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Monday, June 4, 2012

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Audi cancels all-electric A2, A1 e-tron due to high-price tag fears

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 03:33 PM PDT

Audi cancels all-electric A2, A1 e-tron due to high-price tag fears


Audi cancels all-electric A2, A1 e-tron due to high-price tag fears
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AudiDr. Evil couldn't get sharks with laser beams (for a while, anyway) and we won't get an Audi electric car with them, either. That's the news from Car Magazine, anyway, which reports today that the automaker is cancelling the all-electric A2 project because it would likely be too expensive at 40,000 euros (just under $50,000 U.S. at today's exchange rates). To be fair, Audi never promised us this car. When the car debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September, complete with a rear fog light laser, Audi admitted it was just a "concept technology study." Looks like study time is now over. Car says that another EV project in the company stable, the A1 e-tron plug-in hybrid with a Wankel motor, has also been shut down. If these reports are true, BMW could lock down the small, luxury EV segment all to itself in a few years - if the i3 makes it to production.Audi cancels all-electric A2, A1 e-tron due to high-price tag fears originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Verizon starts delivering Ice Cream Sandwich update to Motorola Xoom 4G owners

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 03:33 PM PDT

Verizon starts delivering Ice Cream Sandwich update to Motorola Xoom 4G owners


Verizon starts delivering Ice Cream Sandwich update to Motorola Xoom 4G owners
Boom. Just as we'd heard a few days ago, and after weeks of being whispered, Verizon's finally started the process of rolling out the long-awaited Ice Cream Sandwich update to the Xoom 4G LTE crowd. Inside the near 108MB file are a slew of new features that are likely to make owners of the Moto slate quite content, some of which include: improvements in LTE connectivity, an overall speedier browser, the ability to resize widgets, a fresh editor within the photo gallery application and a new lock screen-based camera launcher. That's not it, however, the changelog also notes more enhancements on the text input, spell-checking and mobile hotspot departments -- all while promising a better device stability to "limit the number of resets." The update should be hitting your Big Red Xoom anytime now, but if you're not willing to wait it out, then pay the more coverage link a visit to check how to grab it manually.Verizon starts delivering Ice Cream Sandwich update to Motorola Xoom 4G owners originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Wireless and Mobile News | Verizon | Email this | Comments

Apple reportedly readying numerous Retina display MacBooks and multiple accessor...

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 03:32 PM PDT

Apple reportedly readying numerous Retina display MacBooks and multiple accessories for WWDC


Apple reportedly readying numerous Retina display MacBooks and multiple accessories for WWDC
New MacBook Pros are practically a given for WWDC (or, let's just say tears will be shed if they elude us), but now, 9to5Mac is stepping up the expectations in a major way. The outlet is now reporting that we could see two different versions of a revised 15-incher, not to mention Retina display-equipped editions of the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air. Less certain (but certainly believable) is an iMac refresh, which would again get served with a Retina display, and a fourth major Mac update is apt to see the practically forgotten Mac Pro or the Mac mini updated with bolstered internals. For those following Apple, you'd know that updating so many products at one event isn't a typical move for the company, but Tim Cook's been doing things slightly differently of late -- and honestly, there's no better way to enforce the importance of Retina than to blow it out across the portfolios. Finally, a whole host of new accessories are said to be on tap, with "refreshed keyboards, mice, trackpads and AirPorts" on the list. Hit the source link for the down and dirty, and go ahead and wipe your calendar for June 9th; we'll be liveblogging every last announcement direct from Moscone.Apple reportedly readying numerous Retina display MacBooks and multiple accessories for WWDC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | 9to5Mac | Email this | Comments

Nikkei: Nintendo Wii U to sell for around 30,000 yen, or just under $400

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 03:32 PM PDT

Nikkei: Nintendo Wii U to sell for around 30,000 yen, or just under $400


Nikkei: Nintendo Wii U to sell for around 30,000 yen, or just under $400
We'll still have to wait a bit longer for some official word from Nintendo, but Japan's Nikkei news agency is reporting today that Nintendo's Wii U console is will sell for "around" 30,000 yen when it makes its debut later this year. That translates to roughly $380 US dollars, although chances are the official US price will be something other than a direct yen-to-dollar conversion. What's more, Nikkei is also reporting that Nintendo will show off a number of new non-gaming features for the console at E3 this week, including e-books and karaoke (complete with a 10,000 song library), and even the ability to use the Wii U as a car navigation device (just the controller, presumably). Needless to say, we'll be covering tomorrow's keynote live to bring you any of those details as they're announced.Nikkei: Nintendo Wii U to sell for around 30,000 yen, or just under $400 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink IGN | Nikkei | Email this | Comments

Chrysler Debuts 'Ride & Drive'

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 03:32 PM PDT

Chrysler Debuts 'Ride & Drive'


Chrysler Debuts 'Ride & Drive'
Marketing program uses social media buzz to lure prospective buyers.

Foursquare teases a giant mobile app remake, mayors quiver in anticipation

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 03:32 PM PDT

Foursquare teases a giant mobile app remake, mayors quiver in anticipation


Foursquare teases a giant mobile app remake, mayors quiver in anticipation
Foursquare has been steadily adding to its mobile app since its check-in service took off. A major remake hasn't been in the cards, however, until now. The company is teasing a major update this week that will reflect Foursquare's shift from simply broadcasting your coffee shop invasions to recommending where to go next. From what little the company is willing to let slip in advance, the emphasis will be on spotting popular destinations on the map as well as more alluring location pages. There's still several questions left open, including an exact release date as well as whether or not the update is coming to more than one platform on day one; we've only seen iOS shots so far. Still, it's looking as though fans of Oink and Yelp will find something to like in Foursquare very shortly.Foursquare teases a giant mobile app remake, mayors quiver in anticipation originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechCrunch | Foursquare (Twitter) | Email this | Comments

Acer turns down non-tablet ARM devices, player hates the smartbook game

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:59 PM PDT

Acer turns down non-tablet ARM devices, player hates the smartbook game


Acer turns down non-tablet ARM devices, player hates the smartbook game
Acer may be going on a full touchscreen blitz at Computex, but one thing it's not doing is chasing others down the smartbook path. Talking with journos as Taipei's big gala got underway, company chairman JT Wang said that ARM was too fresh-faced to be used in anything besides a tablet, at least until 64-bit ARM architecture speeds things up in earnest. Wang wasn't too worried, though: Intel and Microsoft were recovering their "relationship" now that Windows 8 was providing a spark to reignite the love affair. That will leave Acer taking a decidedly different route than its Taiwan sibling ASUS, whose Tablet 600 carries more than a slight smartbook vibe. With ARM-based Windows 8 PCs not poised to arrive in force until early 2013, though, it will take some time before we know which course is wisest.Acer turns down non-tablet ARM devices, player hates the smartbook game originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Reuters | Email this | Comments

Must See HDTV (June 4th - 10th)

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:59 PM PDT

Must See HDTV (June 4th - 10th)


Must See HDTV (June 4th - 10th)
Franklin & Bash We're not sure who decided putting Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer a legal comedy / drama was a good idea but we're kinda glad they did. Jared Franklin & Peter Bash bring a lighter take to what are usually very serious procedurals, a good match for our laid back summer viewing schedule. Season two kicks off this week and if you haven't seen it, just assuming their characters from Saved By the Bell and Road Trip grew up to be lawyers pretty much covers it. (June 5th, TNT, 10PM) Playoffs As the NBA conference playoff battles continue on, the New Jersey Devils will have to find a way to fight back this week against the LA Kings. They're down 2-0, but as the Thunder and Celtics have shown, that can quickly be turned on its head. The only bad news? The next two games are at LA. Ouch. E3 Well, at least while the Devils are in LA they can stop by E3 and check out some new videogames. While we're covering all the action here, and video has spread to multiple platforms, if you prefer leaning back and observing all the HD trailers on your TV, Spike TV and G4 are both blowing out their coverage all week with feeds from the show floor during the day and in prime time.Continue reading Must See HDTV (June 4th - 10th)Must See HDTV (June 4th - 10th) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

AT&T Bucks The Chromatic Trend With An Exclusive Red Galaxy S III Coming This Su...

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:59 PM PDT

AT&T Bucks The Chromatic Trend With An Exclusive Red Galaxy S III Coming This Summer


AT&T Bucks The Chromatic Trend With An Exclusive Red Galaxy S III Coming This Summer
Nearly every U.S. wireless carrier that will stock Samsung's much-anticipated Galaxy S III laid out their intentions this morning, but some were more forthcoming than others. While Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular offered up expected launch windows and prices, AT&T spent the day keeping to themselves. Well, until now that is. The news AT&T released is very similar to everyone else's -- pre-orders will begin on June 6, the 16GB model will cost $199 -- except for one major difference. AT&T will be getting an exclusive red version of the Galaxy S III later this summer. Sadly, no images of the red Galaxy S III have trickled out yet, so you'll have to make do with this quick mock-up.

Ben Heck makes Super Glove mod for Kinect, takes strain out of gestures (video)

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:59 PM PDT

Ben Heck makes Super Glove mod for Kinect, takes strain out of gestures (video)


Ben Heck makes Super Glove mod for Kinect, takes strain out of gestures (video)
Sick of trying to control your 360 using Kinect, semaphore and advanced flailing? Modgod Ben Heck, deciding he wanted to be more Minority Report and less lunatic, has been working on Power Glove 2.0 to improve the console's navigation experience. The prototype glove is tricked out with Arduino, an accelerometer, a gyroscope and some fingertip buttons. With the addition of IR and a little coding magic, the 360's interface can be controlled via subtle gestures, with increased functionality / style points also apparent. Check out the latest episode of The Ben Heck Show after the break for a detailed walkthrough of the project and a demo of the glove in action.Continue reading Ben Heck makes Super Glove mod for Kinect, takes strain out of gestures (video)Ben Heck makes Super Glove mod for Kinect, takes strain out of gestures (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | element14 | Email this | Comments

AT&T announces Samsung Galaxy S III plans: preorders begin June 6th for $200, wi...

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:59 PM PDT

AT&T announces Samsung Galaxy S III plans: preorders begin June 6th for $200, will be available in red


AT&T announces Samsung Galaxy S III plans: preorders begin June 6th for $200, will be available in red
Sure, it's late to the Samsung Galaxy S III announcement party, but we suppose AT&T is letting the other carriers duke it out for the attention first before it came out with its own revelation. Now that it has the platform all to itself, AT&T has now officially made its intentions known. The Snapdragon S4-powered device will offer three color options and will be available for pre-order on June 6th starting at $200 for a 16GB model. What's the third hue choice, alongside the white and blue? Red. That's right: seeking ways to customize the Galaxy S III as a means of differentiating itself from the other four Galaxy S III devices, AT&T will be proudly selling its new flagship smartphone in glorious red. There's a bit of disappointing news to go with the good, however -- at least, if you're a fan of more storage. AT&T will sell only the 16GB model, and anyone seeking a total of 32GB will need to go with a $39 16GB microSD card. Aside from this, everything else appears to be exactly the same as the rest of the pack, which is encouraging news for anyone who wishes US carriers would shift to a state of existence as dumb pipes.Continue reading AT&T announces Samsung Galaxy S III plans: preorders begin June 6th for $200, will be available in redAT&T announces Samsung Galaxy S III plans: preorders begin June 6th for $200, will be available in red originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Nintendo may have supersized 3DS with 4.3-inch screen in store for E3, Mario nev...

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:24 PM PDT

Nintendo may have supersized 3DS with 4.3-inch screen in store for E3, Mario never looked bigger


Nintendo may have supersized 3DS with 4.3-inch screen in store for E3, Mario never looked bigger
Nintendo might have more up its E3 sleeve than just final Wii U hardware and a boatload of franchise games. According to Nikkei, the Japanese console legend is readying a version of the 3DS with a big 4.3-inch main display. That's smaller than on some smartphones we've seen, but a more than substantial jump from the 3.5-inch original. We might not even have long to wait: the trade paper claims that this biggest of all Nintendo handhelds could be ready as soon as the summer, just in time to squeak in some vacation playtime (and prepare us for Luigi's Mansion 2). As always, rumors such as these aren't guaranteed roadmaps; don't be surprised if we just see a regular-sized 3DS in plaid instead. If the plans are real, however, expect the DSi XL to develop feelings of inadequacy.Nintendo may have supersized 3DS with 4.3-inch screen in store for E3, Mario never looked bigger originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink SlashGear | Nikkei (subscription required) | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 caught on camera with S-pen slot, quad-core CPU (video)

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:24 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 caught on camera with S-pen slot, quad-core CPU (video)


Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 caught on camera with S-pen slot, quad-core CPU (video)
Last time the winds of hearsay rustled our tech feathers, word was Samsung had pegged its Tab 2 10.1 for a quad-core CPU transplant. While the company went on the record to shoot down that pesky rumor, it remained suspiciously mum where the Galaxy Note 10.1 was concerned. Now, thanks to a brief video demo over on German site All About Samsung, it appears the formerly dual-core slate refresh we had a chance to preview back in March could, indeed, be set for a processor swap. Though it's still far from official, the new Note 10.1 shown above looks to be sharing not only some of the Galaxy S III's specs -- 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos processor with Mali 400 MP GPU and a TouchWizzed Android 4.0.4-- but also that formerly problematic Pebble Blue finish. And much to our delight, it also appears as if the company's revised the tablet's design slightly, adding in a convenient slot on the lower left hand side for S-Pen stowage. Not convinced by mere words alone? The head past the break for video evidence of this purported hardware upgrade.Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 caught on camera with S-pen slot, quad-core CPU (video)Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 caught on camera with S-pen slot, quad-core CPU (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | All About Samsung (Translated) | Email this | Comments

Project Unity stuffs 20 classic consoles into one: if you can't play it, it's pr...

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:24 PM PDT

Project Unity stuffs 20 classic consoles into one: if you can't play it, it's probably too new (video)


Project Unity stuffs 20 classic consoles into one: if you can't play it, it's probably too new (video)
Most gamer who want to play with more than one or two vintage console platforms often turn to software-based emulators that may or may not be above-board. How about stuffing all of the authentic hardware into one controller and one base unit? Modders at Bacteria's forums have developed Project Unity, an attempt to natively address 20 consoles across 17 actual platforms folded into a single device. The gamepad, arguably the centerpiece, includes two each of analog sticks and directional pads, along with multiple shoulder buttons and a central button grid that can either be used to steer an Intellivision or fill in for otherwise missing controls. Stuffing the unique controller hardware into one gamepad obviously presents problems with board sizes and the laws of physics, so much of the relevant circuitry sits in modified NES cartridges. Our only dismays are the lack of original Xbox support and the slightly imposing challenge of aggregating and modifying that much classic gaming componentry in one place -- if you're more concerned about convenience in your retro gaming than preserving the original feel of that Sega Master System or SNK NeoGeo, though, you've just found Utopia.Continue reading Project Unity stuffs 20 classic consoles into one: if you can't play it, it's probably too new (video)Project Unity stuffs 20 classic consoles into one: if you can't play it, it's probably too new (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Technabob | Project Unity (Bacteria's Forum) | Email this | Comments

Google set to gobble up Meebo, plans to expand the social platform to new heights

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:24 PM PDT

Google set to gobble up Meebo, plans to expand the social platform to new heights


Google set to gobble up Meebo, plans to expand the social platform to new heights
An interesting twist in the world of social media came today with confirmation that Google has entered into an agreement to purchase Meebo, a company known for its eponymous Meebo Bar. Primarily a platform that's intended to drive consumer engagement with brands via a social medium, Meebo also provides advertisers a less-intrusive way to reach their target audiences. Meebo announced the acquisition on its blog, and hints that its team will work with Google to grow and improve the platform. It's unclear whether Google intends to integrate the Meebo Bar into its own online properties, or whether the Mountain View giant simply views it as a method to increase its advertising reach. Regardless, it seems a bit of a no-brainer that Google+ will soon find a new home in the Meebo Bar. While the final purchase price remains a bit of a mystery, AllThingsD sources peg the deal in the neighborhood of $100 million. Not a bad way to start a Monday.Google set to gobble up Meebo, plans to expand the social platform to new heights originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechCrunch | Meeblog, AllThingsD | Email this | Comments

Matrox DS1 docking station: $249 buys you Thunderbolt but no daisy-chaining

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:24 PM PDT

Matrox DS1 docking station: $249 buys you Thunderbolt but no daisy-chaining


Matrox DS1 docking station: $249 buys you Thunderbolt but no daisy-chaining
Thunderbolt has leant its air of celebrity to yet another device: the Matrox DS1 docking station, due out this fall for $249. The laptop dock has room for pretty much everything you'd want to plug in when you reach your desk, including DVI, gigabit Ethernet, audio in and out, two USB 3.0 ports and one USB 2.0. All those connections are then funneled into a single Thunderbolt output to your MacBook or Ultrabook. This provides "one cable convenience," but the lack of an extra port means there's no scope for daisy-chaining Thunderbolt storage or other components you might pick up at some point before 2015. If that seems like an important omission, look out for Belkin's alternative expected this Summer, which finds room not only for Thunderbolt in and out, but also for FireWire -- though likely at a higher price.Matrox DS1 docking station: $249 buys you Thunderbolt but no daisy-chaining originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink MacRumors | Matrox | Email this | Comments

Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30PM ET

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 01:50 PM PDT

Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30PM ET


Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30PM ET
It's Monday, which means it is time for you to listen into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to mp3 at 5:30PM. Please be a part of it by reviewing the list of topics after the break, then participating in the live chat too. Continue reading Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30PM ETJoin the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30PM ET originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Google grows IP arsenal with mobile patents from Magnolia Broadband

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 01:50 PM PDT

Google grows IP arsenal with mobile patents from Magnolia Broadband


Google grows IP arsenal with mobile patents from Magnolia Broadband
In the tech industry, you're only as safe as your latest batch of patent procurements. And Google, stuffed with billion dollar coffers, is only too happy to comply. Neatly paired with its recently wrapped Motorola acquisition, the Mountain View-based company's just expanded its intellectual property holdings with a portfolio related to mobile RF uplink solutions. Formerly the property of Magnolia Broadband, the outfit's "beamforming" tech will now undoubtedly aid the search giant's in-house manufacture of smartphone and tablet devices -- likely those of the Jellybean sort. No financial details of the transaction have been disclosed at this time, but you can bet your bottom dollar the price of this innovation didn't come cheap. Über-brief PR after the break.Continue reading Google grows IP arsenal with mobile patents from Magnolia BroadbandGoogle grows IP arsenal with mobile patents from Magnolia Broadband originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Chevy Volt comes out of the closet at Motor City Pride

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 01:15 PM PDT

Chevy Volt comes out of the closet at Motor City Pride


Chevy Volt comes out of the closet at Motor City Pride
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, HybridMotor City Pride was this weeekend and hometown company GM put out a proud advertisement to fit the day. The subject was that potentially difficult moment in a young car's life, when it needs to tell it parents the truth. In the ad, a Chevy Volt comes out of the closet to say, "Mom, dad, I'm electric." It's a clever ad, and it's good to see automakers not afraid to continue advertising to the GLBT community even though they have been criticized for doing just that in the recent past. GM has a long history of supporting GLBT causes, including Gay Day at the Movies with the Camaro (which did cause some cold feet) and contributing to the It Gets Better campaign. When it's not being entirely progressive, though, GM is happy to support more, um, old-fashioned advertising methods (i.e., bikini babes).Chevy Volt comes out of the closet at Motor City Pride originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Thomas Dolby's Wild Ride

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 01:15 PM PDT

Thomas Dolby's Wild Ride


Thomas Dolby's Wild Ride
The exterior of the Canal Room is a touch jarring in the harsh light of day. The street-level windows of the TriBeCa brick building are plastered with giant, neon posters advertising the venue's reoccurring theme nights - events with names like "Back to the Eighties Show featuring RUBIX KUBE: The Ultimate '80s Tribute Band" and "Saved By The '90s: A Party with The Bayside Tigers." Checkerboard backgrounds and pictures of Screech abound. And for a moment, I'm worried for Thomas Dolby. It's hard not to entertain images of the singer being tortured with Teddy Ruxpins, forced to perform 30-year-old songs for a crowd of middle-aged showgoers squeezed into their prom dresses, in defiance of all laws of physics. Things are much less troubling inside, however. The lights are dim and there's no neon to be seen - and while Dolby himself is MIA a few hours ahead of the show, a pair of dancers run around the space all steampunked out in corsets and high-heeled boots. One spots our photographer and asks whether we're there to "shoot the belly dancer." It's an interaction I can't help but relate to Dolby when he finally arrives, off-handedly comparing the whole thing to a traveling circus of sorts. "Actually," he responds, "it's quite simple compared to some other show. There's no video here, only three musicians, so this is the simple version." This is the scaled-back version of Dolby's live show in 2012. For one thing, the tour had to leave its chrome 1930s-era trailer back in Jersey. Apparently it's just too difficult to get a giant time capsule through the Holland Tunnel. In its absence, Dolby describes the vehicle as appearing to have been "modified by Jules Verne and Nikola Tesla," adding that it "houses a video suite, which allows anybody from the public to shoot a 30-second message to the future. So, we've got a YouTube channel called Time Capsule TV and people are uploading these messages that they shoot in the time capsule and the most popular ones, based on the views and so on, we'll sort of preserve for posterity, for the future."Continue reading Thomas Dolby's Wild RideThomas Dolby's Wild Ride originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Apple lords over tab market in Q1 2012, Samsung bumps Kindle in scuffle for scraps

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 01:15 PM PDT

Apple lords over tab market in Q1 2012, Samsung bumps Kindle in scuffle for scraps


Apple lords over tab market in Q1 2012, Samsung bumps Kindle in scuffle for scraps
If it's the end of a financial quarter, there must be another chronicle of the iPad swelling Apple's money pile and its tablet competitors trying in vain to chip off more for themselves. And with 11.8 million shipped by Cupertino out of 18.2 million slates total, that's pretty much the case -- with a minor shuffle of those "other guys" the only other tidbit. To wit, Amazon's Kindle petered into third spot only a quarter after trumpeting its ascension to number two, and Samsung displaced it as distant runner-up with sales of 1.1 million tabs. The most wide-eyed in the Korean maker's camp might point to Apple being topped in the rate of 3G / 4G tablets sold, but with eight times the sales of WiFi models, we doubt Apple's number-crunchers are losing any sleep over it. Per usual, the full report can be seen in the source link.Apple lords over tab market in Q1 2012, Samsung bumps Kindle in scuffle for scraps originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | ABI Research | Email this | Comments

Oracle sues Lodsys to squash its patents, deals in ironic reversals of fortune

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 12:40 PM PDT

Oracle sues Lodsys to squash its patents, deals in ironic reversals of fortune


Oracle sues Lodsys to squash its patents, deals in ironic reversals of fortune
Lodsys has been facing an increasing backlash ever since it began suing left and right to scrape money from developers over patents, including countering lawsuits from some heavy hitters. Its stiffest opposition might have just lined up in the form of Oracle, however. The database behemoth is hoping to render four of Lodsys' patents invalid and prevent it from threatening further lawsuits against companies that use Oracle's technology, such as current target Walgreens. The lawsuits are focused more on web chats than on the in-app purchasing that has put more than a few mobile app developers in jeopardy, although it might help EA or Rovio at ease knowing Lodsys might be defanged. Oracle certainly isn't mincing any words in its accusations: it out-and-out accuses Lodsys of being a patent troll that profits from technology it didn't invent and will never use. Strong rhetoric against patent lawsuits won't guarantee Oracle a victory in court, but it certainly creates a minor degree of irony for a company that unsuccessfully sued Google over patents inherited through an acquisition.Oracle sues Lodsys to squash its patents, deals in ironic reversals of fortune originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink GigaOM | Oracle vs. Lodsys (PDF) | Email this | Comments

Microsoft to offer Windows Phone Apollo 'sneak peek' on June 20th, we'll be there

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 12:40 PM PDT

Microsoft to offer Windows Phone Apollo 'sneak peek' on June 20th, we'll be there


Microsoft to offer Windows Phone Apollo 'sneak peek' on June 20th, we'll be there
Microsoft is likely as eager to announce the upcoming version of Windows Phone -- known as Apollo or Windows Phone 8 -- as we are to hear about it. Fortunately, we expect the answers to our many questions won't be left unanswered for much longer, as the folks in Redmond are flying down to San Francisco to offer us a sneak peak of "the future of Windows Phone." Certainly, we're hoping this brief look at the next OS will be more expansive than, say, the BlackBerry 10 reveal last month. Either way, we'll be at the event to cover every single detail, so mark your calendar!Microsoft to offer Windows Phone Apollo 'sneak peek' on June 20th, we'll be there originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

aTV Flash (black) version 1.6 for Apple TV will serve subtitles and more to your...

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 12:40 PM PDT

aTV Flash (black) version 1.6 for Apple TV will serve subtitles and more to your couch


aTV Flash (black) version 1.6 for Apple TV will serve subtitles and more to your couch
Snared the video you want with aTV Flash (black), but still foraging for subtitles the old way? Version 1.6 of the $29.95 package will now hunt them down from OpenSubtitles.org and download 'em directly to your jailbroken Apple TV 2nd-gen. In addition, Firecore's undermining software now has more codecs and languages, smoother video playback, better networking and numerous refinements and bug fixes. Existing clients will score the upgrade gratis, and new orders won't pay for Apple TV 3rd-gen functionality when it comes out. If you want to say no mas to badly dubbed films, roll to the source for more details.aTV Flash (black) version 1.6 for Apple TV will serve subtitles and more to your couch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Firecore | Email this | Comments

Amazon rolls out software update for $79 Kindle, promises improved legibility

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 12:40 PM PDT

Amazon rolls out software update for $79 Kindle, promises improved legibility


Amazon rolls out software update for $79 Kindle, promises improved legibility
Amazon has a bit of good news today for those that have opted for its least expensive e-reader. The company has just begun rolling out a new software update that brings with it a new reading font that's said to be "higher contrast and crisper" for an even more "paper-like reading experience." Other additions include expanded parental controls that let you restrict access to the web browser, archived items, and the Kindle Store, as well as support for the more complex layouts and formats offered by Kindle Format 8 books, improved table and image viewing, and support for children's books with Kindle Text Pop-Up and comic books with Kindle Panel View -- the latter of which lets you view comics panel by panel (when such books are available in the "next few weeks," that is). Hit the source link below for all the details and a direct download link.Amazon rolls out software update for $79 Kindle, promises improved legibility originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Amazon | Email this | Comments

Amp's plan to sell electric Mercedes-Benz in Cayman islands runs into roadblocks

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 11:28 AM PDT

Amp's plan to sell electric Mercedes-Benz in Cayman islands runs into roadblocks


Amp's plan to sell electric Mercedes-Benz in Cayman islands runs into roadblocks
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Legislation and Policy, Amp Electric Vehicles In March, Amp Electric Vehicles announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with U-Go Stations Cayman to bring its converted all-electric Mercedes-Benz ML to the Caribbean islands. Turns out, the gas-less powertrain is causing some bureaucratic headaches. In order to allow EVs into the islands, the government needed to pass a law saying so. This law was passed and signed by the governor last November, Amp's Marty Rucidlo told AutoblogGreen. But, when John Felder, a local car dealer, went to the Grand Cayman Department of Vehicle and Drivers Licensing to get the car approved, he was told that registration would not be possible. According to Caymanian Compass, the problem is that the new law has not yet been given a date when it goes into effect because specific regulations are still being drafted. Rucidlo told us that these regulations are not specific to EVs (they relate to things like putting boots on improperly parked cars, using cell phones while driving). To help promote the car, he went to the islands over Memorial Day with an MLe that had been in Miami and met people who were interested in buying the electric SUV. He said that the dealer currently has six orders for the car. Last year, Felder was able to get government approval for a Chevrolet Volt, and the ministry issued a statement saying the the new law's regulations "will be brought into effect very shortly." "We were well aware what we were stepping into with this," Rucidlo said. "We wanted to give them a hand."Amp's plan to sell electric Mercedes-Benz in Cayman islands runs into roadblocks originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Engadget and Joystiq broadcasting live at E3 - Microsoft

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 11:28 AM PDT

Engadget and Joystiq broadcasting live at E3 - Microsoft


Engadget and Joystiq broadcasting live at E3 - Microsoft
Sure, there's the liveblog of Microsoft's pre-show event, but we want to give you more, more, more. How do you like it? Tune in to find out. We'll be broadcasting live from outside Microsoft's pre-E3 Media Event with special guests from Joystiq, giving you in-depth discussions of what to expect and what it means. This is the place to catch it. So, click on through and tune in!Continue reading Engadget and Joystiq broadcasting live at E3 - MicrosoftEngadget and Joystiq broadcasting live at E3 - Microsoft originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Firefox 13 final swings by with new home and tab pages, flaunts its SPDYness

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 11:28 AM PDT

Firefox 13 final swings by with new home and tab pages, flaunts its SPDYness


Firefox 13 final swings by with new home and tab pages, flaunts its SPDYness
It's been barely over a month since the Firefox 13 beta began, but the wait for a completed version has felt especially drawn out. Thankfully, Mozilla has just wrapped up its work and set loose the polished code. The new release makes its changes felt right away, as you'll see a new default home page with bookmarks and history. Opening a new tab page presents a list of most visited pages -- a feature that we can swear we've seen in a few browsers before. A slightly fresher addition switches on Google's SPDY protocol by default, which as its convenient acronym suggests should squeeze and streamline web traffic to load it faster. Mozilla won't completely open the floodgates until tomorrow, but you can download Mac and Windows editions today from the source links below.Firefox 13 final swings by with new home and tab pages, flaunts its SPDYness originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechCrunch | Mac, Windows, Release notes | Email this | Comments

Humanoid bot created to analyze mechanics of swimming, replace unreliable carbon...

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 10:55 AM PDT

Humanoid bot created to analyze mechanics of swimming, replace unreliable carbon-based life forms


Humanoid bot created to analyze mechanics of swimming, replace unreliable carbon-based life forms
Meet Swumanoid. He's the replacement Tokyo Institute of Technology researchers have whipped up for pesky earthlings who can't identically repeat tests or minutely change their swimming style. The bot can reproduce a swimmer's full body movement and measure water resistance in an effort to shed some light on the forces acting on creatures like Michael Phelps. Created with 3D printed parts of an inferior human swimmer at half scale, it's attached to a drive unit and confined to a circulating water tank; Swumanoid takes two minutes and thirty-six seconds to swim roughly 300 feet, so it'll be a while before he and his kin chase you down. In the meantime, you can watch nightmare fueling footage of the bot presumably training for the Ironman Triathlon after the break.Continue reading Humanoid bot created to analyze mechanics of swimming, replace unreliable carbon-based life formsHumanoid bot created to analyze mechanics of swimming, replace unreliable carbon-based life forms originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Plastic Pals | Tokyo Institute of Technology | Email this | Comments

Internet Explorer coming to Xbox 360 this year, Kinect / voice integration and all

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 10:55 AM PDT

Internet Explorer coming to Xbox 360 this year, Kinect / voice integration and all


Internet Explorer coming to Xbox 360 this year, Kinect / voice integration and all
Microsoft just confessed that while other outfits have brought web browsers to televisions, "no one is using them," because "keyboards don't belong in the living room." Aside from thoroughly slamming Google TV, MS just offered its own alternative: Internet Explorer on Xbox 360... with full-on Kinect / voice command integration. It'll hit later this year, right alongside Smart Glass. Follow our liveblog of Microsoft's E3 keynote right here! Gallery: Internet Explorer coming to Xbox 360Internet Explorer coming to Xbox 360 this year, Kinect / voice integration and all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments