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Saturday, May 19, 2012

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Engadget Mobile Podcast 138 - 05.19.2012

Posted: 19 May 2012 03:27 PM PDT

Engadget Mobile Podcast 138 - 05.19.2012


Engadget Mobile Podcast 138 - 05.19.2012
Borders. Here at the Engadget Mobile Podcast, we're so over them. That's why we let former Engadget Mobile CEO-in-chief Chris Ziegler come back and hang out on our side of the fence for a few hours, no matter where he comes from. You know who's NOT over border? The United States Border Patrol, Division of Potential Patent Infringements on Apple Intellectual Property. Be a fence-sitter with us for a little while: it's not so bad up here (and we get great reception).Hosts: Myriam Joire (tnkgrl), Brad MolenGuest: Chris ZieglerProducer: Trent WolbeMusic: Tycho - Coastal Brake (Ghostly International) 00:01:06 - Best Buy expects EVO 4G LTE to land May 23rd, HTC remains cautious 00:03:00 - Apple, HTC ordered by judge to sit down, try and make nice on August 28th 00:07:00 - HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE delayed at customs due to ITC exclusion order (updated) 00:13:15 - HTC EVO 4G LTE for Sprint review (updated) 00:30:00 - T-Mobile CEO Philipp Humm issues memo discussing restructuring plans, more jobs affected 00:48:06 - HTC confirms One X multitasking tweaks in Sense 4 00:51:30 - NTT DoCoMo's Galaxy S III to ship with 2GB RAM? 00:59:27 - LG shows off UI 3.0 for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, says it's 'unobtrusive and simple' 01:06:22 - Google reportedly planning stable of Nexus devices with Android 5.0, will sell 'em direct 01:15:48 - Verizon CFO says grandfathered unlimited plans on the way out 01:18:07 - WSJ: Apple moving towards larger iPhone screens 01:30:05 - Report: Apple dumping Google for own Maps app in iOS 6 (update) Hear the podcastSubscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Mobile Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune MarketplaceDownload the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast podcast (at) engadgetmobile (dot) com.Follow us on Twitter@tnkgrl @phonewisdom @zpower @engadgetmobileEngadget Mobile Podcast 138 - 05.19.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Amp opens first dealership in Cincinnati

Posted: 19 May 2012 01:46 PM PDT

Amp opens first dealership in Cincinnati


Amp opens first dealership in Cincinnati
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA, Amp Electric VehiclesAmp, the Ohio-based maker of battery-electric SUVs, has opened its first dealership in Cincinnati and said first deliveries would start by year end. Amp of Cincinnati opened last week and showed off both its Jeep Grand Cherokee- and Mercedes-Benz ML350-based battery-electric vehicles. The dealership has started taking $5,000 deposits for the SUVs, which Amp says have a single-charge range of as many as 125 miles. Amp said in March that its SUVs qualified for the $7,500 tax credit from the IRS. That month, the company also said it reached an agreement to sell its SUVs in the Caribbean. The company in January said the Jeep-based Amp would be priced at $57,400, bringing the out of pocket price just under $50,000.Continue reading Amp opens first dealership in CincinnatiAmp opens first dealership in Cincinnati originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 19 May 2012 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Facebook likes Karma app, buys the whole darn thing

Posted: 19 May 2012 01:46 PM PDT

Facebook likes Karma app, buys the whole darn thing


Facebook likes Karma app, buys the whole darn thing
What does one do after generating billions from an initial public stock offering? Go shopping, of course. After falling short of expectations following its somewhat helter-skelter IPO debut, Facebook simply shook off the whole thing and acquired itself some good Karma. No, we're not talking about that Karma. Instead, Facebook purchased the startup responsible for the Karma social gifting app. The move was apparently made to bolster Facebook's mobile chops -- an area the company considers ripe for opportunity. Just recently, Facebook also acquired mobile stalwart Instagram and the Lightbox team, for example. As for its newest purchase, Karma will be allowed to "continue to operate in full force" despite its recent status change, according to a blog post by co-founders Lee Linden and Ben Lewis. Details weren't disclosed about how much the deal was worth but judging from celebratory nature of their post, it doesn't look like Linden and Lewis will "Unlike" the agreement any time soon.Facebook likes Karma app, buys the whole darn thing originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 16:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Fast Company | Karma Official Blog | Email this | Comments

China Finally OKs Google’s Acquisition Of Motorola Mobility

Posted: 19 May 2012 01:13 PM PDT

China Finally OKs Google's Acquisition Of Motorola Mobility


China Finally OKs Google's Acquisition Of Motorola Mobility
It's been just over nine months since Google announced their intentions to acquire hardware manufacturer Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, and now it seems that the final pieces of the deal have fallen into place. According to a new report from the Associated Press, Chinese officials have finally given the Google-Motorola deal their blessing.

