Subscribe:

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Shops Online

Shops Online

London Calling: BMW will make i8 plug-in hybrid engine in UK

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 02:59 PM PDT

London Calling: BMW will make i8 plug-in hybrid engine in UK


London Calling: BMW will make i8 plug-in hybrid engine in UK
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, BMW, UK Rumored plans for BMW to curtain production of its i-series of plug-in vehicles has so far been lost in translation, even if the language is still English. At the opening of the world's first BMW i store in Hyde Park, London - where an updated version of the i3 will be displayed when the Olympics come to town - BMW said it is planning to make engines for its i8 plug-in hybrid in the UK, HybridCars reports. The i8, whose prototype was notably featured last year in "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," will have its engines made at BMW's factory near Birmingham, UK. That plant has produced more than three million BMW and Mini engines since 2001. Automobile Magazine recently reported that BMW may delay or even discontinue much of the i line of vehicles because of fears over less-than-expected demand for the plug-ins and that BMW executives are in discussions about delaying or shelving plans because of lack of government incentives and EV-charging infrastructure. The i3 will deliver 170 horsepower, 170 pound-feet of torque and a 0-60 time of under eight seconds. In London, the company reiterated that the model will go into production next year.London Calling: BMW will make i8 plug-in hybrid engine in UK originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vizio's 24- and 27-inch Ivy Bridge all-in-ones get official

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 02:59 PM PDT

Vizio's 24- and 27-inch Ivy Bridge all-in-ones get official


Vizio's 24- and 27-inch Ivy Bridge all-in-ones get official
Vizio recently announced that its first PCs -- the ones we glimpsed at CES back in January -- will ship in June. From our previous hands-on time, we already knew that the company's 24- and 27-inch all-in-ones sport 1080p screens and include HDMI passthrough for using them as HDTVs even with the PC portion turned off. And the company clearly drew on its TV know-how to turn out desktops with nice and thin profiles: the power supply is integrated into the subwoofer, and the pivoting neck is a single piece of aluminum connected to an invisible hinge. At the company's press event in NYC today, the all-in-ones got extra official -- as in, we have complete specs. Both the 24- and 27-inch models feature Intel Ivy Bridge processors, NVIDIA Kepler GeForce GPUs, 1920 x 1080 displays and 2.1 surround sound. Storage options top out at a 1TB hard drive paired with a 32GB SSD. The PC includes HDMI input and ships with a remote control (hence Vizio's TV background). The 27-inch model will start at $1,098. As with Vizio's just-announced laptops, the desktops include a "V key" on the keyboard, with shortcuts to media services such as Hulu Plus, Vudu and Netflix. Interestingly, none of these services will come pre-installed, though the company said there will be special deals for Vizio PC owners. Developing...Vizio's 24- and 27-inch Ivy Bridge all-in-ones get official originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Vizio details its first laptops: two thin-and-lights and a mainstream 15-incher,...

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 02:59 PM PDT

Vizio details its first laptops: two thin-and-lights and a mainstream 15-incher, available now for $898 and up


Vizio details its first laptops: two thin-and-lights and a mainstream 15-incher, available now for $898 and up
Back at CES, Vizio taught us a valuable lesson: you don't have to be a seasoned PC maker to build a beautiful laptop. The outfit, best known for its value-priced TVs, didn't dip its toes into the personal computer market so much as plunge in, head first: it teased three notebooks (along with two all-in-ones), each bearing a clean, surprisingly tasteful design. Now, right on schedule, they're finally going on sale. The company just announced that its first laptops, the 14-inch Thin-and-Light, the 15-inch Thin-and-Light and the 15-inch Notebook, will be available imminently. So far, here at its press conference in New York City, Vizio has announced the skinny 14-incher will start at $898. Funnily enough, as much as we've written about these laptops, we didn't know their names (much less specs) until now. So listen up: it's time for a quick (and long-overdue) run-down. First up, there are two "thin-and-lights" (Vizio isn't using the word Ultrabook). These come in two sizes: a 14-inch version with a 1600 x 900 display and a 15-incher with a 1080p panel. Aside from the resolution, the two models offer similar specs: Ivy Bridge processors, Intel HD 4000 graphics, SRS Premium Sound HD audio and battery life rated at seven hours. There's also a mainstream laptop, appropriately dubbed the 15.6-inch Notebook, which offers similar innards, except it has an unspecified Kepler GPU from NVIDIA. It, too, is rated for seven hours of runtime. Across its PC lineup, Vizio will be including a so-called V key on its keyboard, which will serve as a shortcut to services like Hulu Plus, Amazon, Vudu and Netflix. (If you were wondering how Vizio would incorporate its TV know-how, this is it.) The peculiar thing is, none of these services will come installed by default as bloatware. The point is, the key is there to use as a shortcut if you chose to enable these services, and Vizio says these multimedia partners plan on offering deals specific to Vizio PC owners. Developing...Vizio details its first laptops: two thin-and-lights and a mainstream 15-incher, available now for $898 and up originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Solair Altius unmanned aerial vehicle, eyes-on (video)

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 02:58 PM PDT

Solair Altius unmanned aerial vehicle, eyes-on (video)


Solair Altius unmanned aerial vehicle, eyes-on (video)
It could just be us, but we tend to dwell on some fairly negative connotations when we hear the phrase "unmanned aerial vehicle" -- after all, the lion's share of media attention devoted to devices in that category tend to focus on military applications. Not surprisingly, the creators of the Solair Altius being strung from the rafters of the Artistan's Asylum hackerspace in Somerville, Massachusetts has far more peaceful intentions when they developed the plane.Gallery: Solair hands-onContinue reading Solair Altius unmanned aerial vehicle, eyes-on (video)Solair Altius unmanned aerial vehicle, eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Spotify users in Germany no longer need Facebook account to register

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 02:24 PM PDT

Spotify users in Germany no longer need Facebook account to register


Spotify users in Germany no longer need Facebook account to register
Spotify users in Germany no longer need a Facebook account to register for the music service, Digital Music News reports. Since Spotify buddied up with the social network last year, users across the globe have had to hand over their Facebook info to create an account and start streaming. Now Germans will have the option to create a Spotify account by providing their email address and creating a username, though the Facebook requirement holds true for all other countries. As TNW points out, that change in policy may have something to do with the fact that less than 30 percent of Germans are on Facebook, compared to more than 50 percent for Americans and Brits -- but we suspect Germany's notoriously heavy emphasis on privacy had something to do with it as well.Spotify users in Germany no longer need Facebook account to register originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge, The Next Web | Digital Music News | Email this | Comments

Motorola Atrix 3 'Dinara' powers through the FCC en route to AT&T

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 02:24 PM PDT

Motorola Atrix 3 'Dinara' powers through the FCC en route to AT&T


Motorola Atrix 3 'Dinara' powers through the FCC en route to AT&T
The Motorola Dinara, also known as the third-generation Atrix, has been making the occasional stop at the rumor mill to drop off knowledge bombs, but now it looks like we have some official FCC documentation to supplement the intel. Going undercover as the MB886, it sports the proper LTE bands for AT&T and even uses the same model naming convention as its two predecessors. Naturally we don't get much more information than the usual measurements and radios (of which include HSPA+ / WCDMA 850 / 1900 as well as quad-band EDGE), but the phone is rumored to include an LTE-friendly Snapdragon S4 processor and a 720p display.Motorola Atrix 3 'Dinara' powers through the FCC en route to AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 17:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments

Nokia ships Lumia 900 and Reaction Bluetooth Headset in China

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 02:24 PM PDT

Nokia ships Lumia 900 and Reaction Bluetooth Headset in China


Nokia ships Lumia 900 and Reaction Bluetooth Headset in China
Based on the amount of effort poured into iOS 6 in order to tailor it for users in China, one thing's obvious: it's a nation grasping for smartphones. Apple's seeing huge, huge upticks in spending from Chinese customers, and Nokia's sure hoping it sees similar. In the midst of untold turmoil, Nokia is sprinkling in a bit of positive news this morning -- news that the Lumia 900 is now shipping in China. The 900 marks the fifth Lumia smartphone to ship in the nation of 900 million mobile phone users, with white, black and cyan versions to choose from. Outside of the basic specifications, the Chinese 900 will also come preloaded with nation-specific apps such as Sina Weibo, QQ IM, Baidu Search and Alipay. Oh, and if a phone wasn't enough, the Nokia Reaction Bluetooth Headset is also launching there today, enabling you to finally make use of that NFC module. The Lumia 900 hardware will sell for RMB 4599 ($721) in Nokia's flagship store, Nokia brand stores and the nation's "top electronics chain stores."Nokia ships Lumia 900 and Reaction Bluetooth Headset in China originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET!

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 01:52 PM PDT

The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET!


The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET!
Brian's off in Beantown, so Heater fans are bound to be disappointed in this week's episode. But, fear not: Tim's home from WWDC and feeling a bit jetlagged, and so is Darren Murph, but both will soldier with support from Richard Lawler for this week's podcast. Join them all in limited edition audio-only format right after the break.Continue reading The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET!The Engadget Podcast, live at 5:00PM ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Judge puts Apple vs. Motorola hearing back on deck, asks the two to put up or sh...

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 01:52 PM PDT

Judge puts Apple vs. Motorola hearing back on deck, asks the two to put up or shut up


Judge puts Apple vs. Motorola hearing back on deck, asks the two to put up or shut up
Well, we did ask you to "tune in next week." Just seven days after he tentatively dismissed one of Apple's patent lawsuits against Motorola, Judge Richard Posner has given both sides a chance to prove their cases are worthwhile in a hearing on June 20th. As both sides are claiming damages, Posner wants them to explain if and how they're entitled to a payout should they win, including the possibility of a modest royalty instead of lump sums. Motorola is getting extra scrutiny since it's using standards-based patents that have drawn flak from lawmakers -- it will likely have to say how it thinks FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) licensing requirements for its 3G patent fit into its claims. The judge clearly warns that progress is contingent on Apple and Motorola meeting legal standards; if they fall short, it's not likely they'll get a third chance. Any success will revive the possibility of preliminary product bans, though, and that's something that most won't find something to cheer about.Judge puts Apple vs. Motorola hearing back on deck, asks the two to put up or shut up originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | FOSSpatents | Email this | Comments

T-Mobile to conduct LTE-Advanced trials this summer in preparation for 2013 depl...

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 01:52 PM PDT

T-Mobile to conduct LTE-Advanced trials this summer in preparation for 2013 deployment


T-Mobile to conduct LTE-Advanced trials this summer in preparation for 2013 deployment
Eager to get its LTE ducks in a row, T-Mobile announced today that it plans to begin trials of the next-gen network this summer. But here's the kicker: despite being tardy to the high-speed party, it plans on deploying true 4G in 2013, throttling ahead to the latest and greatest version known as 3GPP Release 10 -- also known as LTE-Advanced. Hitting this mark is crucial for T-Mobile, primarily because Sprint and AT&T have already announced their intentions to jump to the same speeds next year. T-Mobile also discussed its mysterious deployment of 1900MHz 3G service in San Francisco this week. According to Dave Mayo, SVP of technology, this is part of the carrier's 4G network evolution plan: to improve voice and data coverage and make its 4G network (we presume he's talking HSPA+ here) compatible with "a broader range of devices (including the iPhone)." He says what occurred at Moscone West this week is just the beginning -- in his words, "more of these speed sightings will occur as we work toward introducing 4G HSPA+ service in our 1900MHz spectrum in a large number of markets later this year." Overall, we'd say some great things are starting to happen in magentaland as it gets ready to hit the turbo boost button and shed the "faux-G" tag next year.Continue reading T-Mobile to conduct LTE-Advanced trials this summer in preparation for 2013 deploymentT-Mobile to conduct LTE-Advanced trials this summer in preparation for 2013 deployment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | T-Mobile | Email this | Comments

Ford Focus Electric iPhone App now avaiable

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Ford Focus Electric iPhone App now avaiable


Ford Focus Electric iPhone App now avaiable
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Ford It's not exactly 'Siri' but, for Ford Focus Electric drivers, it'll do. Now that a small number of Ford Focus Electrics are out on the roads - and more are coming - Ford is reminding us that an iPhone application is available. The app, among other things, lets Focus Electric drivers use MapQuest to plan the most efficient route to their destination and helps find the nearest electric-vehicle charging station. Similar functionality is provided by the MyFordMobile website. The MyFord Mobile app has an AT&T wireless module that lets drivers log in to check the current state of the vehicle's charge. The app also allows the driver to program so-called "value-charging" - the system was developed by Microsoft - so that most of the charging takes place when the utility rates are the cheapest. The app will also send a text message to remind the driver if the car wasn't plugged in, which can make for a good story. Earlier this month, Ford finally disclosed sales numbers for the Focus Electric, which moved six units last month and 16 since the model's debut last December. Ford, which started selling the model on the coasts, will make the model available in 13 more states - Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina - later this year.Continue reading Ford Focus Electric iPhone App now avaiableFord Focus Electric iPhone App now avaiable originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nintendo's Iwata says Wii U's second screen was nearly scrapped due to price

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Nintendo's Iwata says Wii U's second screen was nearly scrapped due to price


Nintendo's Iwata says Wii U's second screen was nearly scrapped due to price
The idea of a second screen experience is fairly central to the Wii U as it is today, but it looks like it could have nearly been shoved aside as just another concept. In an interview published today by The Telegraph, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that the company "almost gave up on the idea of the additional screen" during its final discussions about the console, adding that "this was due to our concern over the expected high cost, it may not have been feasible to create this and sell it at a reasonable price point for the consumers." As Joystiq notes, that does suggest it was ultimately able to land on a "reasonable" price for the console, although we're still only hearing unofficial numbers tossed around at this point. You can find the full interview at the source link below.Nintendo's Iwata says Wii U's second screen was nearly scrapped due to price originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Joystiq | The Telegraph | Email this | Comments

Skype for Windows, Mac and Linux all get updates on the same day

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 01:15 PM PDT

Skype for Windows, Mac and Linux all get updates on the same day


Skype for Windows, Mac and Linux all get updates on the same day
Skype in all its forms received incremental updates for those video conferencing addicts out there. The Windows flavor gained various UI improvements, including a pinnable contacts list, backwards-compatible video rendering for older machines and better Facebook integration. Meanwhile, the Mac version got a similarly refreshed interface, improved screen sharing for premium users and a bunch of fixes necessary to get the software ready for Mountain Lion. Over on the Linux table, users will find improved video and audio quality along with a raft of minor bug fixes and improvements. All three versionsSkype for Windows, Mac and Linux all get updates on the same day originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Skype for Mac, Skype for Windows, Skype for Linux | Email this | Comments

LG Eclipse may be coming to Sprint and AT&T by Halloween

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 12:42 PM PDT

LG Eclipse may be coming to Sprint and AT&T by Halloween


LG Eclipse may be coming to Sprint and AT&T by Halloween
After initial specs and a few decent pics bubbled up to the surface of the internet, the "superphone" known as the LG Eclipse is shedding its shyness. The device, supposedly sporting a quad-core Krait APQ8064 with Adreno 320 GPU, has been spotted with a User Agent Profile and Bluetooth 4.0 Certification. Even better, it appears to be in two distinct flavors: the LS970 for Sprint and the E970, allegedly for AT&T (according to leaked benchmarks, at least, which we'll discuss in a moment). The User Agent Profile, listed specifically for the E970, confirms the 1280 x 768 screen resolution; if the phone does indeed offer a 4.67-inch panel, this means we can expect a pixel density of a rather respectable 320ppi. Also, the Bluetooth sheet mentions that the device -- referring to both models -- "will be available on North America market around 2012.10.31." We can definitely see this as a potential winner for the holiday season, though we wouldn't be surprised if LG's upcoming superphone faces its fair share of stiff competition when it launches. In addition to the official docs, a keen-eyed tipster also spotted the device making the benchmark rounds: it was seen on GLBenchmark, AnTuTu and Nenamark2. We have to be a bit more skeptical when looking at test results, since they're pretty easy to fabricate. With that disclaimer, the Adreno scores were quite impressive on GLBench, with the LS970 notching 125fps using the offscreen Egypt test (the E970 got a score of 113fps). As for the other tests, the E970 netted an average 58.8 on NenaMark and the LS970 got 11,663 on AnTuTu -- putting it ever-so-slightly higher than the Tegra 3-powered HTC One X. Unfortunately, this test also mentioned that the LS970 uses a screen resolution of 1280 x 720. If this turns out to be true, this means that AT&T's version will offer a tad better display. Not that 720p is bad by any stretch of the imagination; it just probably won't be among the best in the market come this holiday season. The full suite of links can be found below, so have a look and see if anything else pops out. [Thanks, Ketul]LG Eclipse may be coming to Sprint and AT&T by Halloween originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Bluetooth SIG, LG UAP | Email this | Comments

Project Hexapod: eyes-on with Gimpy, the (half-scale) giant robot leg

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 12:09 PM PDT

Project Hexapod: eyes-on with Gimpy, the (half-scale) giant robot leg


Project Hexapod: eyes-on with Gimpy, the (half-scale) giant robot leg
Admittedly, this is one of our shorter editors on staff. But he is, believe it or not, an adult male that stands five foot, eight inches tall. Which puts that giant chunk of metal next to him at about five feet. Turns out, that slab of black steel is a prototype robot leg -- and one that's only half scale. It's the work of a bunch of hobbyists, engineers and hackers at the Artisan's Asylum in Somerville, MA where its the big dog amongst a pile of other amazing projects. This is simply an early stage in the building of what will ultimately be one of the largest six-legged robots in the world, dubbed Stompy. All told some 19 different people are hard at work on the bot as part of an intensive class taught by Gui Cavalcanti, James Whong and Dan Cody at the hacker space that covers everything from metal work, to hydraulics, and, of course, robotics. When it started in April, the goal was to build a fully functional and rideable hexapod in four months time, by breaking down the project into much simpler to tackle tasks. Now the class is gearing up to enter the final stages, namely, building the full scale mechanical monster. Continue reading Project Hexapod: eyes-on with Gimpy, the (half-scale) giant robot legProject Hexapod: eyes-on with Gimpy, the (half-scale) giant robot leg originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Chameleon adaptive Android home screen returns to view, Kickstarter

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 12:08 PM PDT

Chameleon adaptive Android home screen returns to view, Kickstarter


Chameleon adaptive Android home screen returns to view, Kickstarter
For three days, Chameleon lived up to its name, disappearing from the web as quickly as it arrived. The Android home screen's Kickstarter page spent most of this week offline, after the Amazon Payments account holder departed the company, leaving Chameleon without any way to collect on its pledges. Fortunately, the project has now returned, and is already more than a third of the way through to its $30,000 funding goal. And, as an apology of sorts for the inconvenience, new backers (or re-backers) of five dollars or more will receive five "bonus" Chameleon backgrounds. Regardless of whether this modest offer or the launcher's potential is responsible for the seemingly considerable interest, the project is back up and running -- this time though the July 4th deadline, we hope. Jump past the break and hit up our source link to make your pledge.Chameleon adaptive Android home screen returns to view, Kickstarter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Kickstarter | Email this | Comments

ASUS PadFone gets its first firmware update, minor bugs removed

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 12:08 PM PDT

ASUS PadFone gets its first firmware update, minor bugs removed


ASUS PadFone gets its first firmware update, minor bugs removed
We've been regularly poking the "Check Update" button on our PadFone since the release of our epic review, and just as promised, today ASUS has finally delivered the hybrid device's first OTA update. While the release notes have yet to pop up, we can see that the system firmware on our Taiwanese model's been upgraded to IML74K.CHT_PadFone-9.18.8.41_CHT_9.1.15-0, which has eliminated some of the bugs that we had reported to ASUS. For instance, the missing change-keyboard button in ASUS' Chinese handwriting input method has been reinstated, and trace input in ASUS' English keyboard is now working properly. Sadly, the "A" and "L" keys are still easy to miss -- we're accustomed to their larger sensitive areas on the native Android keyboard, so we shall stick to that for the time being. Also sent along is the camera firmware's update which brings the version number up to f09951, and consequently we're no longer getting an erroneous "no GPS signal" message in the camera app. Last but not least, the PadFone Station's firmware is now at version p40, but we've yet to notice any difference. Until we get the update log, don't be afraid to drop us a note in the comments if you spot anything else new. Update: We almost forgot to mention that the PadFone's already out in Singapore, and our pals over at Engadget Spanish reported earlier today that it's also heading to tiendas españolas next month. Likewise for Italy, according to Notebook Italia.ASUS PadFone gets its first firmware update, minor bugs removed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Facebook, Google, Twitter spearhead Ads Integrity Alliance to thwart villainous ads

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:34 AM PDT

Facebook, Google, Twitter spearhead Ads Integrity Alliance to thwart villainous ads


Facebook, Google, Twitter spearhead Ads Integrity Alliance to thwart villainous ads
Online heavy-hitters Google, Facebook, Twitter, AOL (Engadget's parent company) and the Interactive Advertising Bureau have have struck an alliance aimed at ridding nasty advertising "from all corners of the web." Stemming from the existing StopBadware group that began in 2006, the group will develop policies, build a platform for identifying scofflaws and share trends with government and law enforcement. For its part, Google curbed 130 million ads promoting counterfeit articles, malware and worse in 2011, but said baddies would normally move their shady businesses to another corner of the internet. Thus, the aim of this new league is to aid players across the web with its super resources in a bid to stop the knavery, no matter where it tries to hide.Facebook, Google, Twitter spearhead Ads Integrity Alliance to thwart villainous ads originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Business Wire | Google Official Blog | Email this | Comments

IRL: Canon Powershot D20, FX Photo Studio and Nikon's 35mm f/1.8G lens

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:34 AM PDT

IRL: Canon Powershot D20, FX Photo Studio and Nikon's 35mm f/1.8G lens


IRL: Canon Powershot D20, FX Photo Studio and Nikon's 35mm f/1.8G lens
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. It's photo week here at IRL. Turns out, quite a few Engadget editors are in the mood to talk up their shooting gear lately. On the camera side, Edgar recently took the PowerShot D20 on his honeymoon in Jamaica, while Darren's been giving FX Photo Studio a whirl (spoiler: he still prefers Snapseed). And say hello to our new copy editor Philip Palermo, who says if he had to live with just one lens for his Nikon D90, it would be the 35mm f/1.8G.Continue reading IRL: Canon Powershot D20, FX Photo Studio and Nikon's 35mm f/1.8G lensIRL: Canon Powershot D20, FX Photo Studio and Nikon's 35mm f/1.8G lens originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Carat: The Brilliant App That Increases Your Battery Life By Showing What Other...

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:34 AM PDT

Carat: The Brilliant App That Increases Your Battery Life By Showing What Other Apps To Kill


Carat: The Brilliant App That Increases Your Battery Life By Showing What Other Apps To Kill
"Kill Pandora - Expected Battery Life Improvement: 1 hour 50 minutes" This is what you'll learn from Carat, an incredibly useful free new iOS and Android app that's the first to give you personalized mobile battery life-saving recommendations. Carat quietly takes measurements from you device, does some math, combines is with other people's anonymized data, and sends back tips on if you should update your OS, kill or restart apps, and how many more minutes of tablet or phone fiddling you'll gain. As battery tech to is expected to improve slowly, some say increasing life just 5% a year, and as we get faster processors, more powerful apps, and brighter screens, everyone could use a Carat in their pocket.

BMW i8 plug-in hybrid will cost over 100,000 euros

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:58 AM PDT

BMW i8 plug-in hybrid will cost over 100,000 euros


BMW i8 plug-in hybrid will cost over 100,000 euros
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, BMW The BMW i8 is still on the drawing board (despite some rumors to the contrary) but it's not going to be cheap: over 100,000 euros ($125,900 U.S. at today's exchange rates), according to Automotive News Europe. The i8 (seen above in a rendering from Sonny Lim, former head of BMW DesignWorks) is due in about two years. The i3 - also still on the drawing board - will arrive in 2013 and will be priced "very competitively for the substance you get" Ian Robertson, BMW's global sales chief, told ANE. Still, BMWs are not cheap, and who has that kind of money? People on vacation, that's who. BMW spokeswoman Linda Croissant told ANE that BMW might use a mobile sales force to sell the i models online and in places where dealers don't exist. Currently, BMW does offer test drives at holiday resorts, and we imagine that's the perfect location to act out your Mission: Impossible dreams. Find more details on the i3 and i8 here.BMW i8 plug-in hybrid will cost over 100,000 euros originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony STR-DN1030 7.2-channel home theater receiver with Airplay and Bluetooth han...

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:58 AM PDT

Sony STR-DN1030 7.2-channel home theater receiver with Airplay and Bluetooth hands-on


Sony STR-DN1030 7.2-channel home theater receiver with Airplay and Bluetooth hands-on
Truth be told, we spend a lot of time listening to music, movies and hands-on video clips through our headphones and laptop speakers, but when it comes time to sink into the plush leather seats in a proper home theater, you better believe high-quality audio is a top priority. Sony's STR-DN1030 serves as an update to last year's STR-DN1020, and promises to deliver on that quality promise, with a bounty of connectivity options to boot. WiFi and built-in Ethernet enable the 7.2-channel digital receiver to stream from AirPlay, along with Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) music services including Music Unlimited, Pandora, Slacker and vTuner. The device is also DLNA compatible, IP controllable and it can power on (from standby mode) whenever you begin to stream a song over AirPlay or Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR connections. We dropped by Sony's NYC headquarters for a quick peek at the DN1030, which we're told very quietly made the rounds at CES but has yet make its official debut. The receiver, which boasts 145 watts per channel (not including those dual powered-sub connections), was paired with seven high-end Bowers & Wilkins speakers and a powered Sony subwoofer. It's nearly impossible to pass complete judgement on any high-end audio product after a brief demo in a room that isn't optimized for sound, so audiophiles should certainly hear this thing for themselves before coming to any conclusions of their own. Still, we were quite pleased with performance from what we saw today -- Bluetooth and AirPlay connections appeared to be seamless, Slacker loaded quickly and audio quality was quite solid from all of the wireless sources, along with Avatar and a recorded Cream concert on Blu-ray. Best yet is the receiver's price -- the STR-DN1030 will set you back just $499 when it hits stores in mid-July. Gallery: Sony STR-DN1030 7.2-channel network home theater receiver with Airplay and Bluetooth hands-on Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.Sony STR-DN1030 7.2-channel home theater receiver with Airplay and Bluetooth hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Apple files for a patent on an iPhone with swappable lenses, picky mobile photog...

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:58 AM PDT

Apple files for a patent on an iPhone with swappable lenses, picky mobile photographers rejoice


Apple files for a patent on an iPhone with swappable lenses, picky mobile photographers rejoice
Taking phone photography seriously is certainly possible. Short of tacking on a slightly ludicrous add-on case, however, you're normally stuck with whatever lens the phone designer deems fit. Unless Apple uses technology from a very out-of-left-field patent application, that is. The invention would make an iPhone's back panel removable so that owners could swap out lenses like they would with a DSLR or a mirrorless camera. Apple has even raised the possibility of a panel with two lenses built-in at opposite corners: to switch to a telephoto lens or a different filter, you'd only need to flip the panel around to use the additional glass. It's all quite wild, although it's for that reason that the patent might never get used. The company isn't a fan of replaceable parts, after all. But if the photographer for your future wedding shows up with nothing but an iPhone and a bag full of back plates, you'll know why -- even if you're still left scratching your head.Apple files for a patent on an iPhone with swappable lenses, picky mobile photographers rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | USPTO | Email this | Comments

155-mph Superbus Gets Road-Ready

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:58 AM PDT

155-mph Superbus Gets Road-Ready


155-mph Superbus Gets Road-Ready
All-electric bus is 50 feet long, has 16 gull-wing doors and seats 23.

Kikori CNC gantry router eyes-on (video)

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:25 AM PDT

Kikori CNC gantry router eyes-on (video)


Kikori CNC gantry router eyes-on (video)
Judah Sher's cubicle wasn't originally on our slate of scheduled stops during yesterday's trip to the Artisan's Asylum hacker space in Somerville, Massachusetts, but the man behind the Kikori CNC gantry router lured us in with a rather large piece of plywood leaned up against a wall, reading "Sindrian Arts Welcomes Engadget," our familiar logo carved out in big letters. The wood was cut in Sher's sawdust-covered space, using the Kikori, one of the more unwieldy devices in the space's 118 cubes.Gallery: Kikori CNC gantry router eyes-onContinue reading Kikori CNC gantry router eyes-on (video)Kikori CNC gantry router eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Sindrian Arts | Email this | Comments

Microsoft plans 'major announcement' for Monday, June 18th

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:25 AM PDT

Microsoft plans 'major announcement' for Monday, June 18th


Microsoft plans 'major announcement' for Monday, June 18th
It's not offering much in the way of hints, but Microsoft has just invited the press to an event in Los Angeles on Monday, June 18th for what it promises will be a "major Microsoft announcement." While it didn't have any more to say than that, the company's Windows Phone summit does follow later that week, and there's been no shortage of Microsoft-related rumors as of late, including a possible acquisition of Yammer (reported today by Bloomberg), and long-running talk of Office for iPad, which was again revived earlier this month. Whatever it is, we'll be there to bring you the news as it happens.Microsoft plans 'major announcement' for Monday, June 18th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

PSA: Pacemaker DJ app for BlackBerry PlayBook drops into the mix today

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:25 AM PDT

PSA: Pacemaker DJ app for BlackBerry PlayBook drops into the mix today


PSA: Pacemaker DJ app for BlackBerry PlayBook drops into the mix today
What started as hardware, back in 2008, has since been superseded by advances tablet-tech. Logical then that the team behind Pacemaker has remixed the idea for 2012. We've already had a sneaky peek at the PlayBook app, but that was back in beta-land. Today, it launches proper. The official unveiling will be at Barcelona's Sonar festival, but if you didn't get a ticket (or even if you did) you can get your hands on it today from BlackBerry App World for $19. A little more than Cut the Rope, sure, but small change compared to the original hardware's $850 price tag.Continue reading PSA: Pacemaker DJ app for BlackBerry PlayBook drops into the mix todayPSA: Pacemaker DJ app for BlackBerry PlayBook drops into the mix today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

10 Cheap Cars for New Grads

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:25 AM PDT

10 Cheap Cars for New Grads


10 Cheap Cars for New Grads
A list of used cars for the recent graduate — for $6,000 or less.

Cher Wang: HTC will grab as many patents as it can

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 09:50 AM PDT

Cher Wang: HTC will grab as many patents as it can


Cher Wang: HTC will grab as many patents as it can
HTC co-founder and chair Cher Wang has said that her company plans to register and buy a host of patents in order to maintain parity with its competition. Speaking at the firm's 15th anniversary party, she said that despite being unable to use S3 Graphics' patents in ongoing litigation, the company will register and purchase patents in a variety of "different fields." It looks like we can expect to see a lot more filings at the USPTO in the future, and perhaps a few more buyouts along the way. [Image Credit: WSJ / Zuma Press]Cher Wang: HTC will grab as many patents as it can originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink CNET | China Post | Email this | Comments

FuzeBox Launches A Powerful Video Conferencing App For The iPhone

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 09:50 AM PDT

FuzeBox Launches A Powerful Video Conferencing App For The iPhone


FuzeBox Launches A Powerful Video Conferencing App For The iPhone
FuzeBox has squeezed its online meeting experience into a new iPhone app called Fuze Join for iPhone. The company already has an iPad app that Apple named one of the best business apps for 2011. In fact, it even had an earlier iPhone app, but CEO Jeff Cavins says the company realized that it wasn't as good as it needed to be, so the team took the app down last year and started working on a new one.