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Monday, May 28, 2012

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BYD e6 taxi catches fire in China after crash caused by drunk Nissan GT-R driver

Posted: 28 May 2012 02:56 PM PDT

BYD e6 taxi catches fire in China after crash caused by drunk Nissan GT-R driver


BYD e6 taxi catches fire in China after crash caused by drunk Nissan GT-R driver
Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, China Yes, we know that so many gasoline-powered vehicles catch fire every day that only the most local of news reports bother to report on what happened nearby. Still, electric vehicles come under a magnified lens, which is why reports of a BYD E6 taxi catching fire in Shenzhen, China caught our eye.BYD has been running all-electric E6s as taxis in Shenzhen since early 2010, which means there have been over two years of fire-less operations (as far as we know). Apparently, though, on 26 May three people riding in an E6 cab, including the driver, were killed in an accident. China Auto Web calls it "China's first fatal crash involving a high-speed pure-electric car" and notes that Shenzhen traffic police say that a drunk driver crashed a Nissan GT-R traveling at 112 miles per hour into the e6, which quickly caught fire then smashed into a third car, a gas-powered cab. The drunk driver ran from the scene, but later turned himself in. A person in the third car was lightly injured. This version of the story shows that the drunk GT-R driver is at fault, and we await news on if the E6's battery played a role in the fire. You can see a video report on the incident (in Chinese) below.Continue reading BYD e6 taxi catches fire in China after crash caused by drunk Nissan GT-R driverBYD e6 taxi catches fire in China after crash caused by drunk Nissan GT-R driver originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 28 May 2012 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Must See HDTV (May 28th - June 3rd)

Posted: 28 May 2012 02:56 PM PDT

Must See HDTV (May 28th - June 3rd)


Must See HDTV (May 28th - June 3rd)
Game of Thrones HBO's premiere series wraps up season two this weekend, and while we're not going to spoil things (yeah we read ahead via wiki summaries, we're weak) we're pretty sure that someone will die in this episode. Just like pretty much every other episode. Someone else will do something honorable, someone will be betrayed, and... dragons. Game of Thrones, ladies and gentlemen. (June 3rd, HBO, 9PM)Workaholics Comedy Central's series makes its return this week, and the story of three slackers just trying to get by has really grown on us. Trying to explain the interactions between Blake, Adam and 'Ders would probably make us look crazy, so we'll just advise you to tune in and hope for another Double Dare cameo by Marc Summers. If the words "let's get weird" don't mean anything to you, check out the trailer embedded after the break. (May 29th, Comedy Central, 10:30PM)Stanley Cup Finals The NHL Playoffs are finally down to just two teams: the LA Kings and the New Jersey Devils. Hockey's biggest prize is up for grabs, however the games are pretty spaced out so we've only got two of them on the schedule this week. We're sure you can make time to tune in. (May 30th & June 2nd, NBC, 8PM)Continue reading Must See HDTV (May 28th - June 3rd)Must See HDTV (May 28th - June 3rd) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Flame malware snoops on PCs across the Middle East, makes Stuxnet look small-time

Posted: 28 May 2012 02:21 PM PDT

Flame malware snoops on PCs across the Middle East, makes Stuxnet look small-time


Flame malware snoops on PCs across the Middle East, makes Stuxnet look small-time
Much ado was made when security experts found Stuxnet wreaking havoc, but it's looking as though the malware was just a prelude to a much more elaborate attack that's plaguing the Middle East. Flame, a backdoor Windows trojan, doesn't just sniff and steal nearby network traffic info -- it uses your computer's hardware against you. The rogue code nabs phone data over Bluetooth, spreads over USB drives and records conversations from the PC's microphone. If that isn't enough to set even the slightly paranoid on edge, it's also so complex that it has to infect a PC in stages; Flame may have been attacking computers since 2010 without being spotted, and researchers at Kaspersky think it may be a decade before they know just how much damage the code can wreak. No culprit has been pinpointed yet, but a link to the same printer spool vulnerability used by Stuxnet has led researchers to suspect that it may be another instance of a targeted cyberwar attack given that Iran, Syria and a handful of other countries in the region are almost exclusively marked as targets. Even if you live in a 'safe' region, we'd keep an eye out for any suspicious activity knowing that even a fully updated Windows 7 PC can be compromised.Flame malware snoops on PCs across the Middle East, makes Stuxnet look small-time originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 17:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Wired | Kaspersky Securelist | Email this | Comments