China clears Google acquisition of Motorola, eliminates last barrier to Googorol...

Posted: 19 May 2012 12:06 PM PDT

China clears Google acquisition of Motorola, eliminates last barrier to Googorola bliss


China clears Google acquisition of Motorola, eliminates last barrier to Googorola bliss
The final significant roadblock to Google's buyout of Motorola has been cleared, as Chinese regulators have just given their rubber stamp. Their approval follows a few months after the simultaneous American and European clearances, and virtually all that's left now is to formally close the deal and start integrating the two mobile giants. It might still come too late for the combined entity to present a united front at Google I/O, but at least they won't have any awkward glances at each other across the room. We're just trying to decide on whether or not Googorola is the best pet name for the loving, $12.5 billion-dollar Android union.China clears Google acquisition of Motorola, eliminates last barrier to Googorola bliss originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 14:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | WSJ | Email this | Comments

Robot uses glue gun to make tools, hopes to ace Survival Skills 101

Posted: 19 May 2012 11:32 AM PDT

Robot uses glue gun to make tools, hopes to ace Survival Skills 101


Robot uses glue gun to make tools, hopes to ace Survival Skills 101
Looking through Engadget's annals of robotic achievements, we see droids juggling, dabbling in competitive sailing and even manning prisons. Cool as they are, those functions aren't going to mean a thing when Mr. Automaton is lost in the wilderness, damaged and without a helping human hand in sight. Researchers at ETH Zurich are working to change that scenario, as they're currently developing a "self-reconfigurable" device that packs a glue gun for creating the tools it needs on the fly. It might not be the quickest method -- as you'll see in the video below, making a glue cup takes a good hour -- but it's effective enough for transporting and pouring water. That's not to say that the prototype is ready to fend for itself; it built the cup, but only under human direction. The researchers' next step is adding in autonomous capabilities so the bots can repair things -- and even build other robots -- without being told to do so. A sea of self-regenerating droids? Sounds harmless to us.Continue reading Robot uses glue gun to make tools, hopes to ace Survival Skills 101Robot uses glue gun to make tools, hopes to ace Survival Skills 101 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 14:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink IEEE Spectrum: Automaton Blog | | Email this | Comments

Kickstarter: Meet CordLite, The Light-Up iPhone Cable For Night Owls

Posted: 19 May 2012 09:50 AM PDT

Kickstarter: Meet CordLite, The Light-Up iPhone Cable For Night Owls


Kickstarter: Meet CordLite, The Light-Up iPhone Cable For Night Owls
My set ritual before going to bed each night is as follows -- turn out the lights, plug in my iPhone, take off my glasses and attempt vainly to nod off. Step two in that process can be a bit of a crapshoot in the dark, but the folks at Scrap Pile Labs have recently kicked off a new Kickstarter campaign for a product called the CordLite that just may come in handy. As the name sort of implies, the CordLite is a dock connector cable for iDevices that, well, lights up thanks to a pair of forward-facing LEDs. It's a very simple concept, but the thoughtful execution is what make this project worth keeping an eye on.

Insert Coin: CordLite illuminated iPhone cable (video)

Posted: 19 May 2012 09:50 AM PDT

Insert Coin: CordLite illuminated iPhone cable (video)


Insert Coin: CordLite illuminated iPhone cable (video)
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. On average, North American consumers will spend a lifetime total of five days on failed attempts to pair their dock connector cable with an iPad or iPhone. Yeah, that's not true, but we can certainly sympathize with frustrated device owners -- fitting a tiny connector to any gadget can be a chore, especially in the dark. Scrap Pile Labs' CordLite sets out to point the way to a successful connection with its built-in LEDs. The illuminated cable is quite simple to use -- with no buttons or switches to fuss with, the connector lights up when you touch the aluminum plates, and powers off the moment it's secured to your device. There's really not much else to it -- CordLite functions identically to an Apple-manufactured cable, though the dock connector itself is significant larger than the OEM variety, at least in its current prototype form. The design team has turned to Kickstarter to get their project funded, with a $70,000 goal. If all goes to plan, they expect to ship black or white CordLites beginning in September at $35 a pop, but as always, getting in during the "pre-order" phase will net you a hefty discount. The first 200 backers can get an early-bird cord in the color of their choice with a $25 pledge, with the required amount jumping up to $30 from there. A $45 pledge gets you an exclusive laser-etched model, while $50 will be met with a pair of early-bird cords. As you may have gathered from the picture above, the first version will only function with Apple devices, though a microUSB cord is also said to be in the works. See it in action in the video demo just past the break.Continue reading Insert Coin: CordLite illuminated iPhone cable (video)Insert Coin: CordLite illuminated iPhone cable (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 12:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | CordLite (Kickstarter) | Email this | Comments

Dish warns the FCC its 4G LTE might come in earnest as late as 2016

Posted: 19 May 2012 07:35 AM PDT

Dish warns the FCC its 4G LTE might come in earnest as late as 2016


Dish warns the FCC its 4G LTE might come in earnest as late as 2016
Dish has been tranquil about facing a longer FCC review period for its planned LTE-based 4G network, and now we might have an idea as to why. The satellite TV giant is telling the FCC that it only expects coverage to reach up to 60 million potential customers "within four years," or about 2016 -- six years after MetroPCS and Verizon first flicked their respective 4G switches. This is also assuming that the 3GPP cellular standards group clears the AWS-4 frequency band for LTE use. There's speculation that Dish is giving the extra time so that it can sell the spectrum later, but we'd take the safe road and assume Dish is serious. After all, AT&T wouldn't be trying to set tough conditions for Dish's LTE if it didn't think there was possibly significant competition on the way.Dish warns the FCC its 4G LTE might come in earnest as late as 2016 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 10:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink GigaOM | FCC (PDF) | Email this | Comments

GM says the Volt has saved a supertanker of gas

Posted: 19 May 2012 06:30 AM PDT

GM says the Volt has saved a supertanker of gas


GM says the Volt has saved a supertanker of gas
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, MPG, Chevrolet, GM That's one small step for man, and one less really big barge full of fuel for mankind. That's basically what General Motors' Chevrolet division is saying in its latest effort to pitch the Volt extended-range plug-in as a way for prospective drivers to save both money and the earth. Chevrolet estimates that Volt drivers have saved more than 2.1 million gallons of gas - or one supertanker - by driving their vehicles in electric mode. Since the model launched in late 2010, Volt drivers, who, on average, use electricity 60 percent of the time and fuel from the car's on-board generator the rest of the time, have put on 40 million electric-only miles on the car, saving a combined $8 million in unused gasoline the process. While the Volt fell about 2,300 units short of Chevy's goal to sell 10,000 units last year, 2012 sales through April tripled from a year earlier to 5,377 units. We anxiously await Nissan's own claim on how many fleets worth of gas its Leaf drivers have saved...Continue reading GM says the Volt has saved a supertanker of gasGM says the Volt has saved a supertanker of gas originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 19 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

T-Mo delays HTC Amaze 4G online orders due to 'unforeseen issue,' has other reco...

Posted: 19 May 2012 05:54 AM PDT

T-Mo delays HTC Amaze 4G online orders due to 'unforeseen issue,' has other recommendations


T-Mo delays HTC Amaze 4G online orders due to 'unforeseen issue,' has other recommendations
Hot off the heels of the One X and EVO 4G LTE spending some prolonged time at customs, now another member of HTC's sensational family appears to be feeling the rigorous effects of the ITC. According to a recent email acquired by TmoNews, it looks as if the Magenta carrier is delaying shipments of the HTC Amaze 4G in the US, saying it's facing "an unforeseen issue with receiving the product from the manufacturer," and that it doesn't know when the handset will be up for grabs again. What's also interesting here, however, is T-Mobile going as far as recommending Sammy's Galaxy S Blaze 4G as a substitute -- which, let's face it, can't be good news for HTC. Here's to hoping this all gets sorted out relatively soon. In the meantime, you can check out the aforementioned email in its entirety at the source below.T-Mo delays HTC Amaze 4G online orders due to 'unforeseen issue,' has other recommendations originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 08:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | TmoNews | Email this | Comments

Researchers tout efficiency breakthrough with new 'inexact' chip

Posted: 19 May 2012 04:13 AM PDT

Researchers tout efficiency breakthrough with new 'inexact' chip


Researchers tout efficiency breakthrough with new 'inexact' chip
Accuracy is generally an important consideration in computer chips, but a team of researchers led by Rice University are touting a new "inexact" chip (dubbed PCMOS) that they say could lead to as much as a fifteen-fold increase in efficiency. Their latest work, which won a best paper award at a recent ACM conference, builds on years of research in the field from the university, and is already moving far beyond the lab -- some inexact hardware is being used in the "i-slate" educational tablet developed by the Rice-NTU Institute for Sustainable and Applied Infodynamics, 50,000 of which are expected to wind up in India's Mahabubnagar school district over the next three years. As for the chips themselves, their inexactness comes not just from one process, but a variety of different measures that can be used on their own or together -- including something the researchers describe as "pruning," which eliminate rarely used portions of the chip. All of that naturally comes with some trade-offs (less defined video processing is one example given), but the researchers say those are often outweighed by the benefits -- like cheaper, faster chips that require far less power.Researchers tout efficiency breakthrough with new 'inexact' chip originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 06:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechEye | Rice University | Email this | Comments

Raspberry Pi team shows off pics of (and taken with) prototype camera add-on

Posted: 19 May 2012 01:58 AM PDT

Raspberry Pi team shows off pics of (and taken with) prototype camera add-on


Raspberry Pi team shows off pics of (and taken with) prototype camera add-on
While the main thing that would make Raspberry Pi's diminutive $25 / $35 Linux setups better would be if we could get our hands on them faster, the team behind it is already working on improvements like this prototype camera seen above. The add-on is slated to ship later this year and plugs into the CSI pins left exposed right in the middle of each unit. According to the accompanying blog post, the specs may be downgraded from the prototype's 14MP sensor to keep things affordable, although there's no word on an exact price yet. Possible applications include robotics and home automation, but until the hackers get their hands on them you'll have to settle for one pic from the Pi's POV after the break and a few more at the source linked below.Continue reading Raspberry Pi team shows off pics of (and taken with) prototype camera add-onRaspberry Pi team shows off pics of (and taken with) prototype camera add-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 04:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Raspberry Pi | Email this | Comments

Apple files (again) for a preliminary ban against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Posted: 18 May 2012 11:45 PM PDT

Apple files (again) for a preliminary ban against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1


Apple files (again) for a preliminary ban against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
If you found yourself longing for the minor tweaks Samsung made to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany earlier this year, you may be in luck: Apple's filed for a preliminary injunction against the slate stateside. It isn't the first one, either, Cupertino filed something similar back in February, though it didn't quite pass legal muster. After gaining some headway earlier this week, Cook's crew is in for round two, according to FOSS Patents, asking for Judge Koh to rule in their favor without a new hearing. Concerned consumers, however, can sidestep the whole mess by simply opting for an injunction-exempt Galaxy Tab 2. Details and speculation can be found at the source link below, just in case you aren't already sick to death of the whole Samsung / Apple spat.Apple files (again) for a preliminary ban against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 02:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | FOSS Patents | Email this | Comments

Parkmobile adds NFC to its parking payment repertoire

Posted: 18 May 2012 10:38 PM PDT

Parkmobile adds NFC to its parking payment repertoire


Parkmobile adds NFC to its parking payment repertoire
Let's face it, whether you're down at the laundromat or feeding the meter on a busy street, you can never find enough quarters when you need'em. Know what effectively sidesteps that lack of foresight? NFC, that's what. And that tap-to-pay convenience is ready to roll out for folks in Oakland, CA courtesy of Atlanta-based Parkmobile. There's no great mystery to the company's purpose -- the name says it all -- as it specializes in payment solutions for (what else?) parking. With the installment of special near field-equipped stickers on meters throughout that West Coast city, fine-fearing citizens will now have one extra payment option beyond the outfit's currently available mobile app and internet transactions. Naturally, you'll have to sign-up online to get started, but after that you'll never have to fear the meter maid again.Continue reading Parkmobile adds NFC to its parking payment repertoireParkmobile adds NFC to its parking payment repertoire originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2012 01:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

FCC Fridays: May 18, 2012

Posted: 18 May 2012 08:59 PM PDT

FCC Fridays: May 18, 2012


FCC Fridays: May 18, 2012
We here at Engadget tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there individually, we've gathered up an exhaustive listing of every phone and / or tablet getting the stamp of approval over the last week. Enjoy!Continue reading FCC Fridays: May 18, 2012FCC Fridays: May 18, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 23:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Microsoft patent application outlines system to recommend and transfer apps acro...

Posted: 18 May 2012 07:52 PM PDT

Microsoft patent application outlines system to recommend and transfer apps across devices


Microsoft patent application outlines system to recommend and transfer apps across devices
Ready for your latest tour through the dense and meandering wording of patent applications? Well, dig in, because it's Microsoft's turn to confuse lawyers the world over with this latest USPTO doc, submitted in November of 2010. The filing describes a computer-based program that would, essentially, analyze a primary device's installed applications, cross-reference it with a different device and then either migrate that software batch or suggest similar apps to download on a secondary unit. Sounds a lot like a potential Windows Phone Marketplace recommendation / app transfer engine to us, but what exactly Redmond intends to use this pending patent for is anyone's guess. As always, if you care to sacrifice a few minutes of your life to mind-numbing legal jargon, then by all means hit up the source link below.Microsoft patent application outlines system to recommend and transfer apps across devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | USPTO | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy S III for T-Mobile hits FCC, brings future-proofed HSPA+ for good...

Posted: 18 May 2012 05:37 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S III for T-Mobile hits FCC, brings future-proofed HSPA+ for good measure


Samsung Galaxy S III for T-Mobile hits FCC, brings future-proofed HSPA+ for good measure
There's been hints of it coming as early as February, but we now have a smoking gun at the FCC: the Galaxy S III is coming to T-Mobile. A Samsung SGH-T999 has popped up at the agency sporting newly added 1,700MHz AWS support that's the telltale sign of a T-Mobile device, along with the T999 name itself (the T989 is the network's Galaxy S II). It also totes 850MHz and 1,900MHz WCDMA bands used for HSPA+ data, a clue that the phone is ready for refarmed GSM spectrum. Just in case there was any remaining doubt, we've further spotted a related T999V entry at the Bluetooth SIG with a rather familiar-looking image as well as a Samsung-hosted T999 user agent profile on the web that matches what we know about the Android 4.0 hardware. We have yet to get a look at whether or not the T-Mobile version is any different on the outside, but with the FCC's help, there's not much left to know before the expected summer US launch.Samsung Galaxy S III for T-Mobile hits FCC, brings future-proofed HSPA+ for good measure originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 20:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | FCC, Bluetooth SIG, User Agent Profile | Email this | Comments

Will the Electric Vehicle Survive?

Posted: 18 May 2012 05:37 PM PDT

Will the Electric Vehicle Survive?


Will the Electric Vehicle Survive?
Right now, things look bleak for electric vehicles in the US.

EVS: Utah State University quietly working on in-road wireless charging

Posted: 18 May 2012 05:02 PM PDT

EVS: Utah State University quietly working on in-road wireless charging


EVS: Utah State University quietly working on in-road wireless charging
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EVS If you had to name one of the biggest game-change moments that the electric vehicle could bring to the world, try this one: Every prior attempt to electrify the car has assumed the vehicle would be the energy carrier. By comparison, the grid is much more efficient at moving energy from point A to point B, so if you can make dynamic charging safe and affordable, you are truly introducing something new. That's the vision of Jeff Muhs, director of Strategy and Business Development for Utah State University's Energy Dynamics Laboratory (EDL), whom we spoke with at the 26th Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) in Los Angeles recently. Dynamic charging is another way to say charging while a vehicle is moving by using in-road wireless charging units, something that USU has been working on for a while. Most people believe that in-motion charging is inevitable. For now, USU is focusing on stationary wireless charging and will launch an electric bus route later this summer in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah campus. The electric bus will travel along a mile-and-a-half route, stopping at either end for a few minutes to charge up. Using a bus at this stage makes sense as a way to test the technology because it's big, it travels along a fixed route and there is recharge time built into the schedule. An electric bus also helps reduce noise and emissions on campus, which is something the university wanted. USU's wireless charging team is also working on improving the space tolerance (making the charger work even if things are not perfectly aligned), the power levels (systems that are 20-50 kW instead of just 5-10 kW) and efficiencies.Continue reading EVS: Utah State University quietly working on in-road wireless chargingEVS: Utah State University quietly working on in-road wireless charging originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kiss Aero goodbye: Latest Windows 8 build reveals minimalistic desktop UI

Posted: 18 May 2012 05:02 PM PDT

Kiss Aero goodbye: Latest Windows 8 build reveals minimalistic desktop UI


Kiss Aero goodbye: Latest Windows 8 build reveals minimalistic desktop UI
It's safe to say that anticipation is high for the upcoming Windows 8 Release Preview, which will become available in the first week of June. While we're still curious to see if Microsoft can better integrate the desktop and Metro environments of its latest operating system, the company has now revealed a significant change to the desktop portion of Windows 8 -- a completely restyled visual appearance. As you might remember from the Consumer Preview, window borders and widgets featured a simplified and subdued look in comparison to the glass-like materials of Aero, which Microsoft now calls "dated and cheesy." With the latest refresh, however, the company has pushed its modernistic philosophy even further to reveal a spartan (yet functional) interface that draws less attention to the chrome elements and allows the user to focus more on content. Microsoft's latest reveal was made as part of a larger, retrospective look at its development of Windows and the evolution of the operating system. At every step, the company states that its emphasis has been on the overall "learnability" of the environment. As such, Microsoft claims that it's making great strides to ensure that consumers may quickly get up to speed with the latest OS, and hints that it has a number of reveals yet to be seen. In its very next breath, however, it also emphasized people's ability to adapt and move forward, which suggests the number of changes might not be as concilatory as some might've hoped. Regardless, we'll know for sure what Microsoft has in store in just a few weeks.Kiss Aero goodbye: Latest Windows 8 build reveals minimalistic desktop UI originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | MSDN Blogs | Email this | Comments

GameStop Mobile launches as AT&T virtual carrier, gives us rare bring-your-own G...

Posted: 18 May 2012 04:29 PM PDT

GameStop Mobile launches as AT&T virtual carrier, gives us rare bring-your-own GSM in US


GameStop Mobile launches as AT&T virtual carrier, gives us rare bring-your-own GSM in US
Here's an expansion of mobile competition in the US that comes out of left field, even for us: GameStop as a cellular provider. GameStop Mobile, as it's called, is that rare bird of an AT&T-based MVNO that relies on a bring-your-own-device strategy. As long as your hardware works on AT&T's 850MHz and 1,900MHz bands and isn't locked to another carrier, you can bring any GSM- and HSPA-based phone (or data-only device) and use it contract-free: rates start at anything from a strictly pay-as-you-go $5 through to a $55 monthly plan with unlimited voice and text, if just an anemic 500MB of data. Tablet owners and other data-only fans can pay the same $55 for 1GB per month -- a bit stiff considering that those on AT&T proper can get 5GB of data for slightly less. No doubt this is to take advantage of iPad and iPhone trade-ins, PlayStation Vitas and the overall rise of unlocked devices. We're just wondering whether GameStop will catch a few customers subscribing as they pick up their Diablo III pre-orders or else face the uncertain future that befalls many MVNOs.GameStop Mobile launches as AT&T virtual carrier, gives us rare bring-your-own GSM in US originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | GameStop Mobile | Email this | Comments

Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak

Posted: 18 May 2012 03:22 PM PDT

Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak


Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Mitsubishi, USA, Racing No, that's not a Mitsubishi i-MiEV in a fat suit, it's the automaker's brand-new all-electric race car, and it's set to take on the 2012 Pike's Peak International Hill Climb in July. This isn't the first time we've seen an EV enter the Pike's Peak challenge - Nissan commissioned a Leaf for battle last year, a car that set the bar for all future electric racers.Mitsubishi says that its race car, dubbed i-MiEV Evolution, uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the standard, bean-shaped electric car that we haven't quite grown to love. Aside from the additional bodywork, the chassis has clearly been lengthened and widened, and the race car now uses an all-wheel-drive configuration rather than the rear-wheel drive of the standard i-MiEV. To give you an idea of just how big the racer is, a quick glance of Mitsubishi's specs show that the i-MiEV Evolution's dimensions are within a few inches of the stock Lancer Evolution. We wouldn't be surprised if the all-wheel-drive system was sourced from the Lancer, as well. Mitsubishi will also be bringing two more of its EVs to the Pike's Peak event, including an i that has been updated with a more aerodynamic front bumper and new safety equipment, as well as a bone stock model. Scroll down for the official press blast.Continue reading Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes PeakMitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments