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Friday, June 8, 2012

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Editorial: The Galaxy S III in the US is giving Samsung a backbone

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 02:56 PM PDT

Editorial: The Galaxy S III in the US is giving Samsung a backbone


Editorial: The Galaxy S III in the US is giving Samsung a backbone
Samsung caught more than a few off guard with its US launch plans for the Galaxy S III, but primarily for what it didn't do. Whether it was a variant for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon, the American versions had no arbitrary screen size bumps. No keyboards. Not even the customary navigation key changes that Samsung has implemented in US-spec Galaxy phones to avoid uncomfortable comparisons. Instead, the Korean electronics giant was dictating almost the entire device launch strategy to the carriers, which sounds a little familiar. While some would be cynical about it, it's really the sign of a rethink at Samsung that's giving the company the courage it needs to keep ahead -- and which could trigger a wider change not just at carriers, but within the Android ecosystem as a whole.Continue reading Editorial: The Galaxy S III in the US is giving Samsung a backboneEditorial: The Galaxy S III in the US is giving Samsung a backbone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Apple's Campus 2 will up the secrecy factor with an underground auditorium

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 02:23 PM PDT

Apple's Campus 2 will up the secrecy factor with an underground auditorium


Apple's Campus 2 will up the secrecy factor with an underground auditorium
You know how Tim Cook said Apple will be "doubling down on secrecy" for unannounced products? Well, the company's hush-hush mentality seems to be informing the design for its upcoming Campus 2. According to plans and technical drawings on Cupertino.org, Apple could be moving its press events underground -- into a mammoth subterranean auditorium that will no doubt also serve as Cook's secret lair / bunker for tough times in the ongoing patent wars. You know what they say -- out of sight, out of mind... and so beyond passé ground-level amphitheaters. Click the source link below for more images.Apple's Campus 2 will up the secrecy factor with an underground auditorium originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Cult of Mac | Cupertino.org | Email this | Comments

Nintendo's Hideki Konno discusses the 3DS and the element of surprise

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 01:51 PM PDT

Nintendo's Hideki Konno discusses the 3DS and the element of surprise


Nintendo's Hideki Konno discusses the 3DS and the element of surprise
As E3 was coming to a close, we sat down with one of the men responsible for Nintendo's 3DS, Hideki Konno. Konno's official title is manager / producer, but because he's involved at such a high level with both software and hardware development on the 3DS, our conversation covered quite the range of topics. When asked about the handheld's performance in the last year, he drew parallels to the success of the DS that preceded it and he hopes that the 3DS will experience a similar growth curve. Due to the mention of the DS, we inquired about the possibility of a larger 3DS. While Mr. Konno wasn't able to confirm plans for a super-sized version of the current-gen handheld, he did express his affinity for the DSi XL's increased real estate -- he finds the larger screen is much easier to gaze upon. You can draw your own conclusions as to exactly what that means. When chatting about mobile gaming, we asked about the impact of smartphones on the outfit's handheld. Konno offered that Nintendo prides itself on surprising gamers with new "compelling experiences" that handsets can't provide. We asked if any of these new experiences would involve the integration of both 3DS and the Wii U, and Konno replied that he's confident about those explorations will take place in future. In fact, a version of the Smash Brothers series is currently being developed for both 3DS and Wii U simultaneously. He indicated that it would be hard to believe that the two versions being developed in parallel wouldn't provide some unique interactions between them and their respective platforms. Additionally, while it sounds like the Miiverse will only be available on Big N's next-gen console at launch, Mr. Konno communicated that -- depending out how well it's received -- we're likely see the social element brought to the mobile gaming arena, too. Michael Gorman contributed to this report.Nintendo's Hideki Konno discusses the 3DS and the element of surprise originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Toyota will launch super-small EV in Japan for about $12,600

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

Toyota will launch super-small EV in Japan for about $12,600


Toyota will launch super-small EV in Japan for about $12,600
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Toyota, Japan Small car, smaller price.Toyota will start sales of a super-small electric vehicle in Japan for less than 1 million yen, or about $12,600 U.S., Green Car Congress reported, citing the Japan-based publication Nikkei. The model will be based on Toyota's updated COMS one-person EV that was unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. The automaker's Toyota Auto Body division will add a seat and seatbelt in the COMS's cargo area in order to turn the little runabout into a vehicle built for two. The Japanese government is working out details of standards related to ultra-compact EVs and where they can be driven. Toyota first introduced the COMS EV (pictured) at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007.Continue reading Toyota will launch super-small EV in Japan for about $12,600Toyota will launch super-small EV in Japan for about $12,600 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2012 wrap-up

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

E3 2012 wrap-up


E3 2012 wrap-up
Greetings from -- actually, scratch that, we're all back home now, but we had a blast spending the week in sunny, smoggy downtown Los Angeles -- even if this year's Electronics Entertainment Expo wasn't exactly the most exciting in recent memory. After all, neither Sony nor Microsoft gave us much in the way of new hardware, and Nintendo, the one member of the big three with a new console for 2012, didn't show off much that we hadn't already seen. We did, however, get our hands on a fair share of hardware and we're generally impressed by some software innovation, like Microsoft's SmartGlass. If you happened to miss something during the gaming news deluge (not to mention the fact that Computex happened to be going on at the same time), feel free to catch up on our coverage after the break.Continue reading E3 2012 wrap-upE3 2012 wrap-up originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

WWDC banner shot betrays iOS 6 debut

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

WWDC banner shot betrays iOS 6 debut


WWDC banner shot betrays iOS 6 debut
What does Apple have in store for us at WWDC? Well, it was a pretty safe bet that there was going to be some iOS news, and now we can pretty much confirm that iOS 6 will be unveiled at Cupertino's big developer event. What exactly we might see from the self proclaimed "world's most advanced mobile operating system" is anybody's guess, but it's probably safe to assume the power of flight or teleportation is not on the feature list. Hit up the source links for some more images and don't forget to check back in here Monday for the official unveiling.WWDC banner shot betrays iOS 6 debut originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Mac Rumors | 9to5Mac, Zac Altman (Instagram) | Email this | Comments

Motorola Droid RAZR HD's backside possibly leaked: we hope you like Kevlar

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

Motorola Droid RAZR HD's backside possibly leaked: we hope you like Kevlar


Motorola Droid RAZR HD's backside possibly leaked: we hope you like Kevlar
We may have seen it from the front, but Motorola's rumored upcoming Droid RAZR HD now looks to have had its back subjected to the whims of Mr. Blurrycam. The overriding theme? Kevlar. Lots of Kevlar. So much so that it runs right up to the edge, making even the original Droid RAZR seem a tad restrained. A side profile shot hints that it might not be as waif-thin as that first model, which Droid Life takes as a sign (however indefinite) that Motorola could reuse the 3,300mAh mega-battery from the Droid RAZR MAXX. Sadly, the snoop providing the photos hasn't solidified rumors of a Snapdragon S4 processor, a 720p display or a 13-megapixel camera, although they're components that are increasingly par for the course in mid-2012 and later. Unverified murmurs have Verizon only shipping the Droid RAZR HD in the summer; that will give us plenty of time to figure out whether or not it can stop a bullet.Motorola Droid RAZR HD's backside possibly leaked: we hope you like Kevlar originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Droid Life | Email this | Comments

US Cellular announces Galaxy S III pricing, starts at $200

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 12:41 PM PDT

US Cellular announces Galaxy S III pricing, starts at $200


US Cellular announces Galaxy S III pricing, starts at $200
US Cellular made it known that it would be accepting pre-orders of the Samsung Galaxy S III this upcoming Tuesday (with the device shipping sometime in July), but it left the pricing a mystery to keep us all in suspense for at least a few days. As it turns out, USCC will be offering the 16GB GS3 for $200, while the 32GB flavor will cost you an extra $50. Here's the kicker, though: these prices can be yours -- after a $100 mail-in rebate. But hey, it's hard for us to complain too much, considering it's not too often a regional carrier gets a flagship device around the same time as any of the major national players.US Cellular announces Galaxy S III pricing, starts at $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Like PhoneGap In The Cloud: Icenium Debuts A New Cross-Platform Mobile App Devel...

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 12:41 PM PDT

Like PhoneGap In The Cloud: Icenium Debuts A New Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Platform (Invites)


Like PhoneGap In The Cloud: Icenium Debuts A New Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Platform (Invites)
Icenium is a brand-new integrated cloud environment (get it? i-c-e not i-d-e = Icenium) for mobile application development. The service, which is a spin-off product division at Telerik, is just now entering its private beta stage and is in search of developers willing to kick the tires. Initially, Icenium will focus on the iOS and Android development platforms, and will later expand to other mobile platforms, and eventually, to server and desktop.

Astro Gaming A50 wireless surround sound headset hands-on (video)

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 12:07 PM PDT

Astro Gaming A50 wireless surround sound headset hands-on (video)


Astro Gaming A50 wireless surround sound headset hands-on (video)
If you're serious about your sound when it comes to gaming, chances are you've at least heard of Astro Gaming. Back in 2008, the company introduced its pro gaming-focused headset solution, the A40 audio system, and since then it's been actively adding to its lineup with lifestyle headsets like the A30, and various improved refreshes of the A40 itself. In the lead-up to CES, the company announced its $300 A50 wireless audio system, marking its second major push away from the competitive gaming scene and into the living room. If you'll recall, the company first dabbled in specifically shifting its tournament headset chops into the living room last year with its first wireless solution, the Mixamp 5.8. Although we were pleased with the 5.8's performance and versatility -- namely that it worked with any 3.5mm equipped headset across the Xbox, PS3 and PC like the wired Mixamp Pro -- we worried some users would be put-off with having to deal with a three piece setup of a wired headsets that plugs into a belt pack, which connects to a transmitter base. It appears that Astro took note as well, opting to get rid of the belt pack and basically pack its controls and radios inside of their A40, along with some other tweaks to create the A50 -- something we'd been hoping to see for a very long while. We spent some time with Astro's marketing manager Aaron Drayer to talk about headset and try it for ourselves, and you'll find it all detailed just past the break. Gallery: Astro Gaming A50 wireless surround sound headset (hands-on)Continue reading Astro Gaming A50 wireless surround sound headset hands-on (video)Astro Gaming A50 wireless surround sound headset hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Bing one-ups knowledge graph, hires Encyclopaedia Britannica to supply results

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 12:07 PM PDT

Bing one-ups knowledge graph, hires Encyclopaedia Britannica to supply results


Bing one-ups knowledge graph, hires Encyclopaedia Britannica to supply results
It may have retired from the cut-throat world of print, but Encyclopadia Britannica is enjoying a renaissance by supplying results to Bing. Search for a topic and a Knowledge Graph-esque box will offer supplementary information to help you on your way. If it's a topic that the Britannica editors haven't gotten around to covering (Jersey Shore, for example) then the search engine will instead pull the information from Wikipedia, Freebase and Qwicki. Now we're just hoping Bing doesn't plan to revive those door-to-door booksellers, we're a sucker for a good sales pitch.Bing one-ups knowledge graph, hires Encyclopaedia Britannica to supply results originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 15:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink BBC News | Bing | Email this | Comments

MLB Stars and Their Cars

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 12:07 PM PDT

MLB Stars and Their Cars


MLB Stars and Their Cars
Here are 9 of the best players in the majors and the rides they love.

2012 TT ZERO action, start to finish

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 11:33 AM PDT

2012 TT ZERO action, start to finish


2012 TT ZERO action, start to finish
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Racing, Videos Fans of electric motorsport generally have a hard time finding decent event coverage. Typically, it's not offered on TV, and video gleaned from the internet usually comes from either fans or individual teams and often lacks the professional production values we are accustomed to. Now, however, and possibly for a limited time only, footage from Britain's ITV 4 featuring the 2012 TT Zero is available to watch online. Featuring quick pre- and post-race interviews with the top riders along with clips from the roadside, helicopter and on board the bikes, viewers are taken from the start line to the champagne showers in a somewhat condensed 13 minutes. We get to see some awesome footage as well as a fair amount of insight from the professional commentators. For instance, race leader Michael Rutter suffered from a loose "gas tank," forcing him to keep low to hold it in place. Scroll on down to check it out all the history-making electric-ton-breaking action for yourself. Enjoy!Continue reading 2012 TT ZERO action, start to finish2012 TT ZERO action, start to finish originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Purported Motorola Dinara press shot slips out, carries a whiff of Atrix 3

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 11:33 AM PDT

Purported Motorola Dinara press shot slips out, carries a whiff of Atrix 3


Purported Motorola Dinara press shot slips out, carries a whiff of Atrix 3
We're taking this with a big block of salt, but we may have just had our first real peek at the Motorola Dinara's American form. A claimed press shot has the possibly Snapdragon S4-powered Android 4.0 phone carrying a fairly plain shell, but also sporting a 720p display and an all-touch interface borrowed from Motorola's recent Chinese introductions. The tip to The Verge hasn't produced any shocks, including the mention of LTE and preloaded AT&T apps, although the badging does give us some room for skepticism: AT&T rarely if ever leaves its three-letter name out of phone branding, and that front camera position is slightly odd. As long as no wool has been pulled over eyes, however, the Dinara could be a candidate for another Atrix sequel that keeps Motorola on Big Blue.Purported Motorola Dinara press shot slips out, carries a whiff of Atrix 3 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | The Verge | Email this | Comments

Report: Chinese-led Group Buys Saab

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 11:33 AM PDT

Report: Chinese-led Group Buys Saab


Report: Chinese-led Group Buys Saab
Consortium reportedly pays over $200M for the Swedish automaker.

Computex 2012 wrap-up

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 11:33 AM PDT

Computex 2012 wrap-up


Computex 2012 wrap-up
After getting our hands on more than three dozen Ultrabooks, tablets and plenty of other miscellany over an intense gadget-fueled week in Taipei, Computex is finally winding down, and we're packing our bags for the 24-hour journey back to New York. There's no question that Windows 8 stole the show, with hundreds of devices making an appearance both at flashy press events and on the exhibit floor -- Release Preview in tow. We happened upon quite a few surprises on that front, including a touchscreen-based ASUS Zenbook UX21A and Intel's prediction that the majority of next year's Ultrabooks will be touch-enabled, along with the unique (and perhaps even slightly bizarre) TAICHI, which will change the way we interact with at least two clamshell models. We've barely scratched the surface here, however -- you'll find direct links to all of our Computex coverage just after the break.Gallery: Computex 2012 wrap-upContinue reading Computex 2012 wrap-upComputex 2012 wrap-up originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

A Manual Without a Clutch Pedal?

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 11:33 AM PDT

A Manual Without a Clutch Pedal?


A Manual Without a Clutch Pedal?
BMW patents show a gearbox that would require no driver skill to operate.

Peter Molyneux divulges DLC details for Curiosity, we apply for a loan

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT

Peter Molyneux divulges DLC details for Curiosity, we apply for a loan


Peter Molyneux divulges DLC details for Curiosity, we apply for a loan
Peter Molyneux's first post-Lionhead game, Curiosity, holds a big mystery and now it promises DLC with a colossal price tag. The game -- the first of 22 experiments -- will reveal a secret to the gaming guinea pig who deals the final blow to a single black cube. Shortly after its release, chisels that pack a mightier punch to the monolith will arrive as DLC for those who long to crack the container open. Prices for the downloadable tools will start around $1 (59 pence) for an iron implement and reach up to roughly $78,000 (£50,000) for a one-of-a-kind diamond version that hits 100,000 times harder. Once the secret is revealed, 22 Cans will use social media to study how the winner proves the milestone and spreads the news. Curiosity is expected to drop in about six weeks for iOS and PC, but feel free to begin pondering the secret of life, the universe and everything that lies inside the digital fortune cookie.Peter Molyneux divulges DLC details for Curiosity, we apply for a loan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Games Radar | New Scientist | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy S III on SK Telecom mixes 2GB of RAM and quad-core, importers bre...

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 10:59 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S III on SK Telecom mixes 2GB of RAM and quad-core, importers break out credit cards


Samsung Galaxy S III on SK Telecom mixes 2GB of RAM and quad-core, importers break out credit cards
There's a Galaxy S III with a quad-core chip, and there's a Galaxy S III with 2GB of RAM. Never the twain shall meet? They reportedly will at SK Telecom: a comparison sheet leaked to Phone Arena has the South Korean carrier's SHV-E210S variant combining the 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad with the 2GB of RAM that the dual-core versions receive as a consolation prize. It's even supposed to keep LTE, which could suggest that Samsung isn't wedded to Qualcomm for 4G in South Korea like it is for North America. The phone's 4G support loses steam outside of its native country, and it gains an ever so slight amount of bulk, but we're looking at what could be the best of both worlds for Samsung's flagship. We have a hunch that a few foreigners might be eager for an import, or a surprise vacation to Seoul, when the E210S arrives in July.Samsung Galaxy S III on SK Telecom mixes 2GB of RAM and quad-core, importers break out credit cards originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Phone Arena | Email this | Comments

E3 2012: not quite ready to go mobile

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 10:26 AM PDT

E3 2012: not quite ready to go mobile


E3 2012: not quite ready to go mobile
Perhaps E3 2012 will be remembered as the year that even Nintendo acknowledged the existence of smartphone gaming -- if only begrudgingly so, dragged kicking and screaming into the early '10s. It's a brave new world here, a strange one in which everyone and their grandmother has become a gamer by default, carrying high powered portable computers in their pockets at all times. But even as all the major players took time out to give a nod to the ever enlarging juggernaut that is mobile gaming, its an element that still feels like a bit of a redheaded stepchild inside the Los Angeles Convention Center, where console gaming is still far and away the dominant force -- it's a presence relegated to brief mentions in larger press events and pushed to the sides of the convention floor. It comes as no surprise, of course, that Nintendo didn't dwell on the matter during its show opening keynote on Tuesday. The mere fact that company president Satoru Iwata made reference at all to mobile operating systems is something of a sea change for an executive who has thus far stubbornly refused to even "consider" developing for the Androids and iOSes of the world. And the news from Sunday doesn't do much to shake that stance. While mobile operating systems were name checked, it was only in reference to users' ability to access social information from the Wii U on their browser.Continue reading E3 2012: not quite ready to go mobileE3 2012: not quite ready to go mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Indian court tells Google and Facebook execs to stop by, have a chat

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 09:53 AM PDT

Indian court tells Google and Facebook execs to stop by, have a chat


Indian court tells Google and Facebook execs to stop by, have a chat
India and the various powers that be on the Internet have had a bit of a contentious relationship for the past year or so. The primary issue has been censorship, in that the Indian government wants more of it and the giants of the tech world want no part. After originally filing suit against Microsoft, Google and Facebook in December of 2011, the Delhi High Court let Redmond loose from its litigative snare. Unfortunately for the Big G and our pal Zuck, they're still on the hook for failing to block offensive content, particularly that of a religious nature. The Magistrate hearing the case will be issuing summons today, asking the global executives of Facebook and Google to come in and answer for their alleged crimes. So far there's been no reaction from either company, but with both actively working to have the case dismissed we wouldn't be surprised if any response amounted to a very diplomatic middle finger.Indian court tells Google and Facebook execs to stop by, have a chat originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments

The U.S. is exporting oil products, so why is the price of gas still high?

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 09:18 AM PDT

The U.S. is exporting oil products, so why is the price of gas still high?


The U.S. is exporting oil products, so why is the price of gas still high?
Filed under: Legislation and Policy, USA It has always been the habit of the party that doesn't occupy the White House to blame various ills on the party that does. Especially in the past few years when it has come to gas prices, the party-in-waiting has blamed the POTUS for "pain at the pump." We're not taking sides here - Republicans are doing it to Obama now, just like Democrats did it to Bush. Unfortunately for their arguments, the President has about as much control over the price of oil as he does over the price of bread; if you saw what it took to get either to the retail outlet, the enormity of intricacies would make it plain. Case in point: In 2008, the U.S. began exporting oil products like gas and diesel for the first time in decades and, according to a report in Fortune, even though the U.S. is producing more oil than any time in the past eight years, the price of gas is still high. Part of the issue is the bottleneck in transportation: Two pipelines carry the black gold to the nation's major clearinghouse for oil in Cushing, Oklahoma, where the president can be seen in the image above, and there aren't enough pipelines to get it from there to refiners. One analyst called Cushing "the 'Roach Motel' for crude" because it could get in but not really get out. On top of this, domestic gas demand has dropped. That has added to the glut of oil awaiting shipment, which drove down the price of our own benchmark oil, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), by double digits compared to its European counterpart, Brent crude. Obviously, oil-market traders - whose contracts set the price for oil - couldn't let that continue, so they essentially walked away from WTI, a move that had the effect of setting the benchmark price at the higher Brent crude price. Put simply, they asked "Why sell a cheap commodity when I can sell the same commodity for more money?" And as we know, more expensive oil means more expensive gasoline. That's the gist, but naturally this is a huge simplification. For instance, there are more than 100 kinds of oil traded on the markets and we've only mentioned two, and middlemen between drillers and the gas station can number in the dozens. But the point is that when you want to know what's up with gas prices, don't look at toward the White House - no matter who is in office - look at traders who will work to get the best prices they can, at refiners who can idle facilities to support prices and at the minutiae of production. The U.S. doesn't even own the oil drilled here - companies purchase drilling rights from the government and the oil they find belongs to them; they can sell it to anyone anywhere. Once they get it out of Cushing, that is. And if you think the much disputed Keystone Pipeline might help, some analysts believe it will make the price of oil rise.The U.S. is exporting oil products, so why is the price of gas still high? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dropbox For Android Update Packs Video Streaming For ICS Users, Korean Language...

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 09:18 AM PDT

Dropbox For Android Update Packs Video Streaming For ICS Users, Korean Language Support


Dropbox For Android Update Packs Video Streaming For ICS Users, Korean Language Support
Hey, Ice Cream Sandwich users -- if you're a Dropbox user and somehow haven't gotten the latest (2.1.4) update, do yourself a favor and get on it. The update is sure to please those who find the Dropbox experience to be woefully light on Hangul, as it introduces Korean language support, but there's something even better to play with. This release sees the addition of a nifty, Ice Cream Sandwich-exclusive feature -- the ability to stream videos stored within in a Dropbox account.

The Ultrabooks of Computex 2012

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 09:18 AM PDT

The Ultrabooks of Computex 2012


The Ultrabooks of Computex 2012
It was last year that Intel chose Computex, a computer tradeshow in Taiwan, to introduce its Ultrabook concept to the world. Twelve months later, 110-plus models are in the pipeline, which meant the Taipei Convention Center was overrun by skinny, lightweight laptops. Make that skinny, touch-enabled laptops. Between those new Ivy Bridge chips and Microsoft putting the finishing touches on Windows 8, this week's show was nothing if not a five-day-long wedding between two tech giants: almost every device on display here was a vehicle for showing off Microsoft's glossy new OS. At every turn, a celebration of touchscreen notebooks. With more than 30 hands-on posts this week, we can see where one Core i5 laptop might look like the next, or how you might have failed to keep up with Jonney Shih's rapid-fire product announcements. Now that we're wrapping up here in Taiwan, though, we're ready to take a step back and think about what it is we just saw. Whether you felt overwhelmed by our wall-to-wall coverage or just need to catch up, we suggest you meet us past the break for a quick recap of all the new Ultrabooks. Oh, and if you're in the market for a new laptop, you can check your trigger-happy finger at the door. With few exceptions, we're not expecting these to go on sale until the fall, when Windows 8 is expected to start shipping.Continue reading The Ultrabooks of Computex 2012The Ultrabooks of Computex 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Huawei Activa 4G gets your 4G LTE fix on MetroPCS for $149 contract-free

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 08:43 AM PDT

Huawei Activa 4G gets your 4G LTE fix on MetroPCS for $149 contract-free


Huawei Activa 4G gets your 4G LTE fix on MetroPCS for $149 contract-free
MetroPCS is known for offering 4G LTE smartphones on the cheap, but it's going for a record today. The Activa 4G isn't just Huawei's first LTE smartphone in the US, it's temporarily the least expensive LTE phone in the country at $149 contract-free for a "limited time." Digging around, it's certainly possible to find out how Huawei and MetroPCS reached that price: the 3.5-inch, 320 x 480 screen, 800MHz processor and five-megapixel rear shooter won't have Verizon Galaxy S III customers developing second thoughts. Still, there is a front VGA camera on the Android 2.3-toting phone, and MetroPCS preloads a copy of the movie Kung-Fu Panda 2 on the bundled 4GB microSD card. You won't have to wait at all if it sounds like a bargain, as the Activa 4G is already sitting in stores real and virtual as you read this.Huawei Activa 4G gets your 4G LTE fix on MetroPCS for $149 contract-free originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | MetroPCS | Email this | Comments

Visualized: Stunning long-exposure 'star trail' photo taken from the ISS

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 08:43 AM PDT

Visualized: Stunning long-exposure 'star trail' photo taken from the ISS


Visualized: Stunning long-exposure 'star trail' photo taken from the ISS
Ever wondered what goes on up at the International Space Station? We like to think it's all floating around and eating freeze-dried steak. Astronaut Don Pettit decided to take a break from his no-doubt mundane routine and capture the spectacular image you see above. We say image, it's actually multiple 30-second exposure snaps layered on top of each other. Needless to say the result is both humbling, and hypnotic. Best of all? There's a collection of them, waiting to steal your afternoon with slack-jawed wonderment. Hit the source for the mind-melt.Visualized: Stunning long-exposure 'star trail' photo taken from the ISS originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Boing Boing | Smithsonian | Email this | Comments

Prototype color e-paper skips on filter, cranks up vividness

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 08:08 AM PDT

Prototype color e-paper skips on filter, cranks up vividness


Prototype color e-paper skips on filter, cranks up vividness
Fuji Xerox has showcased its latest e-paper model at SID in Boston. The 5-inch 600 x 800 display adjusts the electric field for each color, swinging them between the two layers of the screen. Instead of a typical color filter, an extra layer of white-colored particles between the visible and invisible layer, offering a blank surface when needed, while magenta and cyan particles are in charge of colors on the prototype. The company's already working on CMY arrangement to provide the full range of colors on the finished e-paper model and promise a color gamut wider than a newspaper. Hopefully, it will also involve a much thinner bezel.Prototype color e-paper skips on filter, cranks up vividness originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Tech-on | Email this | Comments

Mission Africa sends electric Citroen Berlingo from Kenya to South Africa

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 07:34 AM PDT

Mission Africa sends electric Citroen Berlingo from Kenya to South Africa


Mission Africa sends electric Citroen Berlingo from Kenya to South Africa
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Citroen, AfricaVenturi does more than create whimsical concept vehicles for auto shows. The company also supports electric vehicles going on long-distance adventures, like from Shanghai to Paris. The latest mission sends an EV along 4,800 kilometres (2,982 miles) from Kenya to South Africa. The trip started last month and the car already has 3,500 km (2,174 mi) under its tires. Venturi says the trip represents "a fabulous human and technological adventure in the interest of sustainable development." To that end, driver Xavier Chevrin is doing public demonstrations with his "Powered by Venturi" electric Citroen Berlingo along the way. He's also doing press conferences and "endless explanations" to share EV technology and the ideas behind this kind of sustainable mobility across Africa. It's important to make friends with these lessons, since Chevrin didn't do any route planning to make sure he can get from outlet to outlet. As Venturi says, "the batteries will be recharged on the spot, depending on encounters with local inhabitants. As the production of electricity is largely of hydraulic origin at this time of year and in this part of Africa, the adventure will be, as much as possible, 'zero emission.'" It's bold plan - Venture says that 65 percent of Africans still do not have access to electricity - that is sure to draw attention to both electric drive technology and the complications of using it in a place that just isn't outfitted with a comprehensive grid. Interested in learning more? We've embedded a few videos below and you can find the full flotilla on Venturi's YouTube channel. Also, check out the press release and see the Mission Africa website.Continue reading Mission Africa sends electric Citroen Berlingo from Kenya to South AfricaMission Africa sends electric Citroen Berlingo from Kenya to South Africa originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel's TV service aims at Nielsen, big cable, might not get here

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 07:34 AM PDT

Intel's TV service aims at Nielsen, big cable, might not get here


Intel's TV service aims at Nielsen, big cable, might not get here
Reuters is reporting that Intel's mooted virtual television network has hit the buffers because it can't beat its cable rivals spending. The company is eyeing up the $100 million TV business with a set-top-box and over-the-top service that would offer smaller, cheaper bundles of channels rather than the hundreds that come with a basic cable subscription. It would leverage its facial recognition technology in the system both by offering precise ratings data to networks and by showing targeted adverts to whoever it can see is watching. The former will surely annoy Nielsen, a player with plenty of its own influence in the industry. Despite hiring a quartet of industry heavyweights to help negotiations, studios are refusing to offer discounts to a new and untried entrant, meaning we may not see the service arriving by that planned November launch date.Intel's TV service aims at Nielsen, big cable, might not get here originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Reuters | Email this | Comments

Denon SC2900 DJ Media player gets a euro price and summer launch date

Posted: 08 Jun 2012 07:34 AM PDT

Denon SC2900 DJ Media player gets a euro price and summer launch date


Denon SC2900 DJ Media player gets a euro price and summer launch date
Wherever there's a teaser video, full product info is sure to follow. Denon's decided to stop being so coy, and got its new SC2900 DJ media player fully out in the open. We pretty much got to see most of what's on offer, including that 7-inch non-motorized platter, and slew of format-playing options (mp3 / audio CD, USB drives, direct from laptop,) but we didn't know when, and how much. The answers to those questions? For Europeans, July, and €800 plus tax. That's about $997 by conversion, but the actual US price will come as and when availability here's confirmed.Gallery: Denon SC2900Continue reading Denon SC2900 DJ Media player gets a euro price and summer launch dateDenon SC2900 DJ Media player gets a euro price and summer launch date originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments