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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

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Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii U GamePad won't feature multi-touch

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:57 PM PDT

Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii U GamePad won't feature multi-touch


Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii U GamePad won't feature multi-touch
The Wii U's 6.2-inch killer feature might look a whole lot like a tablet, but prospective buyers shouldn't expect it to function like one at all. In a recent interview with Kotaku, NOA prexy Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed that multi-touch capabilities will indeed be purposefully absent from the upcoming GamePad. It's a puzzling omission for sure, but not one made lightly on Nintendo's part. According to Fils-Aime, the existence of hardware buttons on the controller itself render that full-blown slate functionality redundant, not to mention cost-prohibitive and "unwieldy." So you see, the Big N giveth and the Big N taketh away, but all in the name of user convenience. You can check out the full blow-by-blow with the House that Mario built's American keeper at the source link below.Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii U GamePad won't feature multi-touch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TG Daily | Kotaku | Email this | Comments

Harman Kardon trots out five iPhone-matching headsets, keeps you in high Apple f...

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:57 PM PDT

Harman Kardon trots out five iPhone-matching headsets, keeps you in high Apple fashion


Harman Kardon trots out five iPhone-matching headsets, keeps you in high Apple fashion
There's no shortage of iPhone-friendly headsets. Not many are actually designed to match an iPhone's looks, however, and Harman Kardon is counting on that urge to coordinate to draw a few listeners into a new line of very tersely-named headphones and headsets. The more conspicuous resemblances to Apple's creation come through the wired CL on-ear headphones, the Bluetooth-equipped BT over-ears and the noise-cancelling NC over-ears, all of which share a distinctly familiar-looking leather-and-steel design. Subtler listeners will still get a trace of similarity with the in-ear NI and upgraded AE buds, although most of the iPhone friendliness at their size comes through an in-line microphone and remote. Both the BT and NC are battery-powered and last for 12 and 30 hours for their respective special tricks; they'll both keep working through a wire if you've forgotten to charge up just before that Hong Kong vacation. In step with the iPhone-heavy focus, Harman Kardon is only selling the quintet of headphones through Apple's online and physical stores, where they start at $100 for the NI and peak at the NC's $299. One caveat: we wouldn't factor the NC into any short-term trips, as it won't show until the late summer. Gallery: Harman Kardon AE, BT, CL, NIContinue reading Harman Kardon trots out five iPhone-matching headsets, keeps you in high Apple fashionHarman Kardon trots out five iPhone-matching headsets, keeps you in high Apple fashion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

ATLAS bimanual-rehabilitation glove system hands-on (video)

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:24 PM PDT

ATLAS bimanual-rehabilitation glove system hands-on (video)


ATLAS bimanual-rehabilitation glove system hands-on (video)
The Squid Shirt that we checked out earlier today at Northeastern University certainly has the potential for healthcare use beyond straight off-season workout sessions, but the ATLAS project is an even purer expression of that application. The name is an acronym for the rather unwieldy Angle Tracking and Location At home System. In short, the system is a bimanual-rehabilitation glove system, a tracking device that utilizes two gloves to monitor the hand movements of stroke victims. The "Home System," part of the name, meanwhile, signifies its creators' intention to eventually release the ATLAS as an at-home testing system, allowing users to get more regular readings than industrial versions. The system is comprised of two standard black gloves -- the first version (it's currently on version three), assistant academic specialist Mark Sivak tells us, was comprised of gold lycra gloves. The gloves have bend sensors in each finger and internal measurement sensors on the back of the hand. The bend sensors are anchored on the back of the hand, located beneath a moveable flap. They're embedded in the glove, running down each finger. The hand orientation inertial sensor is comprised of an accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer located on a box strapped to the top of the glove. The bend sensors feed straight into a box with an Arduino Mega inside, while the inertial sensors first pass through their own Arduino microcontrollers before rejoining the data feed back to the PC.Gallery: ATLAS bimanual-rehabilitation gloves hands-onContinue reading ATLAS bimanual-rehabilitation glove system hands-on (video)ATLAS bimanual-rehabilitation glove system hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Hyundai Tweets 2013 Elantra GT Pricing

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:24 PM PDT

Hyundai Tweets 2013 Elantra GT Pricing


Hyundai Tweets 2013 Elantra GT Pricing
GT starts at $18,395, includes heated seats and other goodies.

Mozilla Marketplace is live, lets you run web apps like desktop programs

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 01:49 PM PDT

Mozilla Marketplace is live, lets you run web apps like desktop programs


Mozilla Marketplace is live, lets you run web apps like desktop programs
An early version of the Mozilla Marketplace is currently live, offering users with the Firefox 16 Nightly build some 100-plus apps to install, including Evernote, Jolicloud and Springpad. Apps from the store can run on Mac or Windows machines, and it looks like Linux support is here, too. As Liliputing reports, rather than just providing web apps and extensions à la the Chrome Web Store, the Mozilla Marketplace offers web apps that act more like desktop apps once installed: they'll show up in your list of installed programs, for instance, and they can be launched from the Windows Start Menu.Mozilla Marketplace is live, lets you run web apps like desktop programs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Liliputing | Jason Smith | Email this | Comments

HyCycle electric bike hands-on (video)

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 01:49 PM PDT

HyCycle electric bike hands-on (video)


HyCycle electric bike hands-on (video)
The HyCycle isn't the kind of thing you'd want to have to take through airport security -- at least not in its present state. The electricity-generating electric bike prototype is bit of a mess of wires and blinking boards at the moment, plus a battery that looks an awful lot like a block of C4. All are attached to one of its creators' rust-colored Schwinn road bike. The bicycle is a project of a group of Northeastern students, an attempt to build a cheaper electric bicycle -- one that can be offered as a do-it-yourself kit that users can snap to their existing bike frame.Gallery: HyCycle electricity-generating bike hands-onContinue reading HyCycle electric bike hands-on (video)HyCycle electric bike hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Drive a Nissan Leaf, automagically plant a tree (in Japan, at least)

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Drive a Nissan Leaf, automagically plant a tree (in Japan, at least)


Drive a Nissan Leaf, automagically plant a tree (in Japan, at least)
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Nissan, Legislation and Policy, Japan It that a tree coming from the imaginary tailpipe in that Nissan Leaf? Sure looks like it. On Monday, Nissan announced the establishment of its Zero Emission Fund, which uses driving distances accumulated by its battery-electric vehicle to generate actual monetary investment in charging infrastructure and re-forestation efforts. Here's how it works (we think): miles driven in Leafs are calculated by the car's on-board navigation system, added up somewhere and then those collective miles are converted to a number of CO2 "offset credits" which are certified by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Those credits are then sold, and the profits earned are invested in both EV-charging infrastructure and forest-conservation efforts. Those areas will be called, wait for it, Leaf Forests. Nissan started selling the Leaf in Japan in late 2010, so we expect a fair number of credits could have been generated by now. The new scheme leads us to ask one important question, though: if a tree falls in a Leaf Forest and no one can hear it, is the sound louder than the Leaf itself?Continue reading Drive a Nissan Leaf, automagically plant a tree (in Japan, at least)Drive a Nissan Leaf, automagically plant a tree (in Japan, at least) originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Northeastern University Squid Shirt torso-on

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Northeastern University Squid Shirt torso-on


Northeastern University Squid Shirt torso-on
It seems like everyone's got a solution for workout tracking, these days, and the undergrad students at Northeastern University are no different. We traveled to the bowels of the Boston school's Egan Research Center, to try the Squid Shirt that we saw back in February on for size. Our own Terrence O'Brien donned the garb, and while the current prototype has dropped much of the unwieldy wires and suction cups that gave the wearable its name, it's still a bit of a production, taking several minutes to put on with the aid of assistant academic specialist, Mark Sivak (who assured us that the student this specific model was designed for had gotten the whole thing down to a two or three minute streamlined process). The shirt has a total of 13 EMG sensors, monitoring data from three muscle groups: the pecs, lats and delta. Every signal requires two sensors (with one attached to the hip for ground), which are ultra cheap and disposable, meaning you can just toss them away at the end of each workout session. In addition to monitoring muscle activity, a standard Polar heart rate monitor slips into a sleeve inside the shirt to keep track of your pulse. The shirt itself is machine washable, which again is good news, if you plan on working out in the thing. This is due in part to the fact that the box -- the brains of the operation -- is removable. This also means that you can use a single box to plug into different garments, which could include things like workout pants in the future.Gallery: Northeastern University Squid torso-onContinue reading Northeastern University Squid Shirt torso-onNortheastern University Squid Shirt torso-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Northeastern | Email this | Comments

Velti Mobile Ad Report: iOS Pulls Way Ahead of Android, iPod Touch Beating iPad

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Velti Mobile Ad Report: iOS Pulls Way Ahead of Android, iPod Touch Beating iPad


Velti Mobile Ad Report: iOS Pulls Way Ahead of Android, iPod Touch Beating iPad
After spending last year engaged in a "tug-of-war" with Android over mobile ad impressions, iOS has been building a big lead in the past few months, according to a new report from mobile marketing company Velti. Velti's past reports pegged iOS share of mobile ad impressions at 53 percent in March, which increased to 55 percent in April, and now to 59 percent in May. The report also points out the strong performance of the iPod Touch, which received 14.9 percent of total ad impressions — not just more than any Android device, but also more than the iPad.

Xbox 360 spring update rolling out to some now, everyone else next week

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Xbox 360 spring update rolling out to some now, everyone else next week


Xbox 360 spring update rolling out to some now, everyone else next week
It doesn't bring quite the overhaul that previous updates have, but at least some Xbox 360 users should be seeing a new software update available the next time they turn on their console. Xbox's Major Nelson confirmed on Twitter today that the spring update is rolling out to "a few" users this week, with everyone else set to receive it next week. As for details on the update, he's only gone as far as to confirm that it contains "behind the scenes improvements & prep for future enhancements." Presumably, those future enhancements include many of the new features we saw at E3 last week, but there's still no official word as to when they'll actually roll out.Xbox 360 spring update rolling out to some now, everyone else next week originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | @majornelson (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

Sony kicks off back to school promotion with a free PS3 or Vita for VAIO PC buyers

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 12:42 PM PDT

Sony kicks off back to school promotion with a free PS3 or Vita for VAIO PC buyers


Sony kicks off back to school promotion with a free PS3 or Vita for VAIO PC buyers
Not to be outdone by Microsoft offering a free Xbox 360 to students buying a new PC, Sony has now come out with a back to school promotion of its own that could net folks their choice of a free PlayStation 3 (160GB) or PlayStation Vita (the WiFi-only model). Unlike Microsoft's promo, though, you can't just buy any PC -- you'll need to purchase an eligible Sony VAIO computer, which includes a range of the company's laptops and all-in-one desktops starting at around $750. Alternatively, you can also choose to get $200 off your choice of other PlayStation gear, or simply get eight percent off the purchase price of the computer itself. Complete details on the offer (which is for college students and faculty only) can be found at the source link below.Sony kicks off back to school promotion with a free PS3 or Vita for VAIO PC buyers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge | Sony | Email this | Comments

ASUS PadFone vs Transformer vs Transformer Prime... fight!

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 12:07 PM PDT

ASUS PadFone vs Transformer vs Transformer Prime... fight!


ASUS PadFone vs Transformer vs Transformer Prime... fight!
While cooking up our ASUS PadFone review, we decided to bring its Android tablet cousins together for a family portrait, because why not? Sadly, at the time of shooting these photos the Transformer Pad TF300 wasn't yet available in Hong Kong, so the original Transformer TF101 and the Transformer Prime TF201 will do for now. While you enjoy our gallery below, take a close look at how strikingly similar the keyboard docks for the TF101 and the PadFone are. Enjoy!Gallery: ASUS PadFone vs Transformer vs Transformer Prime... fight!ASUS PadFone vs Transformer vs Transformer Prime... fight! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Netflix app for the Nintendo Wii U, pictured

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 12:07 PM PDT

Netflix app for the Nintendo Wii U, pictured


Netflix app for the Nintendo Wii U, pictured
Nintendo vowed at E3 to provide Netflix on the Wii U, but tracking down the mythical streaming video beast has proven elusive. Thankfully, Engadget has obtained the first shots illustrating how it will work. While it's a prototype that could easily change between now and the Wii U's holiday release (or whenever the app is available), what we've seen so far makes it clear Netflix will milk that second screen for all it's worth. The GamePad is normally used to browse the movie queue and playback controls without distracting from the video on the TV. Should Junior want to catch up on his favorite flick while you're on a Breaking Bad marathon, the reverse will also work: the video can play on the controller while the TV is at most used to show what's playing, and more likely switched over to your DVR. Questions still remain on deck, like whether or not the video can seamlessly hand off from one screen to the other, but for now it's nice to see that Netflix on the Wii U is more than just a quick-and-dirty port. Gallery: Netflix on Wii U early imagesNetflix app for the Nintendo Wii U, pictured originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

BMW getting cold feet with i3 and i8 electric vehicle plans

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 11:35 AM PDT

BMW getting cold feet with i3 and i8 electric vehicle plans


BMW getting cold feet with i3 and i8 electric vehicle plans
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, BMW, Europe/EU, Germany E tu, BMW? After the recent "we never said we were really going to do plug-ins" news from Audi, rumors are floating around that BMW may delay or even discontinue many of its plug-in "i" line of vehicles because of concerns over lack of demand, Automobile is reporting. The German automaker had originally planned for annual sales of many tens of thousands of i3 battery-electric vehicles after its 2013 launch (some said 30,000 a year, others 100,000) and about 10,000 annual units of its i8 plug-in hybrid sports car starting in 2014, according to the publication. BMW executives are now talking about shelving plans for both vehicles because the governments in many countries where the models will be sold are pulling back on plug-in incentives. To further complicate matters, electric-vehicle charging infrastructure isn't as far along as expected. Automobile adds that BMW also put plans for the i1 city car and i5 van on hold. BMW late last year said it planned to start selling the i3 in 2013 and that it would bring out the i8 - whose prototype was featured in "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" with Tom Cruise - the following year. Earlier this year, BMW started leasing models of the ActiveE, the precursor to the i3, to customers in some U.S. markets for $499 a month.BMW getting cold feet with i3 and i8 electric vehicle plans originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

V-Moda VAMP for the iPhone: an analog converter and headphone amp with a $650 pr...

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 11:35 AM PDT

V-Moda VAMP for the iPhone: an analog converter and headphone amp with a $650 pricetag


V-Moda VAMP for the iPhone: an analog converter and headphone amp with a $650 pricetag
If money really isn't an issue when it comes to your search for the finest sound possible from your iPhone, V-Moda has a new accessory for you to consider. The company has announced the VAMP: an iPhone 4 / 4S case that converts digital to analog for hi-fi listening. How does it work? Well, the kit uses a 150mW x 2 amplifier to bypass the smartphone's internals to offer the auditory elbow grease needed to adequately power that set of fancy headphones. For controls, you can expect a volume knob, hi / lo gain switch and toggle switch with LED indicator for either Pure or VQ listening mode. There's also an optical audio output for using your phone as a vehicle "for the purest and unparalleled audio listening experience," but you'll have to splurge for an extra cable to do so. In addition to the aforementioned conversion, the aircraft-grade metal add-on provides eight hours of playback from it's own battery -- which can be used as a backup for your Apple handset, should the need arise. Sound good so far? Well, the VAMP is now shipping and will set you back a whopping $650 with $50 of the asking price benefitting the InTheLoop Foundation. You know, if you happen to really love listening to Sigur Rós on the go and are obsessed with high fidelity playback.Gallery: V-Moda VAMP for the iPhoneContinue reading V-Moda VAMP for the iPhone: an analog converter and headphone amp with a $650 pricetagV-Moda VAMP for the iPhone: an analog converter and headphone amp with a $650 pricetag originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | V-Moda | Email this | Comments

Nokia U.S. Head Confirms PureView Imaging Tech Is Headed To Future Lumia Phones

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 11:35 AM PDT

Nokia U.S. Head Confirms PureView Imaging Tech Is Headed To Future Lumia Phones


Nokia U.S. Head Confirms PureView Imaging Tech Is Headed To Future Lumia Phones
The charmingly chunky PureView 808 was the first to sport Nokia's impressive new imaging technology, but it (thankfully) won't be the last. In a brief video interview with HowardForums, Nokia US President Chris Weber noted that the company's lauded PureView camera tech would eventually find a new home on Windows Phones. "You can expect we'll be bringing PureView technologies to the Windows Phone platform and future Lumia devices," he said. "We're absolutely committed to doing that."

Kytephone Officially Launches App To Turn Android Phones Into Kid-Safe Devices

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 11:35 AM PDT

Kytephone Officially Launches App To Turn Android Phones Into Kid-Safe Devices


Kytephone Officially Launches App To Turn Android Phones Into Kid-Safe Devices
Kytephone, the mobile app that transforms Android smartphones into kid-safe devices, is officially making its public debut today. The startup had previously been in beta, following its reveal at this spring's Y Combinator Demo Day, where founders Renat Gataullin and Martin Drashkov first revealed their company's vision. The idea behind Kytephone is simple. It addresses parents' growing concerns over the access that these mobile computers (aka smartphones) offer children. Kids can surf the web, download apps, text and call anyone, snap photos and send them around to friends (or strangers) and more. But on the other hand, equipping kids with a phone is often seen as a must for reasons related to convenience and safety. That's where Kytephone comes in. By locking down the phone, the app allows parents to give kids a smartphone for all the good reasons, without the negative consequences.

TiVo and PayPal let you buy stuff using your remote, hopes you swing past the sh...

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT

TiVo and PayPal let you buy stuff using your remote, hopes you swing past the shopping channel


TiVo and PayPal let you buy stuff using your remote, hopes you swing past the shopping channel
Those late-night adverts for a steam-powered ab-crunching bagel toaster (just $400, plus $99 postage and packing!) will soon be much harder to resist, thanks to TiVo. The DVR maker has teamed up with PayPal to enable you to purchase goods with your remote control during the commercial. A global financial meltdown will probably ensue just as soon as the company can get compatible adverts developed, currently slated to begin airing during this year's fall TV season.Continue reading TiVo and PayPal let you buy stuff using your remote, hopes you swing past the shopping channelTiVo and PayPal let you buy stuff using your remote, hopes you swing past the shopping channel originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink CNET | | Email this | Comments

Rivals AMD and ARM unite, summon others to become 'heterogeneous'

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT

Rivals AMD and ARM unite, summon others to become 'heterogeneous'


Rivals AMD and ARM unite, summon others to become 'heterogeneous'
Rumors of a hook-up between AMD and ARM have been circulating ever since someone coined the phrase "the enemy of Intel is my friend." As of today, however, that alliance is real and cemented in the form of the HSA Foundation -- a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the dark arts of Heterogeneous System Architecture. It's a relatively old concept in computing, but the Foundation's founding partners (AMD, ARM, Imagination Technologies, MediaTek and Texas Instruments) all stand to gain from its wider adoption. How come? Because it involves boosting a chip's performance by making it use its various components as co-processors, rather than treating them as specialized units that can never help each other out. In other words, while Intel pursues Moore's Law and packs ever-more sophisticated transistors into its CPUs, AMD, ARM and the other HSA pals want to achieve similar or better results through parallel computing. In most cases, that'll mean using the graphics processor on a chip not only for visuals and gaming, but also for general tasks and apps. This can already be achieved using a programming language called OpenCL, but AMD believes it's too tricky to code and is putting mainstream developers off. Equally, NVIDIA has long had its own language for the same purpose, called CUDA, but it's proprietary. Whatever niche is left in the middle, the HSA Foundation hopes to fill it with an easier and more open standard that is not only cross-OS but also transcends the PC / mobile divide. If it works, it'll give us a noticeable surge in computational power in everyday apps by 2014. If it fails, these new-found friends can go back to the less awkward custom of ignoring each other.Continue reading Rivals AMD and ARM unite, summon others to become 'heterogeneous'Rivals AMD and ARM unite, summon others to become 'heterogeneous' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Renault Zoe EV goes almost 1,000 miles in 24 hours

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:19 AM PDT

Renault Zoe EV goes almost 1,000 miles in 24 hours


Renault Zoe EV goes almost 1,000 miles in 24 hours
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Renault, Europe/EU The 24 Hours of...Le Zoe?Renault has put a new spin on the classic car race by seeing how far its Zoe electric vehicle could go in 24 hours. With a little bit of effort, the company managed to get oh-so-close to the 1,000-mile threshold, according to the French publication France Mobilite Electrique (kudos to TreeHugger for the translation). The Zoe, which goes on sale this fall and has an estimated single-charge range of about 130 miles, went 994 miles during the cycle. The car, which TreeHugger says achieved a new 24-hour, electric vehicle distance record (Elon Musk, take note) sucked down nine fast charges during the effort. Renault, which along with sister company Nissan has invested more than $5 billion in battery-electric vehicle technology, is trying to generate advance buzz for the Zoe. The French automaker debuted a production version of the Zoe at this March's Geneva Auto Show. Renault said the car would sell for the equivalent of just over $20,000 U.S. (after government incentives kick in) in both the UK and France. If that sounds low, keep the battery lease program of around $110 a month in mind. Renault started taking pre-orders for the Zoe in Europe in March. Last month, Renault executives said the Zoe would likely outsell the Nissan Leaf in Europe because of the lower price.Renault Zoe EV goes almost 1,000 miles in 24 hours originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

ASUS PadFone review

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:19 AM PDT

ASUS PadFone review


ASUS PadFone review
It's been a long ride for the PadFone. ASUS' last smartphone was the Android 2.1-powered A10 from two years ago, then five months later the company ended its smartphone partnership with Garmin (though they're still friends). The next thing we knew, the outfit was openly considering Windows Phone, but obviously nothing came to fruition despite its E600 engineering units floating about in the wild. Meanwhile, a bunch of Android Eee Pads started entering the market to get a slice of that hot tablet pie. Eventually, the PadFone shocked the industry at last year's Computex (remember our brilliant mockup based on the teaser pics?), but ASUS went on to miss its Christmas launch target, allowing it extra time to rejig the phone's software and design. Then CES and MWC went by, with the latter hosting the official launch event to unveil the PadFone's final design and availability date. This time, the new April target was missed by only three weeks, and shortly afterwards we got hold of our retail unit from Taiwan, which is still the only place where you can get hold of the product. But enough with the story. What we want to know is whether ASUS' courageous and unique project has all the right ingredients to squeeze itself into a market now dominated by the likes of Apple, Samsung and HTC. Most importantly, will the company set a new trend with this two- or three-in-one form factor -- in the same way it did with netbooks -- thus taking the Android ecosystem to the next level? Let's see.Gallery: ASUS PadFone review -- phoneGallery: ASUS PadFone review -- PadFone Station and accessoriesContinue reading ASUS PadFone reviewASUS PadFone review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Amped Wireless caps off its new range with a dual-band repeater

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:19 AM PDT

Amped Wireless caps off its new range with a dual-band repeater


Amped Wireless caps off its new range with a dual-band repeater
Anyone keeping track of Amped Wireless' new range of dual-band products might have spotted that repeater-shaped hole in the team. It should come as no surprise that the company is now unveiling its SR20000G repeater, capable of extending your wireless network by a further 10,000 square feet. Built with the same five Ethernet jacks and USB 2.0 port for file sharing that we saw on its brother, it'll set you back $180 when it arrives later this month.Continue reading Amped Wireless caps off its new range with a dual-band repeaterAmped Wireless caps off its new range with a dual-band repeater originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

To Be Clear, Siri Is Not Coming To The iPhone 4 Or iPad 2

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:19 AM PDT

To Be Clear, Siri Is Not Coming To The iPhone 4 Or iPad 2


To Be Clear, Siri Is Not Coming To The iPhone 4 Or iPad 2
It's understandable why you might have been confused. Apple made Siri's expansion about as clear as mud yesterday at Apple's WWDC keynote. She learns more, moves to the iPad, gets all kinds of new integrations in iOS 6 (which most certainly will come to your iPhone 4/3GS), but does she actually hop on over to the new hardware and chat at you like the condescending connectivity-challenged genius that she is? In short, no. Officially, Siri is only available on the iPhone 4S and the new iPad (third generation).

Rolls-Royce: Not About the Numbers

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:19 AM PDT

Rolls-Royce: Not About the Numbers


Rolls-Royce: Not About the Numbers
Sales growth? Alt fuels? AWD? They don't matter to the luxury automaker.

That Was Fast: iOS 6 Developer Beta Has Already Been Jailbroken

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:46 AM PDT

That Was Fast: iOS 6 Developer Beta Has Already Been Jailbroken


That Was Fast: iOS 6 Developer Beta Has Already Been Jailbroken
Apple's Scott Forstall officially introduced the world to iOS 6 less than 24 hours ago, and already it seems like an intrepid hacker has managed to jailbreak it. MuscleNerd (of iPhone Dev Team fame) announced from his Twitter account earlier this morning that he managed to jailbreak a 4th generation iPod Touch running the recently-released iOS 6 developer beta, though he's quick to note that it's not exactly ready for prime time yet.

HTC decides to buy S3 after all, keeps it on ice for future patent wars

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:46 AM PDT

HTC decides to buy S3 after all, keeps it on ice for future patent wars


HTC decides to buy S3 after all, keeps it on ice for future patent wars
HTC was exhibiting more than a bit of buyer's remorse after its acquisition of S3 Graphics went off the rails: it had used the $300 million deal to scoop up a company with a victory over Apple in a patent dispute at the ITC, only to see that decision reversed and its dreams crumble. S3 will be glad to know that HTC wants the shotgun wedding to last. The One X creator's general counsel, Grace Lei, is now promising that the buyout will wrap up at some point in the near future after "cautious assessment" of its worth. The union won't help HTC fend off escalating Apple assaults, but the 270 patents may make other companies think twice before starting a feud -- oh, and give HTC some graphics technology to improve its products.HTC decides to buy S3 after all, keeps it on ice for future patent wars originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Next Web | Focus Taiwan | Email this | Comments

HTC confirms One S with 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3 being sold 'in select markets'

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:46 AM PDT

HTC confirms One S with 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3 being sold 'in select markets'


HTC confirms One S with 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3 being sold 'in select markets'
Confirming the news that HTC's One S had arrived in the mother land of Taiwan toting a higher-clocked (but older) Snapdragon processor, the company has added where this rejigged device is headed -- at least broadly. While the US, UK, Japan, Korean, France and Germany have been enjoying the high-performance thrills of a dual-core Snapdragon S4, according to The Verge, the S3 variant will launch across Asia-Pacific regions and some (as-yet unspecified) European markets. HTC will, however, be marking out which sort of processing hardware's inside the two models -- if it's got a dual-core 1.7GHz processor, you've got the Snapdragon S3, if it's 1.5GHz then you have the newer S4. The company is also working to claim more of Qualcomm's latest mobile processor for the One S roll-out, but we'd advise checking the spec sheet before you take the plunge in the aforementioned regions.HTC confirms One S with 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3 being sold 'in select markets' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | The Verge | Email this | Comments

Engadget Giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S III (I9300), courtesy of Bubbly!

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:46 AM PDT

Engadget Giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S III (I9300), courtesy of Bubbly!


Engadget Giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S III (I9300), courtesy of Bubbly!
Now here's a giveaway we know you'll really like: an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S III (aka GT-I9300)! The Korean giant's latest flagship is the talk of the Android community right now, so of course you're going to want to make it your daily driver. Thanks to Bubble Motion, the developer behind Bubbly, you now have that chance. Bubbly is a "voice social network," which means you can create and share short voice updates with followers -- sort of like a Twitter for soundbytes. It's free to sign up, and it's available on Android and iOS. Intrigued? Head to the links below to grab the app! With this particular contest, there's just one additional rule: when you leave a comment, be sure to tell us what celebrity you'd most like to hear voice status updates from. Good luck!Continue reading Engadget Giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S III (I9300), courtesy of Bubbly!Engadget Giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S III (I9300), courtesy of Bubbly! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy S III coming to C Spire 'later this year'

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:46 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S III coming to C Spire 'later this year'


Samsung Galaxy S III coming to C Spire 'later this year'
And then there were six. With US Cellular breaking the barrier of regional carriers getting a flagship device at the same time as its national rivals, C Spire (formerly Cellular South) wants to join the cause by announcing that it will carry the Samsung Galaxy S III -- and we doubt it will be the last to hop on board, given that MetroPCS was listed on the US sign-up page alongside these other six carriers. The company wasn't so keen on providing exact details of pricing or availability, so all we know is that it's on track for a release "later this year" and we'll get more information in the coming weeks. If we were the gambling sort, we'd bet that C Spire is aiming to push this as its inaugural LTE device when the network is deployed this coming September. Judging by the picture alone, we're not expecting any major surprises with this particular flavor, but that shouldn't come as a shocker to anyone who has been following the GS3 news on the US front. Welcome to the party, pal.Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S III coming to C Spire 'later this year'Samsung Galaxy S III coming to C Spire 'later this year' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | C Spire | Email this | Comments

NASA opens up Launch Control Center for public tours

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:46 AM PDT

NASA opens up Launch Control Center for public tours


NASA opens up Launch Control Center for public tours
The NASA control center, responsible for a huge chunk of space-faring history, will open its doors to tour groups for the first time in over 30 years, celebrating the Kennedy Space Center's 50th anniversary. Starting this Friday, a "limited number" of tours will take bright-eyed enthusiasts into the Launch Control Center, where all 152 launches were counted down -- visitors will even get to peer at the very same clock. NASA has also granted access to the "bubble room", which is surrounded by windows showing what went on in the firing room just below. The daily tour also throws in a drive-by viewing of one of the shuttle launch pads. The tours will run through the end of 2012 -- adults will need to fork out an extra $25, while kids will cost $19 on top of the typical entrance fee. [Image Credit: Britannica Online, 1000 Words / Shutterstock.com]NASA opens up Launch Control Center for public tours originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Space | Email this | Comments