RIM's Chief Legal Officer is latest exec to leave the company

Posted: 28 May 2012 01:13 PM PDT

RIM's Chief Legal Officer is latest exec to leave the company


RIM's Chief Legal Officer is latest exec to leave the company
The trickle of departures from RIM may turn into a flood in the coming weeks if recent reports are to be believed, but things aren't staying at a standstill in the interim. The company's Chief Legal Officer Karima Bawa has today become the latest top executive to leave the BlackBerry-maker, ending a career with the company that began way back in 2000. That follows last week's departure of another longtime company vet, global sales head Patrick Spence, although Bawa is said to simply be retiring, not moving to another company. According to RIM, Bawa will also stay on to help with the hiring and training of her replacement.RIM's Chief Legal Officer is latest exec to leave the company originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 16:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Mobile Syrup | Reuters | Email this | Comments

Vodafone UK, retailers push back Galaxy S III in Pebble Blue by weeks, trample o...

Posted: 28 May 2012 12:38 PM PDT

Vodafone UK, retailers push back Galaxy S III in Pebble Blue by weeks, trample on dreams


Vodafone UK, retailers push back Galaxy S III in Pebble Blue by weeks, trample on dreams
We previously looked at talk of delays for some versions of the Galaxy S III with a jaundiced eye, as there hadn't been much official word at the time. That chatter just grew decidedly louder and more formal: Vodafone UK is now telling Pocket-lint that only the 16GB Marble White version will hit the high streets this week, with as many as two to four weeks before any Pebble Blue variant, or even 32GB white models, are ready to go. There isn't much comfort if you decide to turn elsewhere, either. With a few exceptions, third-party shops are all warning of at least slight delays for blue models that range from June 5th at Clove to a somewhat ominous-sounding "to be confirmed" at Handtec. Samsung is still quiet about what's triggering the delays, although Negri Electronics' founder Ryan Negri is claiming that different regions have been short-changed on different colors. Whatever the cause, it appears as if the Galaxy S III will face a rocky launch, even though the quad-core, Android 4.0-toting beast has otherwise been getting a warm reception.Vodafone UK, retailers push back Galaxy S III in Pebble Blue by weeks, trample on dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Pocket-lint, Handtec, Clove, Ryan Negri (at XDA-Developers) | Email this | Comments

How Face(.com) Recognition Could Fit Into Facebook Mobile

Posted: 28 May 2012 11:29 AM PDT

How Face(.com) Recognition Could Fit Into Facebook Mobile


How Face(.com) Recognition Could Fit Into Facebook Mobile
Face.com's CEO has shrugged off rumors that it is being acquired by Facebook for up to $100 million when we asked. But the addition of its facial recognition tech to Facebook's mobile apps could make sure friend tagging continues as the social network's user base shifts away from desktops. In fact, about 45% of users of Face.com's app KLIK end up sharing their photos on Facebook, which shows how popular mobile facial recognition could be.

Panasonic Lumix FX90 gets remote app for iOS and Android

Posted: 28 May 2012 11:29 AM PDT

Panasonic Lumix FX90 gets remote app for iOS and Android


Panasonic Lumix FX90 gets remote app for iOS and Android
Taking full advantage of the Lumix FX90's WiFi capability, Panasonic has unveiled its companion apps for both iOS and Android devices. Throwing in shutter functionality and zoom control alongside a larger viewfinder, it's pretty much a glossy dumb remote; there's no further features to make the most of your precious smartphone, although the camera itself is already capable of linking up your camera shots with your major social network of choice. The app requires a firmware update on the camera, but it should ensure all those self-portraits really pop in the future. Download links for the wannabe self-obsessed are waiting below.Panasonic Lumix FX90 gets remote app for iOS and Android originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge | App Store (iTunes), Google Play | Email this | Comments

Apple Rejects Apps Integrating Micro-Payments Service Flattr, Company Claims “It...

Posted: 28 May 2012 11:29 AM PDT

Apple Rejects Apps Integrating Micro-Payments Service Flattr, Company Claims "It's Not the End"


Apple Rejects Apps Integrating Micro-Payments Service Flattr, Company Claims "It's Not the End"
It may not be the end, but the prognosis doesn't look good. Social micro-payments platform Flattr is taking an unkind hit in terms of its future growth opportunities on mobile, the company details on its blog this morning. After being integrated into popular third-party podcast manager Instacast back in February, Apple decided at the beginning of May to reject the app from the iTunes App Store due to its Flattr integration. The result? The only way Instacast could get back into the app store was to change the user flow in the app to direct the actual "flattr" (as the micro-payment process is called) to take place in the Safari web browser instead. Not an ideal user experience, Apple admits, but it's as required by the App Store Review Guidelines.

Editorial: Despite shaky 48 fps Hobbit preview, high frame rates will take off

Posted: 28 May 2012 10:25 AM PDT

Editorial: Despite shaky 48 fps Hobbit preview, high frame rates will take off


Editorial: Despite shaky 48 fps Hobbit preview, high frame rates will take off
Well actually, the Hobbit preview wasn't shaky, it was smooth -- maybe too smooth -- and that's the point. "It does take you a while to get used to," Peter Jackson has admitted, referring to the surprisingly fluid motion of his 48 fps movie footage. But is he right to think audiences will even give it a chance? The launch of high frame-rate (HFR) cinema is surrounded by publicity in the run-up to the Hobbit's debut on December 12th, but it equally has a lot going against it. For starters, the film's 48 fps preview wasn't exactly received warmly. On top of that, the video-style apperance of HFR has a long history of being disliked by movie-goers -- past attempts since the 1970s have all flamed out. 85 years after the first 24 fps movies, the same number of frames are still going stubbornly through the gate (digital or otherwise) each second, so that must be what "filmic" is, right? Or will we look back on 24fps as the bad old days? Read on to see if these new/old-fangled frame speeds might survive, and though a 48 fps Hobbit trailer isn't available, we've provided a couple of clips to help you judge what two-dimensional HFR looks like.Continue reading Editorial: Despite shaky 48 fps Hobbit preview, high frame rates will take offEditorial: Despite shaky 48 fps Hobbit preview, high frame rates will take off originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 13:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

OG iPad prototype with dual dock connectors hits eBay, teases us with convenienc...

Posted: 28 May 2012 09:51 AM PDT

OG iPad prototype with dual dock connectors hits eBay, teases us with convenience we never had


OG iPad prototype with dual dock connectors hits eBay, teases us with convenience we never had
We're very used to Apple prototypes showing up on eBay. It's not often that we see unreleased iPads get the auction treatment, however, which makes a new listing that much more interesting. A 16GB WiFi version of the original iPad has popped up sporting a second dock connector on its side, a feature that we'd previously only spotted in Apple design patents. The advantage, of course, would be to keep the iPad powered and synced while it's playing a favorite movie in landscape mode. While we don't know how one aaps69 managed to get hands on the tablet, there's some clear signs that the seller didn't just carve an extra hole in the aluminum for kicks: the slate is running the familiar SwitchBoard tool that Apple uses for in-house diagnostics, and there's a raft of old and incomplete part details that suggest this particular iPad was never meant for store shelves. We'll likely never know why Apple left us in a land of solo dock connectors, but we'd take a peek at the source link before it's gone, as more recent Apple prototypes at auction tend to return to the source quickly.OG iPad prototype with dual dock connectors hits eBay, teases us with convenience we never had originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 12:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink MacRumors | eBay | Email this | Comments

I've got you under my skin: Huawei to cover Android in new Emotion UI

Posted: 28 May 2012 09:16 AM PDT

I've got you under my skin: Huawei to cover Android in new Emotion UI


I've got you under my skin: Huawei to cover Android in new Emotion UI
In the animal kingdom, reptiles shed their skins. In the mobile marketplace, Android smartphones do just the opposite. So, in keeping with the natural order, Huawei's preparing a June coming out party for a UX of its very own, dubbed Emotion UI. The Chinese manufacturer's no stranger to custom interfaces, as we saw at CES 2012 with the optional 3D launcher it employed on the Ascend P line. But as the company continues its trek towards major mobile player status, certain stock perks were sure to fall by the wayside. It's a bid for differentiation that should arguably "enhance" the user experience, but if forums and comment sections are to be believed, this great leap forward is actually a devolution of the worst kind. Hit up the source below to gander at the garbled word constructions of good 'ol Google translate.I've got you under my skin: Huawei to cover Android in new Emotion UI originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 12:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink UnwiredView | mobile.163.com | Email this | Comments

MIT researchers teach computers to recognize your smile, frustration

Posted: 28 May 2012 08:09 AM PDT

MIT researchers teach computers to recognize your smile, frustration


MIT researchers teach computers to recognize your smile, frustration
Wipe that insincere, two-faced grin off your face -- your computer knows you're full of it. Or at least it will once it gets a load of MIT's research on classifying frustration, delight and facial expressions. By teaching a computer how to differentiate between involuntary smiles of frustration and genuine grins of joy, researchers hope to be able to deconstruct the expression into low-level features. What's the use of a disassembled smile? In addition to helping computers suss out your mood, the team hopes the data can be used to help people with autism learn to more accurately decipher expressions. Find out how MIT is making your computer a better people person than you after the break. [Thanks, Kaustubh]Continue reading MIT researchers teach computers to recognize your smile, frustrationMIT researchers teach computers to recognize your smile, frustration originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 11:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Crazy Engineers | MIT News | Email this | Comments

Huawei files EU antitrust complaint against InterDigital

Posted: 28 May 2012 07:35 AM PDT

Huawei files EU antitrust complaint against InterDigital


Huawei files EU antitrust complaint against InterDigital
Huawei has filed an EU antitrust complaint against InterDigital to end its "abuse" of the allegedly standards-essential patents it controls. The company has urged the commission to examine its demands, which are considered too hefty to come under the protection of FRAND terms. The shoe normally resides on the other foot, with InterDigital previously instigating battles with Nokia, Samsung and ZTE. This time, it looks like the Chinese giant was tired of being pushed around by what it's derisorily called a non-practicing entity -- which we've taken to be a polite euphemism.Continue reading Huawei files EU antitrust complaint against InterDigitalHuawei files EU antitrust complaint against InterDigital originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 10:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Mystery LG LE970 claims next-gen Adreno graphics, can't quite prove it

Posted: 28 May 2012 06:59 AM PDT

Mystery LG LE970 claims next-gen Adreno graphics, can't quite prove it


Mystery LG LE970 claims next-gen Adreno graphics, can't quite prove it
Maybe our skeptic's goggles have fogged over with excitement, but there's something mightily interesting about an entry over at GLBenchmark. First off, the model number and listing info vaguely suggest it could be a variant of the LS970 superphone rumored for Sprint, aka the LG Eclipse, although the ICS build ("geeb_att_us-eng 4.0.4") indicates this 1280 x 720, 1.5GHz device is one of Ma Bell's. One of the more unusual specs offers some corroboration: the Adreno 320 graphics, which only come in the souped-up Pro or quad-core variants of Qualcomm's latest Snadragon S4 chipset. That would make the LE970 a rare breed indeed, but unfortunately that's where the evidence runs out of steam. The handset's actual 2.1 Egypt Standard benchmark only shows a score of 59.5fps -- exactly what we get from an HTC One S with its regular non-Pro CPU and Adreno 225 GPU. Oh well, where are those lens wipes? [Thanks, Ketul]Mystery LG LE970 claims next-gen Adreno graphics, can't quite prove it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | GLBenchmark | Email this | Comments

Ecotality sues over NRG's $120m electric vehicle charging station settlement

Posted: 28 May 2012 06:24 AM PDT

Ecotality sues over NRG's $120m electric vehicle charging station settlement


Ecotality sues over NRG's $120m electric vehicle charging station settlement
Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, USA The lawsuit settlement we reported on a few weeks ago - the one that was supposed to result in a $100 million commitment to build up plug-in vehicle infrastructure in California - is coming under fire. The short back story (you can find all the details here. It involves the whole Enron mess from a decade ago) is that NRG Energy, through purchasing Dynegy, a company with liabilities, settled for $120 million with the State of California to pay $20 million to the state and the California Public Utilities Commission for rate relief as well as spend $50 million to install NRG's Freedom Stations and $50 million on NRG's "make ready" program. Now, a competing electric vehicle charging station company based in San Francisco, Ecotality, has filed a lawsuit that says the settlement is illegal and hurts consumers, according to the Mercury News. The problem is that the settlement will cause NRG to "become the default provider of charging stations throughout the state" by being "punished" to invest in building out its own products, the News writes. The lawsuit says: Such 'punishment' is equivalent to a motorist settling his speeding citation by simply being required to buy a faster car, subsidized by the public. ... The agreement, purportedly entered into to settle claims by the PUC on behalf of the California ratepayers for price gouging during the California energy crisis, transfers monies that should be refunded to California ratepayers to NRG, the entity now in ownership and control of the Dynegy wrongdoers. NRG responded to the lawsuit by telling the News that, "While we were not provided with a copy of the filing, NRG Energy is making a private investment in California that will build an EV infrastructure that will encourage EV adoption in the state and help grow an industry to the benefit of the state of California, the people of California and all the companies supporting EV infrastructure."Ecotality sues over NRG's $120m electric vehicle charging station settlement originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 28 May 2012 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fast Track To A Facebook Phone — Buy INQ Mobile?

Posted: 28 May 2012 06:24 AM PDT

Fast Track To A Facebook Phone — Buy INQ Mobile?


Fast Track To A Facebook Phone — Buy INQ Mobile?
As the heat around the "Facebook Phone" story gets higher, our thoughts turn to the days a couple of years ago when it emerged Facebook had been thinking about developing an actual phone. Back then, it transpired that Facebook was working with INQ Mobile on a smartphone. The phone duly emerged - the INQ1 - and did indeed have great Facebook integration. Even if it hasn't exactly been a smash hit, it's faired well enough. Indeed, HTC has also released their own "Facebook" phone, such HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa respectively. INQ's runs on Google's Android operating system, but with deeper Facebook integration. When asked about the INQ phone back in 2010, Zuckerberg said it wasn't "some massive big thing". But quite clearly, a phone is now firmly on the agenda.

ASUS teases its 'next transformations,' will probably have screens (video)

Posted: 28 May 2012 05:52 AM PDT

ASUS teases its 'next transformations,' will probably have screens (video)


ASUS teases its 'next transformations,' will probably have screens (video)
There's really not much to go on, but ASUS has thrown its own brief snippet into the Computex teaser hat. It mentions that "the shape of the cloud is ever changing" -- and, er, not much else. Puzzle away this sunny public holiday by checking out the brief teaser after the break. [Thanks Sal]Continue reading ASUS teases its 'next transformations,' will probably have screens (video)ASUS teases its 'next transformations,' will probably have screens (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 08:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Batman-themed Nokia Lumia 900 coming soon, utility belt clip not included

Posted: 28 May 2012 05:52 AM PDT

Batman-themed Nokia Lumia 900 coming soon, utility belt clip not included


Batman-themed Nokia Lumia 900 coming soon, utility belt clip not included
A befuddled Joker once pondered "Where does he get all those wonderful toys?" Soon you'll have a chance to inspire the same sort of wonderment amongst your friends -- at least the more eagle-eyed ones. Nokia has announced it's launching a Batman-themed Nokia Lumia 900, with the minimalist logo of (spoiler alert) Bruce Wayne's alter-ego laser-etched onto the back. It's the same treatment that was given to a special edition Lumia 800 earlier and, no surprise, it'll be available exclusively in Batman's favorite color. It's also exclusive to Europe, at least initially, where it's said to be going on sale in a few weeks. Act fast and you might have yours in time to listen to Christian Bale grumble his way through the conclusion of the Dark Knight Trilogy.Batman-themed Nokia Lumia 900 coming soon, utility belt clip not included originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 08:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Pocket-lint | @nokia (Twitter) | Email this | Comments

Absinthe 2.0 used to jailbreak nearly one million iOS devices in a single weekend

Posted: 28 May 2012 05:17 AM PDT

Absinthe 2.0 used to jailbreak nearly one million iOS devices in a single weekend


Absinthe 2.0 used to jailbreak nearly one million iOS devices in a single weekend
973,086 iOS devices were jailbroken in a single weekend thanks to Absinthe 2.0, which was released on Friday. Chronic-Dev, one half of the Jailbreak Dream Team tweeted the announcement yesterday, adding that 211,401 of those freed were third-generation iPads. If you want to loosen your own Apple-branded handheld from the clutches of Cupertino's control, then the warranty-worrying software is still available -- with the promise that it's so easy, your grandma could do it.Absinthe 2.0 used to jailbreak nearly one million iOS devices in a single weekend originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 07:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Cult of Mac | Chronic Dev Team (Twitter) | Email this | Comments

GameStop gives in to its sweet tooth, stocks Android tablets at over 1,600 stores

Posted: 28 May 2012 04:14 AM PDT

GameStop gives in to its sweet tooth, stocks Android tablets at over 1,600 stores


GameStop gives in to its sweet tooth, stocks Android tablets at over 1,600 stores
GameStop selling Android tablets in-store isn't anything new, but we've been curious to see how well the initiative would take off following a soft launch at 200 locations last November. Things seem to be going swimmingly, as the company now has "more than 1,600 locations" stocking the slates. If you'll recall, the devices all come with pre-installed titles of the retailer's choosing, with models from the likes of Samsung, Acer, ASUS and Toshiba. There's still yet to be any word about whether you'll eventually be able to trade-in your own, but it would seem like a logical next step -- aside from becoming an AT&T virtual carrier. Hit up the source link below to see if a store in your area is part of the lineup.Continue reading GameStop gives in to its sweet tooth, stocks Android tablets at over 1,600 storesGameStop gives in to its sweet tooth, stocks Android tablets at over 1,600 stores originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 06:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Joystiq | GameStop | Email this | Comments

Angry Birds and PES 2012 join Skype: won't work on Windows Phones with 256MB RAM

Posted: 28 May 2012 03:08 AM PDT

Angry Birds and PES 2012 join Skype: won't work on Windows Phones with 256MB RAM


Angry Birds and PES 2012 join Skype: won't work on Windows Phones with 256MB RAM
Putting the squeeze on those hardware specifications has lead to several more app casualties on Microsoft's ever-growing mobile platform. Unfortunately, it includes one of mobile gaming's biggest hitters: Angry Birds. We gave installation a go on our own Lumia 610 and were met with the unfortunate message seen above. According to WindowsPhoneApps Spanish, it's not the only one affected by the reduction in RAM on these lower-priced smartphones. PES 2012 won't run on the lower-specced smartphone, while videocall app Tango also joins its rival Skype on the no-go list.Angry Birds and PES 2012 join Skype: won't work on Windows Phones with 256MB RAM originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 06:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge | WindowsPhoneApps (translated) | Email this | Comments

Kyocera's Urbano Progresso to bring tissue-conductive sounds to Japan on May 30th

Posted: 28 May 2012 02:33 AM PDT

Kyocera's Urbano Progresso to bring tissue-conductive sounds to Japan on May 30th


Kyocera's Urbano Progresso to bring tissue-conductive sounds to Japan on May 30th
Kyocera's innovative Urbano Progresso is set to launch in Japanese stores before the end of the week. The result of a team-up between the handset manufacturer and carrier KDDI, it uses a new vibrational technology that forgoes the more typical earpiece, delivering sound throughout the whole handset. We've toyed with the technology already and it's good to see Kyocera delivering on its promise of a real world application of its smart sonic receiver in the same year. Aside from its audio chops, the phone houses some less ground-breaking, but still respectable, features like a dual-core 1.4GHz Snapdragon S2 processor, Android 4.0, an 8.1-megapixel camera, waterproof casing and a 4.1-inch screen. It'll be out in shops starting May 30th and tempted Japan residents can check out the hard sell -- condensed into a two-minute video -- after the break.Continue reading Kyocera's Urbano Progresso to bring tissue-conductive sounds to Japan on May 30thKyocera's Urbano Progresso to bring tissue-conductive sounds to Japan on May 30th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 05:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge | au by KDDI | Email this | Comments

The Apple II, as described by Steve Wozniak

Posted: 28 May 2012 01:24 AM PDT

The Apple II, as described by Steve Wozniak


The Apple II, as described by Steve Wozniak
Ask the average geek to describe the Apple II and you'll probably hear something about its legacy or software. Ask Steve Wozniak circa 1977, on the other hand, and he'll write you a technical tome -- or at least he did for Byte magazine. Way back when the classic computer was fresh, a young Woz penned an extremely detailed "system description" for the rig, pouring over specifics on the II's graphical capabilities, memory, peripherals, programming language and more. Perhaps in (slightly late) honor of the machine's 35th anniversary, Information Week has seen fit to reprint the extensive examination for your reading pleasure -- assuming you're up to wading through the technical nitty gritty. No? Well, Woz does have a few nuggets of wisdom for the layman. "To me," he says, "a personal computer should be small, reliable, convenient to use and inexpensive." No arguments here, Steve. Read the man's words for yourself at the source link below.The Apple II, as described by Steve Wozniak originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 04:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge, Daring Fireball | Information Week | Email this | Comments

BBC iPlayer reaching Windows Phone within 'weeks,' will catch up with Sherlock o...

Posted: 27 May 2012 11:10 PM PDT

BBC iPlayer reaching Windows Phone within 'weeks,' will catch up with Sherlock on your Lumia


BBC iPlayer reaching Windows Phone within 'weeks,' will catch up with Sherlock on your Lumia
We've see BBC iPlayer reach many devices over time, but it's been conspicuously absent on Windows Phone. Nokia has stepped into give us some relief, and it's now promising that a port of the TV catch-up service will be ready for your Lumia 800 "in weeks." Good news no doubt, although Nokia's encyclopedic knowledge of British TV streaming is also dashing hopes of using the Sky Go mobile app on Windows Phone anytime soon: the same Nokia rep doesn't see Sky being ready for a "good few months" at the earliest. As such, you'll have no problems keeping up with Doctor Who and Sherlock when they're airing, but we wouldn't count on watching live football matches for awhile.BBC iPlayer reaching Windows Phone within 'weeks,' will catch up with Sherlock on your Lumia originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 May 2012 01:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | The Inquirer | Email this | Comments

How would you change Samsung's Galaxy Player 4.0?

Posted: 27 May 2012 08:21 PM PDT

How would you change Samsung's Galaxy Player 4.0?


How would you change Samsung's Galaxy Player 4.0?
Samsung's sub-$200 Galaxy Player offers up PMP-stylings inside a smartphone shell. When our reviewer put it through its paces, we couldn't find much to commend it -- with poor sound quality and battery life that wouldn't manage a long-haul flight. The expandable storage and removable battery made it more desirable than the equivalent iPod touch, but given that it was retailing for $20 more (at the time), we'd have said go for a GoGear or D3 instead. But we suspect that despite our advice, some of you bought one, so tell us how you've found it on a daily basis and what should the company do when it comes time for a refresh?How would you change Samsung's Galaxy Player 4.0? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 23:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

LG Display debuts five-inch Retina Display killer with 1080p HD resolution and 4...

Posted: 27 May 2012 07:16 PM PDT

LG Display debuts five-inch Retina Display killer with 1080p HD resolution and 440ppi pixel density


LG Display debuts five-inch Retina Display killer with 1080p HD resolution and 440ppi pixel density
Smartphone displays are becoming larger in size, and along with that, we're seeing a nice trend that's bringing greater pixel density. While LG Display's newly-announced 1080p HD mobile display isn't the most pixel dense that we've seen -- a distinction that belongs to Toshiba -- the five-inch panel is more appropriate for consumer applications and boasts an impressive pixel density of 440ppi. Its 16:9 aspect ratio was designed with HD content in mind, and the LCD technology isn't anything to sneeze at, either: it's a variant of IPS known as Advanced High Performance In-Plane Switching (AH-IPS), which is said to boast wide viewing angles, fast response times and improved brightness efficiency. Best yet, it seems that consumers won't have long to wait before the panel works its way into consumer technology -- the five-inch HD display is set for availability during the second-half of this year. To learn more of the Retina Display-shattering deets, you'll find the full PR after the break.Continue reading LG Display debuts five-inch Retina Display killer with 1080p HD resolution and 440ppi pixel densityLG Display debuts five-inch Retina Display killer with 1080p HD resolution and 440ppi pixel density originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 22:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Switched On: Facebook's ecosystem dilemma

Posted: 27 May 2012 06:42 PM PDT

Switched On: Facebook's ecosystem dilemma


Switched On: Facebook's ecosystem dilemma
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Despite amassing something close to a billion users, Facebook has mainly stayed true to the startup mantra of staying focused on a few core things. In this case, that has been promoting openness and sharing among friends and, increasingly, the world at large. Such was the case for its rival Google at the launch of the search company's IPO. Since then, however, the company has launched a pair of operating systems powering handsets and tablets around the world, a digital media store selling everything from apps to books, and its own social sharing service (at least twice). With the vast capital infusion that comes with an IPO, Facebook has an opportunity to expand far beyond its own site and Like buttons that now line up in a row next to sharing buttons using Twitter and Google+. The company certainly has no love for Google and has kept Apple at arm's length, but it has had a strong partnership with Microsoft, which made a financially shrewd $240 million investment in Facebook back in 2007. Windows Phone would be a poorer experience were it not for its tight Facebook integration. The giant social network would gain from entering the device market or spinning its own version of Android as Amazon has done, but there would also be significant challenges to striking out into its own ecosystem.Continue reading Switched On: Facebook's ecosystem dilemmaSwitched On: Facebook's ecosystem dilemma originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 21:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Inhabitat's Week in Green: Jake Dyson's lamp, wooden light bulbs and weed-killin...

Posted: 27 May 2012 05:37 PM PDT

Inhabitat's Week in Green: Jake Dyson's lamp, wooden light bulbs and weed-killing lasers


Inhabitat's Week in Green: Jake Dyson's lamp, wooden light bulbs and weed-killing lasers
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. This week Inhabitat has been reporting live from New York Design Week, where we've witnessed countless innovative green designs from around the world. To kick things off, we were pretty impressed with this desk lamp designed by Jake Dyson (son of the vacuum god) that extends the life of its LED bulbs by a whopping 37 years. Also in the category of "bright shiny things we love" is QisDesign's Aurelia lamp, which bears a striking resemblance to a glowing jellyfish. We were also dazzled by UM Project's collection of retro, robot-inspired lamps, Light & Contrast's cute LED flower lights, and we were absolutely floored by Alessandro Jordão's larger-than-life LEGO chair. Can't get enough of NY Design Week? Check out all of our favorite green designs from this year's shows. Continuing with the topic of innovative green lighting technology, artist Ryosuke Fukusada has created the impossible: a glowing wooden light bulb. Confused? The light was created using a technique called Rokuro, and it consists of an LED light bulb wrapped with a very thin layer of wood. When the bulb is turned on, it illuminates the grain of the wood. As Fukusada's creation demonstrates, LED lighting technology has taken some incredible strides recently, and we took some time to round-up 24 of our all-time favorite green lamps that look great with LED bulbs.Continue reading Inhabitat's Week in Green: Jake Dyson's lamp, wooden light bulbs and weed-killing lasersInhabitat's Week in Green: Jake Dyson's lamp, wooden light bulbs and weed-killing lasers originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Refresh Roundup: week of May 21st, 2012

Posted: 27 May 2012 05:37 PM PDT

Refresh Roundup: week of May 21st, 2012


Refresh Roundup: week of May 21st, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of May 21st, 2012Refresh Roundup: week of May 21st, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 20:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments