have decried subsidies given to ethanol producers. Late last year, Congress ended a three-decade tax subsidy for the corn-based ethanol, which was reported to have received $45 billion in subsidies since 1980.Ethanol production shaved $1.09 a gallon off of last year's gas prices originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Google patent application could give Project Glass one true ring controller to r...

Posted: 18 May 2012 09:11 AM PDT

Google patent application could give Project Glass one true ring controller to rule them all


Google patent application could give Project Glass one true ring controller to rule them all
Let's face it: right now, the head nods and other rudimentary controls of Google's Project Glass are mostly useful for looking good, sharing photos and not much else. A US patent application submitted last September and just now published, however, raises the possibility of more sophisticated control coming from your hands. A ring, a bracelet or a even a fake fingernail with an infrared-reflective layer would serve as a gesture control marker for a receiver on heads-up display glasses. Having this extra control would give the glasses-mounted computing room to grow by learning gestures, and it could even depend on multiple ornaments for more sophisticated commands -- at least, if you don't mind looking like a very nerdy Liberace. We can imagine the headaches a hand-based method might cause for very enthusiastic talkers, among other possible hiccups, so don't be surprised if Project Glass goes without any kind of ring input. That said, we suspect that Sauron would approve.Google patent application could give Project Glass one true ring controller to rule them all originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 12:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink DVICE | USPTO | Email this | Comments

Tracks Releases Most Ambitious Update Yet: Custom Camera, New Filters, And Real-...

Posted: 18 May 2012 09:11 AM PDT

Tracks Releases Most Ambitious Update Yet: Custom Camera, New Filters, And Real-Time Video


Tracks Releases Most Ambitious Update Yet: Custom Camera, New Filters, And Real-Time Video
How timely. After launching a year ago at Disrupt NYC 2011, Tracks is today releasing one of its biggest updates to date. The service is much like Color, but without the creepy factor as any and all members of a specific photo-sharing group must be invited. I like to think of it as the place where Color and Google+ Circles intersect, but I far prefer Tracks than either of the former. Thus far Tracks has offered iOS, web- and real-world versions of your tracks (the collection of photos shared with a specific social network, which can be both geo-temporal or last forever). Today, however, the service gets much more beefy, with the ability to shoot and send real-time video and the addition of new filters, Instagram-style. There are now ten filter options on the app, and they'll all work on both photos and videos. But that's not all.

Engadget Podcast 294 - 05.18.2012

Posted: 18 May 2012 08:38 AM PDT

Engadget Podcast 294 - 05.18.2012


Engadget Podcast 294 - 05.18.2012
As much as you may Like overanalysis of the initial public offering of a Friendster ripoff valued higher than General Motors, other stuff happened this week. Tim and Brian share their Tech Timelines with you in this, The Engadget Podcast. Feel free to leave us a testimonial in the comments below. Above all, thanks for the add! Host: Tim Stevens, Brian HeaterProducer: Trent WolbeMusic: Orbital - Never 01:00 - The Engadget Show returns Friday, May 18th -- get tickets to the taping! 09:30 - Facebook, Facebook, Facebook! 20:05 - HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE delayed at customs due to ITC exclusion order (updated) 25:00 - Google launches Knowledge Graph today, wants to understand real things (video) 30:00 - Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review 34:23 - MacBook Pro and iMac with next-gen Ivy Bridge processors crop up on benchmarks (update) 37:49 - WSJ: Apple moving towards larger iPhone screens 41:17 - Verizon CFO says grandfathered unlimited plans on the way out 48:55 - Kaspersky exec calls Mac OS 'really vulnerable' (update: clarification from Kaspersky) 57:00 - Listener questions Hear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace. Download the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast Send your questions to @tim_stevens. Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005) E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com Twitter: @bheater, @tim_stevens Filed under: PodcastsEngadget Podcast 294 - 05.18.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Crystal White PS Vita landing in Hong Kong June 28th, overpriced import shops tw...

Posted: 18 May 2012 08:38 AM PDT

Crystal White PS Vita landing in Hong Kong June 28th, overpriced import shops two days later


Crystal White PS Vita landing in Hong Kong June 28th, overpriced import shops two days later
It was bound to happen eventually, every other gadget does it. After debuting in a serious black sheen, the PS Vita is now getting a stylish white shell as well. Sadly, the shiny new pale version will only be available in Hong Kong at first, starting June 28th. There's no price premium for grabbing the lighter shade of handheld, though, if you want the matching white accessory pack, you'll have to pre-order. On the plus side, if you pledge now, they'll toss in the Trooper Pack, Armor Game case, 4GB memory card and (perhaps most importantly) a lint free cloth for free. Check out the PR after the break.Continue reading Crystal White PS Vita landing in Hong Kong June 28th, overpriced import shops two days laterCrystal White PS Vita landing in Hong Kong June 28th, overpriced import shops two days later originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Space X's Dragon launch... is go!

Posted: 18 May 2012 08:04 AM PDT

Space X's Dragon launch... is go!


Space X's Dragon launch... is go!
We're crossing our fingers and toes so hard we can barely type and walk, since it looks like the oft-delayed Dragon launch will take place tomorrow. SpaceX founder Elon Musk confirmed that the company had passed final launch review with NASA and that everything was set for the Falcon 9 to lift off at 4:15AM ET on May 19th. The lift-off will be broadcast live from the official website and is on course to be the first private spaceflight to dock and deliver essential supplies to the International Space Station. For our part? We wish the craft (and the ground crew) all the best and hope it's a perfect flight -- we wanna stay in a space hotel sooner rather than later.Continue reading Space X's Dragon launch... is go!Space X's Dragon launch... is go! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 10:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Elon Musk (Twitter) | Email this | Comments

Neal Saiki claims battery breakthrough gives more range, costs less

Posted: 18 May 2012 07:31 AM PDT

Neal Saiki claims battery breakthrough gives more range, costs less


Neal Saiki claims battery breakthrough gives more range, costs less
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in Engineering challenges are like a siren's call to Neal Saiki. Since leaving Zero Motorcycles in early 2011, the company he co-founded with his wife Lisa, he's spent lots of time and effort wrestling with the human-powered helicopter conumdrum. As engaging as that might be, however, he still hasn't been able to keep himself from considering how to build a better electric motorcycle; work that has, it seems, proved slightly less Sisyphean as he has just announced a pretty cool battery pack breakthrough. His approach tackles the big battery drawbacks of cost and energy capacity head on by employing the same "18650" cylindrical cells that Tesla Motors so successfully uses. Then, to get around the labor intensive connection method of welding thin strips of nickel to each one, he has devised a way to mechanically connect the cells with enough pressure to keep the current dependably flowing through them. This configuration makes it easy to replace a single cell if it goes bad - each one is thermally monitored for signs of failure - and also makes it super easy to upgrade when new, better cells become available. What's not to like? Saiki calculates a 200-pound pack will hold a nominal 16.1 kWh of energy using 1440 individual cells. That, he says, should provide for a real-world, driving-down-the-highway, 100-mile range. By contrast, the "100-mile" bikes by Zero Motorcycles and Brammo hold around nine kWhs. The system can also be adapted to four-wheeled vehicles. In that application, the pack would be arranged as a three-inch thick plate holding 26.6 kWh of energy per square meter (22.2 kWh per square yard). It's too soon to say whether or when the pack will be commercially available. Saiki's new company, NTS Works, is currently looking to work with "select OEM's on custom battery pack design and licensing." Scroll down below for the official press release for more details.Continue reading Neal Saiki claims battery breakthrough gives more range, costs lessNeal Saiki claims battery breakthrough gives more range, costs less originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

HTC Desire C hands-on (video)

Posted: 18 May 2012 07:30 AM PDT

HTC Desire C hands-on (video)


HTC Desire C hands-on (video)
HTC gave us a quick session to play around with its latest handset, the Desire C. No, it's not part of the consolidated One series, nor is the company revealing precisely what that "C" stands for -- heaven forfend it's "cheap". While a humble 320 x 480 touchscreen and 600MHz processor might not set many smartphone obsessives' hearts a' racing, it still manages to eke out a HTC Sense-skinned Android 4.0 UI -- no mere feat, in our opinion. A 5-megapixel camera and expandable microSD slot are some other welcome specifications and it's all wrapped up in an attractive matte finish -- you can take your pick form black and white in the UK. Catch our quick video run-through of the sub-$300 handset right after the break.Gallery: HTC Desire C hands-onContinue reading HTC Desire C hands-on (video)HTC Desire C hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 10:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Plex shows you how to make your TV shows look great with its new Local Media Agent

Posted: 18 May 2012 06:57 AM PDT

Plex shows you how to make your TV shows look great with its new Local Media Agent


Plex shows you how to make your TV shows look great with its new Local Media Agent
Out friends at Plex have shuttled out a new Local Media Agent that'll enable you to make your TV shows look great. The updated software lets you add show and season posters, banners, background art, theme music and individual episode thumbnails to your recorded shows to make each one really, really good-looking. It'll happily handle PNG and FLAC files for those lossless enthusiasts and it'll even overlook a messy file structure to get everything looking great. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to catalog our Community episodes with thumbnails of Dean Pelton's outfits.Plex shows you how to make your TV shows look great with its new Local Media Agent originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 09:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Plex | Email this | Comments

Samsung’s Galaxy S III Reportedly Racks Up 9 Million Pre-Orders Worldwide

Posted: 18 May 2012 06:57 AM PDT

Samsung's Galaxy S III Reportedly Racks Up 9 Million Pre-Orders Worldwide


Samsung's Galaxy S III Reportedly Racks Up 9 Million Pre-Orders Worldwide
As if anyone needed any more proof that the Samsung's Galaxy S III would sell like (slightly more expensive) hotcakes, a report from the Korea Economic Daily reveals that the long-awaited handset racked up over 9 million pre-orders from mobile carriers across the globe. To put that number in a bit of perspective, the tremendously popular Galaxy S II was officially unveiled at MWC in February 2011, and managed to rack up 3 million global pre-orders by the end of April. Its successor, on the other hand, managed to garner triple the number of pre-orders in the three weeks since it was revealed in London.

Analysts: Nokia On Track To Burn Through Its Whole $6B Cash Pile In Next 2 Years

Posted: 18 May 2012 06:24 AM PDT

Analysts: Nokia On Track To Burn Through Its Whole $6B Cash Pile In Next 2 Years


Analysts: Nokia On Track To Burn Through Its Whole $6B Cash Pile In Next 2 Years
The Facebook IPO is expected to usher in a day of massive trading volumes on the markets, and some believe that might translate to a lift for some tech stocks. But one that could really use some help has just been served another course of bad press: Nokia is apparently burning through its cash reserves -- fast. The company, for years the biggest mobile phone maker in the world, has fallen on very tough times, as competition from companies like Samsung, Apple and a barrage of inexpensive device makers, have translated into declines in sales, market share and profitability. That's now translating into what has been identified as another issue: the burning of the cash pile. In the last five quarters, Nokia has burned through €2.1 billion ($2.7 billion) from its cash reserves. Analysts polled by Reuters on average believe that at the rate Nokia is going, it will go through another €2 billion ($2.5 billion) in the next three quarters, with the total current cash pile of €4.9 billion ($6 billion) gone within two years.

Distro Issue 41: a visit to the Lowcountry's Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and...

Posted: 18 May 2012 06:24 AM PDT

Distro Issue 41: a visit to the Lowcountry's Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE


Distro Issue 41: a visit to the Lowcountry's Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE
It's the most wonderful time of the week once again, pals. Like most seven-day periods, this one comes to a close with the latest issue of our e-magazine for your gadget reading pleasure. Front and center this time around, our own Darren Murph pays a visit to the South Carolina HQ of accessory maker Twelve South to chat about making a big splash while staying small. On the review side of things, we take a gander at the TiVo Premiere XL4 and the HTC EVO 4G LTE to see how they stack up and we go hands-on with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and Sounder's iOS app. Reaction Time makes an appearance too -- taking a long look at Max Payne 3 while listing this week's must-have game releases. The usual suspects fall in line as well, as you might expect. Switched On discusses RIM and Nokia, IRL sneaks a look in at our gear collections, former Doctor Who script editor Christopher H. Bidmed pauses for the Q&A and Dustin Harbin has the Last Word on what killed dinosaurs. Go ahead. Grab the device of your choice and hit the appropriate download link to grab a copy of this week's e-publication. Distro Issue 41 PDFDistro in the iTunes App StoreDistro in the Google Play StoreDistro APK (For sideloading)Like Distro on FacebookFollow Distro on TwitterDistro Issue 41: a visit to the Lowcountry's Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | iTunes, Google Play | Email this | Comments

K-Touch joins China Mobile with Marvell-powered T660, waves a $160 price tag

Posted: 18 May 2012 05:50 AM PDT

K-Touch joins China Mobile with Marvell-powered T660, waves a $160 price tag


K-Touch joins China Mobile with Marvell-powered T660, waves a $160 price tag
Last we heard, Chinese manufacturer K-Touch was quite busy showing off its Treasure V8 at this year's Mobile World Congress. Now, the company's taken the wraps off of its budget-friendly, TD-SCDMA T660 smartphone, marking its first intelligent handset on China Mobile. The device itself features a 4-inch, IPS display alongside a 5-megapixel rear shooter and a 1GHz, Marvell PXA920H CPU (the same one found on the ZTE U880E and Lenovo A668T). Specs aside, however, this is K-Touch's first crack at the TD-SCDMA market and it's doing so on the cheap, pricing the Gingerbread-loaded T660 at a mere 1,000 RMB (around $160) without any contracts attached. Not a bad way to kick things off, right?Continue reading K-Touch joins China Mobile with Marvell-powered T660, waves a $160 price tagK-Touch joins China Mobile with Marvell-powered T660, waves a $160 price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 08:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Marvell | Email this | Comments