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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

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Nissan lowers Leaf lease price to $289/month; issuing refunds for unused deposits

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:56 PM PDT

Nissan lowers Leaf lease price to $289/month; issuing refunds for unused deposits


Nissan lowers Leaf lease price to $289/month; issuing refunds for unused deposits
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan Back in April, Nissan updated the process it is using to sell the all-electric Leaf. Most importantly, that meant that interested buyers no longer needed to place a $99 reservation fee to order their car from Nissan's website. Instead, as Nissan's Katherine Zachary told AutoblogGreen, interested customers can now create an account online or order a Leaf directly from the dealer, "without any associated fees. Dealers across the country are able to sell the Leaf, with many receiving the cars directly." In short, the Leaf is starting to be sold just like any other car. As part of the change, Nissan began issuing refunds to anyone to had previously put down a $99 deposit on a Leaf but had not yet ordered one. Getting a refund does not take a person out of their place in the reservation queue. Zachary added: The changes are part of the natural evolution of the Nissan Leaf sales process and are a reflection of customer feedback. It's important we provide customers with the options they desire when it comes to the purchase process. Our dealers have made significant investments in sales and service training, and charging capabilities, and are well equipped to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction. In some limited situations, such as when the credit card used to make the deposit was now inactive, Nissan is issuing refunds via check. Originally, Nissan set the Leaf lease prices at $349 a month for a 36-month lease. This week, that price was lowered to either $289 a month (for SV trim) or $319 for the upscale SL model. That's not all that's changed: the lease term has now climbed to 39 months and the initial payment went from the original $1,999 to $2,999. So, instead of paying $14,563 for a Leaf lease, you can now pay either $14,270 or $15,440, plus taxes and whatnot and minus the federal tax incentive.Nissan lowers Leaf lease price to $289/month; issuing refunds for unused deposits originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony PlayStation Wonderbook hands-on

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:56 PM PDT

Sony PlayStation Wonderbook hands-on


Sony PlayStation Wonderbook hands-on
Last night, we caught a demo of PlayStation's new Wonderbook during the company's E3 press event. Today, we grabbed a few moments of hands-on time with the new PS Move peripheral at the Sony booth. As we learned last night, the first title for the new tech is a collaborative effort with J.K. Rowling, entitled Book of Spells. The kit makes use of an augmented reality book in tandem with the Move hardware to project images and animations (basically the game itself) right on the pages. Consisting of only six spreads (12 pages), the software will track your progression through the chapters, and beginning a new quest simply means heading to back to the front of the book. We got a closer look (free from last night's demo fail), so have a peep at the gallery below and head on past the break for some impressions.Gallery: Sony PlayStation Wonderbook hands-onContinue reading Sony PlayStation Wonderbook hands-onSony PlayStation Wonderbook hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Fresco Logic unveils USB 3.0 Audio / Video controller: thinks one screen good, t...

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:56 PM PDT

Fresco Logic unveils USB 3.0 Audio / Video controller: thinks one screen good, two screens better


Fresco Logic unveils USB 3.0 Audio / Video controller: thinks one screen good, two screens better
While plenty of glossy or tactile goods have come to light at Computex this year, sometimes the chips, boards and internals need a little love too. Fresco Logic, for example, has unveiled what it claims is the world's first USB 3.0 audio / video class display controller -- the FL2000. Good news for Ultrabook and tablet manufacturers (and other display-based devices of course,) which can benefit from high-quality second display functionality without the need for additional video connectors. Time for another screen in your life, perhaps?Continue reading Fresco Logic unveils USB 3.0 Audio / Video controller: thinks one screen good, two screens betterFresco Logic unveils USB 3.0 Audio / Video controller: thinks one screen good, two screens better originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

HTC One X Slated For June 10 Release At AT&T, Pre-Orders Start Now

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:23 PM PDT

HTC One X Slated For June 10 Release At AT&T, Pre-Orders Start Now


HTC One X Slated For June 10 Release At AT&T, Pre-Orders Start Now
The time has finally come. After a brief stay in U.S. customs, HTC's shining star — the One X — has been slated for a June 10 release on AT&T. We originally expected a May 10 release, so I guess you could say that squashing the customs issue and rescheduling the launch in a month is pretty well done. That means you can go ahead and pre-order the device now, by clicking here, or stroll on into an AT&T store come June 10 with $200 in your wallet (or bank account).

Can Paying Friends Be Fun? Venmo Features “News Feed Of Payments” In Redesigned App

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:23 PM PDT

Can Paying Friends Be Fun? Venmo Features "News Feed Of Payments" In Redesigned App


Can Paying Friends Be Fun? Venmo Features "News Feed Of Payments" In Redesigned App
"Josh paid Aaron $391 for best Coachella weekend ever". Peer-to-peer payments app Venmo thinks that when you pay someone back for drinks, dinner, or concert tickets, you're really sharing memories, and your friends will want to see. So today it relaunches its iOS, Android, and BlackBerry apps with a news feed of payments now featured on the homescreen. The redesign follows interface trends from Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so Venmo is more familiar for first-timers, and puts the "Pay" button in the navigation bar so you can quickly settle your debts. It has also notified users via email that payments now default to publicly visible to other Venmo'ers. 42% of payments on Venmo were already being shared, even though its news feed was buried deep in the app. Will the redesign be enough to fend off PayPal and help Venmo go mainstream?

Facebook brings bigger images and text to its news feed, because size does matter

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:23 PM PDT

Facebook brings bigger images and text to its news feed, because size does matter


Facebook brings bigger images and text to its news feed, because size does matter
Not long after hooking up its mobile site and apps with a minor facelift, Facebook's reportedly planning to bring a similar redesign to its full-sized website. According to our friends over at TechCrunch, the changes will be nearly identical to those we saw on the mobile front, meaning you'll be able see bigger photos (up to twice as large) and text pop up on your cherished news feed. The light, but plentiful revamp is expected to hit users over the next few days, so don't feel like the odd one out if you're yet to spot any tweaks. Now, if only you had that SimCity Social to help pass the time while you patiently wait...Facebook brings bigger images and text to its news feed, because size does matter originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | TechCrunch | Email this | Comments

SATA-IO unveils USM Slim external storage jack for ultrabooks, tablets and 'othe...

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:49 PM PDT

SATA-IO unveils USM Slim external storage jack for ultrabooks, tablets and 'other portable devices'


SATA-IO unveils USM Slim external storage jack for ultrabooks, tablets and 'other portable devices'
So, how do you best improve upon the USM standard and boldly take it to new frontiers? Well, as with most tech, simply shrinking it down never seems to hurt. The new USM Slim standard has just been announced by the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) as part of the SATA 3.2 Revision. It takes the ability to plug in powered, external storage with on-board SATA and slims down the port from 14.5mm to 9mm. By trimming the jack by of a third of its bulk the SATA-IO have prepped the standard for the next generation of products, including ultra-thin ultrabooks, svelte tablets and "other portable devices." What might those other devices be? Well, we can't help but hope for a smartphone that boots to Ubuntu when docked (or Ubuntu TV) and can connect to a sizable external hard drive... ah, pipe dreams. Check out the PR after the break.Continue reading SATA-IO unveils USM Slim external storage jack for ultrabooks, tablets and 'other portable devices'SATA-IO unveils USM Slim external storage jack for ultrabooks, tablets and 'other portable devices' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Sprint’s Virgin Mobile Becomes The Second Carrier To Offer A Prepaid iPhone

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:49 PM PDT

Sprint's Virgin Mobile Becomes The Second Carrier To Offer A Prepaid iPhone


Sprint's Virgin Mobile Becomes The Second Carrier To Offer A Prepaid iPhone
Poor T-Mobile. It was one thing when the iPhone was only available at AT&T, but then Verizon got it, and then Sprint, and then the bar dropped quite a bit as U.S. Cellular got it, and most recently Cricket Wireless joined ranks offering the iPhone as an unlocked prepaid device. But now, Sprint's Virgin Mobile has taken on the device, according to the WSJ. Again, poor T-Mobile. But enough of that; back to Virgin's iPhone. (That sounds a bit like a Judd Apatow movie, right?)

Nyko's PlayPad and PlayPad Pro Android tablet controllers (hands-on)

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:49 PM PDT

Nyko's PlayPad and PlayPad Pro Android tablet controllers (hands-on)


Nyko's PlayPad and PlayPad Pro Android tablet controllers (hands-on)
There's a great video game land rush happening on the mobile front, as developers and hardware manufacturers work map out precisely how users will play with their smartphones and tablets. We've seen plenty of peripheral makers give it a shot, hoping to transform decidedly clunky touchscreen gameplay into something more akin to devoted consoles. Some, like Ion, have taken a fairly whimsical approach to the process, giving the world the iCade, a tablet controller shaped like a small arcade cabinet. Nyko's going a much more straight forward route with PlayPad and PlayPad Pro, Bluetooth controllers that intend on bringing console gaming over to the mobile side. The PlayPad is the smaller of the two devices. It ships in a spring loaded eyeglasses-style case. Also inside is a small stand that you can unfold to prop up your Android tablet in portrait or landscape. The controller itself is quite small and fairly light. It has two circle pads on the front, a d-pad, four face buttons, shoulder buttons and a giant home button in the center.Gallery: Nyko's PlayPad and PlayPad Pro Android tablet controllers (hands-on)Continue reading Nyko's PlayPad and PlayPad Pro Android tablet controllers (hands-on)Nyko's PlayPad and PlayPad Pro Android tablet controllers (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Demand for Volt Spikes in California

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:48 PM PDT

Demand for Volt Spikes in California


Demand for Volt Spikes in California
Sales soar despite a recent halt in production and widespread criticism.

Hyundai petitions for August to be 'Fuel Efficiency Month'

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Hyundai petitions for August to be 'Fuel Efficiency Month'


Hyundai petitions for August to be 'Fuel Efficiency Month'
Filed under: MPG, Hyundai, North America, USA Those looking to spend some of the warmest months of the year firing muscle cars down straight ribbons of hot asphalt, beware: Hyundai wants August to be "Fuel Efficiency Month." The South Korean automaker's campaign debuted today to coincide with World Environmental Day celebrations in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Austin. As part of the campaign, Hyundai will, among other things, remind drivers to keep a lighter throttle foot, inflate their tires properly and tune their cars up often to best conserve fuel. Hyundai practices what it preaches. The company was deemed by the EPA as the most fuel-efficient automaker in the U.S. for model year 2010, the most recent that was officially tracked by the agency. And through May, Hyundai's new car fleet averaged more than 37 miles per gallon, about 50 percent higher than the U.S. average. Last month, Hyundai sold 67,019 vehicles in the U.S., marking both a 13 percent increase from a year earlier and a record for May.Hyundai petitions for August to be 'Fuel Efficiency Month' originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Amazon and Avalon in a tree, publishing romance books di-gi-tal-ly

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Amazon and Avalon in a tree, publishing romance books di-gi-tal-ly


Amazon and Avalon in a tree, publishing romance books di-gi-tal-ly
Amazon Publishing and long-running book-maker Avalon now has more in common than rhyme schemes. The pair have struck up a deal to publish over 3,00 titles from the publisher's back-catalogue, broaching its romance, mystery and western genres. It'll be the first time that these books will be digitized and, well, Oprah's always looking for stuff to read.Continue reading Amazon and Avalon in a tree, publishing romance books di-gi-tal-lyAmazon and Avalon in a tree, publishing romance books di-gi-tal-ly originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Amazon | Email this | Comments

Audi cancels A1 and A2 EVs due to pricing concerns

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Audi cancels A1 and A2 EVs due to pricing concerns


Audi cancels A1 and A2 EVs due to pricing concerns
Audi's A2 and A1 EV concepts have been floating around for a while now, but it looks like neither will make it past the exploratory phase. According to Car Magazine, the auto maker is cancelling production of the two models due to concerns about pricing. The projected cost is apparently just south of $50,000. That's not to say that Audi is giving up on developing EVs entirely, though -- it's still pushing the A3 e-tron pilot program announced earlier this year.Audi cancels A1 and A2 EVs due to pricing concerns originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Autoblog Green | Car Magazine | Email this | Comments

VW Considers Jetta Alltrack Crossover

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

VW Considers Jetta Alltrack Crossover


VW Considers Jetta Alltrack Crossover
The addition to the Jetta line would challenge the Subaru Outback.

Nuance Dragon ID secures phones, tablets and PCs with your voice

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 12:43 PM PDT

Nuance Dragon ID secures phones, tablets and PCs with your voice


Nuance Dragon ID secures phones, tablets and PCs with your voice
Do you wish your phone would wake up when you commanded it to, like Galaxy S III? Well, it's not gonna happen (at least not without some hacking). But, your next phone might just sport the feature, all without having to be saddled with the rest of TouchWiz. Nuance is bringing its powerful voice recognition tech to OEMs and offering them the ability to not only unlock phones with voice controls, but lock them down using biometrics. In that way, it's actually got a leg up on S Voice. Dragon ID isn't a gimmick -- it's a security feature. In fact, if properly integrated, it can recognize multiple voices and open up to custom homescreens for each user. Sadly we have no idea when or where this tech will first show up, but we wouldn't be shocked to see it on both Android and Windows 8 tablets, as well as smartphones and PCs in the near future. For a few more scraps of info, check out the PR after the break.Continue reading Nuance Dragon ID secures phones, tablets and PCs with your voiceNuance Dragon ID secures phones, tablets and PCs with your voice originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

App Devs, Grab Your Credit Cards: You Can Now Buy Mobile-Only Ads On Facebook

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 12:42 PM PDT

App Devs, Grab Your Credit Cards: You Can Now Buy Mobile-Only Ads On Facebook


App Devs, Grab Your Credit Cards: You Can Now Buy Mobile-Only Ads On Facebook
Facebook just made several changes to its self-serve ad options. The big one: That advertisers can now buy mobile-only news feed Sponsored Stories -- potentially huge for app developers looking to buy installs. This could be a key step for Facebook to monetize its massive mobile audience in a significant way — a constant topic among skeptics in the run-up to the company's IPO. Facebook was already moving into mobile advertising, but this new option should be especially attractive to advertisers who want to reach a mobile-only audience.

Facebook lets advertisers easily buy mobile-only ads, our news feeds feel slight...

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 12:42 PM PDT

Facebook lets advertisers easily buy mobile-only ads, our news feeds feel slightly unclean


Facebook lets advertisers easily buy mobile-only ads, our news feeds feel slightly unclean
Facebook's fistfuls of cash come almost exclusively from advertising, but virtually none of it comes from mobile. Much to its delight and our chagrin, that's changing. Prospective advertisers now only need to use the social network's ready-made ad interface and Power Editor to back a sponsored news feed story on mobile devices, instead of getting the explicit say-so from Facebook. It's not open season on Facebook's mobile apps: we won't see dating ads rear their pretty heads in Facebook Camera anytime soon. All the same, it does mean the social stream on your HTC Status will be a bit less than pristine from now on.Facebook lets advertisers easily buy mobile-only ads, our news feeds feel slightly unclean originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Business Insider | Facebook Advertising | Email this | Comments

Nokia Maps for Windows Phone makeover brings friends' photos and reviews, favori...

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 12:42 PM PDT

Nokia Maps for Windows Phone makeover brings friends' photos and reviews, favorites syncing


Nokia Maps for Windows Phone makeover brings friends' photos and reviews, favorites syncing
Nokia Maps is a cornerstone of the Lumia line, so it's more than a little vital that the Windows Phone app keep up with the smartphone pack. The just-posted 2.0 update catches up in a big way to Google Maps on social location: travelers can now add reviews and photos to locations, both helping spot that French café and decide whether or not it's worth a visit. If you're that much in love with the cappuccino, you'll be glad to know there's now favorites syncing that will carry over to other Nokia phones as well as the web apps, should you moonlight with Android or an iPhone. The chronically lost even have something to cheer about, since the new app makes it possible to pin directions, not just locations, to the home screen. Upgrading is free; provided you've addressed the small matter of owning a Lumia phone, there's every good reason to check Windows Phone Marketplace and get to downloading.Nokia Maps for Windows Phone makeover brings friends' photos and reviews, favorites syncing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Nokia Conversations | Email this | Comments

Airtime lets you share media while you video chat, reminds you That Napster Guy...

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 12:08 PM PDT

Airtime lets you share media while you video chat, reminds you That Napster Guy is still around


Airtime lets you share media while you video chat, reminds you That Napster Guy is still around
Hey, remember the guy that created Napster, Shawn Fanning? Do you remember Facebook co-founder (and supposed Justin Timberlake doppelganger) Sean Parker? Good, as that'll make it easier to understand why the two have created Airtime, a heavily hyped new peer-to-peer video chat service. The aim is to offer a one-on-one conversation that helps people understand each other, with shared interests and the ability to quickly fling that LOLcat video to a friend or significant other. It's launching first on Facebook, which is nothing new for video chat, but the absence of any in-between servers and special plugins beyond Flash eliminates a lot of the usual hurdles. More features are coming in the near future, including a decidedly Flash-free iOS app, music streaming and games -- leaving us with considerably more things to do while we reconnect, or at least a more engaging way to reminisce about the Napster days.Airtime lets you share media while you video chat, reminds you That Napster Guy is still around originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechCrunch | Airtime | Email this | Comments

Fujitsu brings its Lifebook Ultrabooks to the US, NH532 and Esprimos tag along f...

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 12:08 PM PDT

Fujitsu brings its Lifebook Ultrabooks to the US, NH532 and Esprimos tag along for the ride


Fujitsu brings its Lifebook Ultrabooks to the US, NH532 and Esprimos tag along for the ride
Did you eye Fujitsu's new U772/E Ultrabook and dream of bringing that 0.69-inch thick, Ivy Bridge-packing Lifebook across the Pacific? The company has clearly been reading your mind, since it's just started shipping the portable and a few of its companions to the US. In American guise, you'll find the more simply-titled U772 carrying a choice of Core i5 or i7 chips, as much as a 500GB spinning hard drive or a 256GB SSD for storage, a trio of USB ports, HDMI and an SD card slot. It's joined by a more budget-oriented brother, the UH572 Ultrabook, which is slightly more portly (0.71 inches and 3.5 pounds) but otherwise touts the same credentials. The two are shipping right away and will offer that Japanese Ultrabook flavor at prices of $1,149 for the U772 and $999 for the UH572. Those more accepting of big-boned computers aren't left out of the mix. On the still semi-portable side, the Lifebook NH532 takes Ivy Bridge to a desktop replacement size, albeit with precious few other details besides its 17.3-inch screen. Three Esprimo desktops (sadly, not pictured) are making the leap to third-generation Core chips as well, including the extra-quiet Q910 mini desktop as well as the fast-booting P710 microtower and full-size E710 desktop. While Fujitsu isn't giving us a full peek at the larger side of the roster, none of them stretch budgets: the NH532 sits in the mid-range at $749, while the E710 / P710 and Q910 are also easy on the finances at their respective $649 and $999 asking prices. Gallery: Fujitsu U772, UH572 and NH532Continue reading Fujitsu brings its Lifebook Ultrabooks to the US, NH532 and Esprimos tag along for the rideFujitsu brings its Lifebook Ultrabooks to the US, NH532 and Esprimos tag along for the ride originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Fujitsu | Email this | Comments

Mad Catz anticipates Wii U launch with line of gaming peripherals

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 12:08 PM PDT

Mad Catz anticipates Wii U launch with line of gaming peripherals


Mad Catz anticipates Wii U launch with line of gaming peripherals
Mad Catz is, quite literally, gearing up for the Wii U's impending holiday launch. Aligned neatly with Nintendo's keynote at E3 today, the accessory maker's outing a host of peripherals intended to play nicely with the gaming titan's next gen, tablet-y splash. Prospective early adopters eyeing what the Big N's selling can look forward to a pair of Wiimote- and Wii U GamePad-compatible Power Up ChargeDocks, a FlipStand protective cover and a TRITTON Kunai headset which will also work across Sony's current gaming platforms. There's no pricing available yet for this add-on kit, but the lineup should make its market bow in step with the console's looming launch. Hit up the break to peruse the official pressers.Continue reading Mad Catz anticipates Wii U launch with line of gaming peripheralsMad Catz anticipates Wii U launch with line of gaming peripherals originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video)

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:35 AM PDT

Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video)


Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video)
Nintendo's pre-E3 media briefing has wrapped up and the doors have opened, doors containing the latest and final revision of the Wii U hardware. Reggie & Co. failed to give us any concrete launch details beyond "holiday" this year, so we can't quite be sure of a date or a price or, really, much of anything. But, we do know about more of the launch titles. NintendoLand is, apparently, the premiere title, a sort of touchscreen-friendly version of Wii Sports that digs up many of the company's storied brands and squeezes them into mini-game format. How does it play? And, how is the new, refined Wii U controller? Join us after the break to find out! Gallery: Nintendo Wii U and NintendoLand hands-onContinue reading Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video)Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Virgin Mobile may be next up for pay-as-you-go iPhone parade on July 1st

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:35 AM PDT

Virgin Mobile may be next up for pay-as-you-go iPhone parade on July 1st


Virgin Mobile may be next up for pay-as-you-go iPhone parade on July 1st
It might be that Cricket's iPhone deal is just the tip of the prepaid iceberg: insiders reportedly say that Sprint's pay-as-you-go brand Virgin Mobile will be taking the Apple plunge as well. Details of what it will cost are still very much unknown, although we'd look to Cricket's $500 unsubsidized iPhone 4S and $35 monthly plan as strong clues. If the WSJ's connections are accurate, though, we could see a Virgin iPhone for the US as soon as its northern neighbor Canada blows out the birthday candles, on July 1st. At this rate, the only American carrier of any kind without an iPhone will be T-Mobile, and it's clear that this glaring exception is eager to hop onboard.Virgin Mobile may be next up for pay-as-you-go iPhone parade on July 1st originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | WSJ | Email this | Comments

Turtle Beach unveiling more headsets at E3, Black Ops II and Wii U licensed gear...

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:35 AM PDT

Turtle Beach unveiling more headsets at E3, Black Ops II and Wii U licensed gear in tow


Turtle Beach unveiling more headsets at E3, Black Ops II and Wii U licensed gear in tow
If you thought Turtle Beach was only announcing its MLG-approved gaming headsets at E3, let us tell you that those are only a sliver of everything it plans to offer this fall. As per usual with most Call of Duty releases, you can expect a barrage of Black Ops II headsets from the company when it hits shelves, including the Ear Force Earbuds, Tango, Sierra, X-ray and Kilo and priced $80 to $300. You can expect LED lights, Bluetooth functionality, and virtual surround sound on some of the more expensive models. Moving along, TB has partnered with Nintendo to created licensed headsets for the Wii U that'll also work for the 3DS, and a we're told prototype model will be on display at the show floor. As if that weren't enough, a new series of smaller "La" ear-blasters have also been detailed. You'll have choice between the USB-powered PLa (PS3) XLa (Xbox) which feature 40mm drivers, independent game and chat controls, microphone monitoring and bass boost functionality for when you need more wub. A computer version dubbed XLa will also be available, stripping away most of the aforementioned features in favor of 4-pole 3.5mm jack for easy compatibility between your devices. Lastly, the M7 has been added to the company's lifestyle lineup, featuring 50mm drivers, an inline remote / mic, a faux-leather headband and memory foam earcup pads for noise isolation. There's no word on pricing or availability for the LA and M-series headsets -- nor are any images available yet for the Black Ops II headsets -- but you'll find more details on everything mentioned in the press release after the break. We'll be sure to update you with more info when we have it.Continue reading Turtle Beach unveiling more headsets at E3, Black Ops II and Wii U licensed gear in towTurtle Beach unveiling more headsets at E3, Black Ops II and Wii U licensed gear in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Flash Drive — 2012 Buick Regal GS

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:35 AM PDT

Flash Drive — 2012 Buick Regal GS


Flash Drive — 2012 Buick Regal GS
MSN Autos Editors take a spin in the sporty Regal GS.

A123 expresses 'doubt' in future, loses main line of credit

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT

A123 expresses 'doubt' in future, loses main line of credit


A123 expresses 'doubt' in future, loses main line of credit
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in Is electric-vehicle battery maker A123 Systems running out of juice? The Massachusetts-based lithium-ion battery maker said in a May 30 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it expressed "doubt" over being able to continue after recent hiccups that included a loan restructuring and product recall. A123, whose customers include General Motors and Fisker, said its line of credit from its lead bank was eliminated earlier that month and replaced by $15 million worth of letters of credit. In late March, A123 took a $51.6 million charge because of the need to replace cells made at its Michigan plant that ended up in some Fisker Karmas. "These matters along with the Company's historical net losses and negative operating cash flows raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a growing concern," A123 said in the filing. In May, A123 said its first-quarter loss more than doubled to $125 million from a $53.6 million loss a year earlier - primarily because of the recall and the need to replenish inventory - while revenue fell 40 percent to $10.9 million. A123 was founded in 2001 as a Massachusetts Institute of Technology spin-off and went public in September 2009. This year, the company, which has received U.S. Department of Energy funding, won battery-making contracts with BMW, Tata and Via.A123 expresses 'doubt' in future, loses main line of credit originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple said held back by Google on iOS' Maps features for years, might bring turn...

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT

Apple said held back by Google on iOS' Maps features for years, might bring turn-by-turn nav to WWDC


Apple said held back by Google on iOS' Maps features for years, might bring turn-by-turn nav to WWDC
The tales of Apple possibly dumping Google Maps as the backend for iOS 6's Maps app are gathering steam, but we're now learning just how much forethought may have gone into the split. According to the WSJ's favorite tipsters, "people familiar with the matter," Apple isn't just hoping to spurn Android -- it's reacting to push-back it got years earlier. Google supposedly delayed Street View, and blocked Google Maps Navigation outright, as it wasn't getting the limelight for branding and couldn't push in social tracking services that tend to make a privacy-sensitive Apple jittery, like Latitude. The August 2009 buyout of Placebase was ground zero for Apple's shift, which saw subsequent deals for Poly9 and C3 Technologies flesh out the project. As for the end results? They supposedly include turn-by-turn navigation that mimics an "in-car GPS device," and regular mapping should now be free to integrate with other apps: Calendar might warn you if a traffic jam on Interstate 280 will affect that appointment at 1 Infinite Loop, as an example. We might not have long to wait for the truth behind the new tips and earlier leaked shots, as the contacts believe Apple could show its Maps overhaul when WWDC starts next week.Apple said held back by Google on iOS' Maps features for years, might bring turn-by-turn nav to WWDC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | WSJ | Email this | Comments

Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 10:59 AM PDT

Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3


Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3
Every June, Nyko outs all sorts of gaming peripherals at E3, and this year is no different. It's latest is the ambidextrous Free Fighter arcade-style joystick for PS3 that can be set up for either left- or right-handed gamers. It can be further customized to suit button-mashers of all styles with two variable-speed turbo keys and four programmable macros to let you perform complex combos with a single press. Plus, every button's backlit, and the whole thing comes with a detachable, expandable base to keep it from sliding around in your lap while you're hurling hadoukens and slinging sonic booms. It'll hit store shelves in September with $180 price tag, but if you can't wait until then, check the gallery of press pics below and stay tuned for our hands-on from the E3 show floor.Gallery: Nyko Free Fighter arcade controller for PS3Continue reading Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Nintendo confirms Wii U shipping "this holiday"

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 10:26 AM PDT

Nintendo confirms Wii U shipping "this holiday"


Nintendo confirms Wii U shipping "this holiday"
Nintendo has just confirmed what we've expected all along. Its next generation console, the Wii U, will be launching this holiday. As Nintendo mentioned earlier, there's no definitive word on pricing, quite yet. The company did confirm, however, that the touchscreen-friendly console will launch with the new multi-player NintendoLand title.Nintendo confirms Wii U shipping "this holiday" originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Kia Recalls Rios for Airbag Fix

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 10:26 AM PDT

Kia Recalls Rios for Airbag Fix


Kia Recalls Rios for Airbag Fix
The front passenger seat sensor may fail to register children.