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Friday, June 15, 2012

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Twizy Way brings Renault's tiny EV car-sharing in France

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 03:41 PM PDT

Twizy Way brings Renault's tiny EV car-sharing in France


Twizy Way brings Renault's tiny EV car-sharing in France
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, Renault, Europe/EU Little car, little car-sharing program - for now. Next week, Renault will start testing a car-sharing program in France with the automaker's Twizy urban electric vehicles, HybridCars reports. The program, called Twizy Way, will take place in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, about 20 miles southwest of Paris, where about 200 people will be allowed to sign up for access to Twizy EVs. The trial period will run through September, after which the service will be open to the public. Renault started selling the Twizy EV in France in March and debut sales of the model in the UK in April. The Twizy is 92 inches long, or about a foot shorter than the Smart Fortwo. The 17-horsepower Twizy tops out at 50 miles per hour.Continue reading Twizy Way brings Renault's tiny EV car-sharing in FranceTwizy Way brings Renault's tiny EV car-sharing in France originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Samsung bumps Galaxy S III Canadian launch to June 27th, pins it on 9 million wo...

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 03:07 PM PDT

Samsung bumps Galaxy S III Canadian launch to June 27th, pins it on 9 million world pre-orders


Samsung bumps Galaxy S III Canadian launch to June 27th, pins it on 9 million world pre-orders
Canadians who marked June 20th on their calendars as Galaxy S III Day will have to hold off on the festivities for a week, as Samsung has just confirmed that it's shifting the Canadian release to June 27th. As you'd expect, the company is blaming the last-minute swap on "unprecedented demand" -- the nine million worldwide pre-orders that it only anonymously mentioned before now -- and the resultant difficulty in getting enough supply for the magic moment. Any further shortages are still poised to be "short lived," Samsung promises us. The extra wait will no doubt leave us with more than a few crestfallen Canucks; we just hope the shortage doesn't spread and push more US launches into July in the process.Samsung bumps Galaxy S III Canadian launch to June 27th, pins it on 9 million world pre-orders originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 17:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink MobileSyrup | Samsung Canada (Twitter) | Email this | Comments

Microsoft explains Windows 8's Mail app, promises more changes to come

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 02:34 PM PDT

Microsoft explains Windows 8's Mail app, promises more changes to come


Microsoft explains Windows 8's Mail app, promises more changes to come
It's not often that the folks in Redmond get to debut a new operating system as big as Windows 8, so we can't really blame them for going on at length about every feature of it. The latest to get the in-depth treatment on the Building Windows 8 blog is the Mail app, which has already gone through some fairly big changes since the Consumer Preview and is apparently set to receive even more before the final release. As Microsoft's Jeremy Epling explains in the post, central to the latest version is a three-pane view that's designed to take advantage of the 16:9 ratio Windows 8 is optimized for, and make the best use of all the space afforded by the full-screen "window" -- the latest release is now able to display 14 messages at a time at the standard 1366 x 768 resolution, for instance, as opposed to just 8.5 in the Consumer Preview version. It's also, of course, deeply integrated into Windows 8 itself, even taking advantage of a new networking APIs to detect if you're on a metered network and only download the first first 20KB of each message body if that's the case. Unfortunately, Epling didn't divulge much about those promised future changes, noting only that there are "many more features on the way." In the meantime, you can find out more than you may have wanted to know about Mail in its current state at the link below.Microsoft explains Windows 8's Mail app, promises more changes to come originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 17:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Building Windows 8 | Email this | Comments

Hyundai Prices 2013 Elantra GT

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 02:34 PM PDT

Hyundai Prices 2013 Elantra GT


Hyundai Prices 2013 Elantra GT
The 148-hp 1.8-liter 4-cylinder hatchback will start at $19,170.

Saab Finds a Buyer

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 02:34 PM PDT

Saab Finds a Buyer


Saab Finds a Buyer
The buyer plans to use Saab's resources for the production of electric cars.

Will podcasts receive a separate app in iOS 6?

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 01:59 PM PDT

Will podcasts receive a separate app in iOS 6?


Will podcasts receive a separate app in iOS 6?
Reports are abound that a section for podcasts is nowhere to be found in the latest beta version of iTunes for iOS 6. Given its beta status, it's easy to dismiss the exclusion as functionality that's yet to be baked in, but Peter Kafka of AllThingsD believes that Apple has something entirely different in mind. According to his sources, podcasts are set to receive a new home within a separate app of iOS 6. If true, this would provide one central hub for podcasts, as opposed to Apple's current scheme where they're discovered and downloaded in the iTunes app, then played within the Music app -- a little disjointed, but it's the setup we've come to know. Kafka's sources go on to state that podcasts will remain part of iTunes on the desktop. Unsurprisingly, Apple hasn't commented on the speculation. Guess we'll all learn more in the coming months, eh?Will podcasts receive a separate app in iOS 6? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | AllThingsD, MacRumors forums | Email this | Comments

The Engadget Show returns Friday, June 22nd -- get tickets to the taping!

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 01:59 PM PDT

The Engadget Show returns Friday, June 22nd -- get tickets to the taping!


The Engadget Show returns Friday, June 22nd -- get tickets to the taping!
Can you say "edutainment?" Yep, this month we'll be exploring the intersection of technology and education like only the Engadget Show can, including trips to NYU's ITP school and Northeastern University in Boston to check out some amazing student projects. Tim will be traveling all the way to Alaska to work with a team of researchers studying the northern lights with high-tech balloons and helmet cameras. And none other than LeVar Burton will be sitting down for an interview to discuss the next step in the evolution of his beloved Reading Rainbow. We'll also be highlighting the best of this year's E3, paying a visit to the awesome Artisan's Asylum in Somerville, MA and checking out the month's latest and greatest gadgets. Best of all, if you're in New York City, you can be a part of the live show at Metropolis Studios on 106th St. in Manhattan -- just fire off an email to engadgetshow [at] engadget.com. Here are the deets: o. The event is all ages. o. We'll open doors and begin seating at 5:00pm on June 22nd, and the taping begins at 6:00PM. We'll be closing the doors at 5:50PM. o. A limited number of tickets are available, first come first serve. We will also have a limited stand-by list available. o. Please bring a photo ID with you to the taping. o. The show length is around an hour. If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com. Subscribe to the Show: [iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V). [Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V). [RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.The Engadget Show returns Friday, June 22nd -- get tickets to the taping! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET with Richard Lai!

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 01:27 PM PDT

Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET with Richard Lai!


Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET with Richard Lai!
The good news: we're back at our regular time today. The great news: the man, the myth and the legend, Richard Lai, will be joining Myriam Joire and Brad Molen from the other side of the Pacific on this week's edition of the Engadget Mobile Podcast. We'll talk to him about his behemoth review of the ASUS Padfone and pick his brain on the rest of this week's wireless news. So meet us back here at 5PM ET and we'll have a great time. Hopefully you will too. June 15, 2012 5:00 PM EDTContinue reading Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET with Richard Lai!Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET with Richard Lai! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Infiniti Emerg-E prototype will go hill climbing at Goodwood 2012

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 12:53 PM PDT

Infiniti Emerg-E prototype will go hill climbing at Goodwood 2012


Infiniti Emerg-E prototype will go hill climbing at Goodwood 2012
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Infiniti, Racing The Goodwood Festival of Speed isn't the first place green car enthusiasts go to for their gas-saving entertainment. But hybrids and plug-in vehicle have been present here and there in recent years - we've seen the Honda CR-Z RR Concept, Renault Z.E. concept and Tesla Roadster - and EV fans will get another chance this year when a functional Infiniti Emerg-E attempts the famous hill climb. According to Green Car Reports, Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber will drive the Emerg-E at Goodwood, so it's in good hands. The Emerg-E was unveiled just a few months ago at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, sporting a 400-horsepower range-extended powertrain. We doubt the car's 300-mile range will be tested, but perhaps we will get to see a piece of the car's impressive 0-60 miles per hour time of four seconds at Goodwood. The festival starts June 28 but you can see a video tease of the Emerg-E below right now.Continue reading Infiniti Emerg-E prototype will go hill climbing at Goodwood 2012Infiniti Emerg-E prototype will go hill climbing at Goodwood 2012 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

AirBurr micro air vehicle can self-right, take off again (video)

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 12:53 PM PDT

AirBurr micro air vehicle can self-right, take off again (video)


AirBurr micro air vehicle can self-right, take off again (video)
EPFL's been tweaking its eerily floating AirBurr since 2009, and its latest iteration adds four carbon-fiber legs, hopefully ensuring you'll never have to chase after and recover it after a crash. When the seemingly clunky frame crashes, it's that same intentional design that will ensure gravity rolls the device towards its side, allowing the legs to extend out and let the MAV relaunch itself -- even off gravel. Hit up the source link to see how the design has evolved over the years, but before that, see it crash and burn return right after the break.Continue reading AirBurr micro air vehicle can self-right, take off again (video)AirBurr micro air vehicle can self-right, take off again (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Spectrum | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne | Email this | Comments

ABI: Apple and Samsung have over 55 percent of the smartphone space, 90 percent...

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 12:19 PM PDT

ABI: Apple and Samsung have over 55 percent of the smartphone space, 90 percent of its money-making


ABI: Apple and Samsung have over 55 percent of the smartphone space, 90 percent of its money-making
Tech finance sleuth Horace Dediu was clearly astute when he determined that it's really Apple and Samsung's smartphone world, and we just live in it. ABI Research just estimated that, combined, the iPhone and Galaxy creators were responsible for more than 90 percent of the profits in the first quarter of 2012 -- mostly through carving out more than 55 percent of the total market share for themselves. We already know that only a handful of companies, like HTC, were making any kind of profit at the same time; ABI, however, has underscored just how much of a mountain Nokia has to climb to reclaim its glory days. For Nokia to completely make up for Symbian's decline, shipments of Lumia phones will have to jump a staggering 5,000 percent this year. The Finnish phone maker is certainly hopeful, but with the 80 percent growth rate in China mostly being led by locals like Huawei and ZTE, that's no mean feat.Continue reading ABI: Apple and Samsung have over 55 percent of the smartphone space, 90 percent of its money-makingABI: Apple and Samsung have over 55 percent of the smartphone space, 90 percent of its money-making originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | ABI Research | Email this | Comments

Engadget Podcast 298 - 06.15.2012

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 12:19 PM PDT

Engadget Podcast 298 - 06.15.2012


Engadget Podcast 298 - 06.15.2012
Stop! Fanboys, what's that sound? Well, we're not sure, actually, but a couple of things we know that sound isn't are Brian Heater, an optical drive, and a Vertu phone. If you asked us we might tell you it sounds kind of like an HD Big Mouth Bass hanging from the wall in an undisclosed location. But yeah, we're not sure, so you'll just have to listen for yourself and see where the Engadget Podcast takes you. You won't be disappointed. Probably. Hosts: Tim Stevens, Darren Murph, Richard LawlerProducer: Trent WolbeMusic: Orbital - Never 00:03:45 - The 2012 MacBook Pros vs. the 2011 models: what's changed? 00:22:59 - Apple axes 17-inch MacBook Pro, giant laptop owners weep 00:25:07 - Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display review (mid 2012) 00:25:26 - Apple announces refreshed MacBook Air: Ivy Bridge processor, USB 3.0, shipping today 00:29:00 - Apple officially gives Google Maps the boot, launches own Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation (updated) 00:36:50 - Apple demos Passbook, a one-stop shop for tickets and boarding passes 00:40:22 - Apple rolls out updated Mac Pro lineup with faster processors, not much else 00:41:51 - Siri comes to the New iPad 00:45:04 - OS X Mountain Lion: arrives on Macs next month, priced at $20 00:52:20 - Verizon's Share Everything data plans go live June 28th, let you add family (or a tablet) for a little extra 00:57:40 - Nokia 'sharpens strategy' by dropping three executives, laying off 10,000 and dumping VertuHear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace. Download the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast Send your questions to @tim_stevens. Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005) E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot comFiled under: PodcastsEngadget Podcast 298 - 06.15.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

After questions, Nissan still claims 80% capacity for Leaf battery after 5 years

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 11:11 AM PDT

After questions, Nissan still claims 80% capacity for Leaf battery after 5 years


After questions, Nissan still claims 80% capacity for Leaf battery after 5 years
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan Fried batteries?Nissan has reiterated that its Leaf battery will maintain about 80 percent of its original capacity after five years of use. This comes after a number of drivers reported that their cars indicated battery deterioration after one year, Green Car Reports says. When Nissan first revealed details of the battery, it said it expects the pack will have between 70 and 80 percent capacity left after ten years. The drivers that reported the issue were all in the rather warm climate of Arizona and had driven the cars fewer than 17,000 miles. Nissan said that the deterioration indicators occurred in fewer than five percent of U.S. Leafs and called the incidents "isolated" in a statement. Nissan added that the deterioration is "non-linear," meaning that, while the battery will lose 20 percent of its capacity after five years, it'll lose just another 10 percent after an additional five years. Questions about the Nissan Leaf battery packs go back at least two years, when ex-Tesla executive Darryl Siry went on record as saying that the battery pack's thermal management system may prevent it from keeping up that 80-percent threshold over five years. Nissan at the time denied the claim. And last September, Nissan said the Leaf battery would need some maintenance after five years of steady use, but not replacement. The company estimated that Leaf batteries would still have about 80 percent of its original capacity after 60,000 miles of use, and that if the battery capacity fell below that level, Leaf owners would be able to swap out individual modules and would not need to replace entire battery packs.Through May, Nissan sold 2,613 Leafs in the U.S. so far in 2012, which was up 21 percent from year-earlier totals but was less than half of the number General Motors sold of its Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in through the first five months of the year.After questions, Nissan still claims 80% capacity for Leaf battery after 5 years originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Engadget Primed: why nanometers matter (and why they often don't)

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 11:11 AM PDT

Engadget Primed: why nanometers matter (and why they often don't)


Engadget Primed: why nanometers matter (and why they often don't)
Primed goes in-depth on the technobabble you hear on Engadget every day -- we dig deep into each topic's history and how it benefits our lives. You can follow the series here. Looking to suggest a piece of technology for us to break down? Drop us a line at primed *at* engadget *dawt* com. Welcome to one of the most unnecessarily complicated questions in the world of silicon-controlled gadgets: should a savvy customer care about the underlying nature of the processor in their next purchase? Theoretically at least, the answer is obvious. Whether it's a CPU, graphics card, smartphone or tricorder, it'll always receive the Holy Grail combo of greater performance and reduced power consumption if it's built around a chip with a smaller fabrication process. That's because, as transistors get tinier and more tightly packed, electrons don't have to travel so far when moving between them -- saving both time and energy. In other words, a phone with a 28-nanometer (nm) processor ought to be fundamentally superior to one with a 45nm chip, and a PC running on silicon with features etched at 22nm should deliver more performance-per-watt than a 32nm rival. But if that's true, isn't it equally sensible to focus on the end results? Instead of getting bogged down in semiconductor theory, we may as well let Moore's Law churn away in the background while we judge products based on their overall user experience. Wouldn't that make for an easier life? Well, maybe, but whichever way you look at it, it's hard to stop this subject descending into pure philosophy, on a par with other yawnsome puzzles like whether meat-eaters should visit an abattoir at least once, or whether it's better to medicate the ailment or the person. Bearing that in mind, we're going look at how some key players in the silicon industry treat this topic, and we'll try to deliver some practical, offal-free information in the process.Continue reading Engadget Primed: why nanometers matter (and why they often don't)Engadget Primed: why nanometers matter (and why they often don't) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Newly Published Samsung Patent Points To A Stylus You Can Talk To

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 11:11 AM PDT

Newly Published Samsung Patent Points To A Stylus You Can Talk To


Newly Published Samsung Patent Points To A Stylus You Can Talk To
If that microstylus just isn't cutting it for you, then you may want to see what Samsung has been mulling over. A recently published patent reveals some interesting new tricks that Samsung may be planning to stick in their forthcoming styluses (styli?). I don't need to tell you that Samsung has something of a fixation on pen-based interfaces -- take the pocket-sized Galaxy Note and the forthcoming Galaxy Note 10.1 for instance -- so it's intriguing to see what they think the humble stylus could be better at.

Samsung's tube powered DA-E750 audio dock hitting the UK, Korea on June 18th

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 10:38 AM PDT

Samsung's tube powered DA-E750 audio dock hitting the UK, Korea on June 18th


Samsung's tube powered DA-E750 audio dock hitting the UK, Korea on June 18th
Have a thing for wood grain and high-end audio? You're in luck, as Samsung has announced that its DA-E750 Audio with Dock will be available in the United Kingdom and Korea beginning Monday, June 18th. As a refresher, this rather handsome boom box uses a handful of glass fiber speakers, a dedicated subwoofer and vacuum tubes to output 100 watts of "natural and harmonious" sound. What's more, the device (available in mahogany or piano black) can accommodate your Galaxy or iOS handheld of choice via a dock, or, for those that abhor cables, stream audio via Bluetooth 3.0, AllShare or AirPlay. Sammy didn't specify a price in its latest announcement, but the figure $800 was mentioned back at CES 2012 when the model was first announced. Any audiophiles out there interested in this tube-driven shelf unit with a bookcase-sized price tag?Samsung's tube powered DA-E750 audio dock hitting the UK, Korea on June 18th originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Samsung Tomorrow | Email this | Comments

Toshiba's Windows 8 RT laptop gets demoed by TI (video)

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 10:38 AM PDT

Toshiba's Windows 8 RT laptop gets demoed by TI (video)


Toshiba's Windows 8 RT laptop gets demoed by TI (video)
When Toshiba broke out its Windows 8 RT, Transformer-like tablet at Computex we were quite sad to find it was only a non-functional prototype. Especially since TI was on hand as well, maker of the OMAP processor that will be under the hood. Well, we'll call it a consolation prize, but the Dallas-based chip maker does have a functional version of an ARM laptop that Toshiba will be releasing. The video is more or less the same demo we were given on the OMAP 4470 development tablets -- some swiping between apps and light web browsing. We don't have any new details to share about the touchscreen clamshell device unfortunately, but you can see it in action after the break.Continue reading Toshiba's Windows 8 RT laptop gets demoed by TI (video)Toshiba's Windows 8 RT laptop gets demoed by TI (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | AnandTech | Email this | Comments

Samsung files a patent for a capacitive stylus with NFC and headset, your next C...

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 10:04 AM PDT

Samsung files a patent for a capacitive stylus with NFC and headset, your next C-Pen may get talkative


Samsung files a patent for a capacitive stylus with NFC and headset, your next C-Pen may get talkative
Samsung is clearly big on pens. It's no shock, then, that we now know the company applied for a patent on a new stylus while the original Galaxy Note was still fresh out of the box. The capacitive pen of Samsung's dreams includes its own wireless headset in the clip to make voice calls without having to buy a separate earpiece -- something that we've only seen recently in the real world. It would even find room for NFC to pair the pen up with a host device using a minimum of fuss. The most appealing part of the patent may be its pragmatism. Unlike some of the flight-of-fancy patents we've noticed lately, the technology in the new stylus is well within reach. No patent is ever a surefire sign of action, but it's no great leap in logic to see a follow-up to the C-Pen or S Pen letting us call for pizza in between drawing sessions.Samsung files a patent for a capacitive stylus with NFC and headset, your next C-Pen may get talkative originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Patent Bolt, Phone Arena | USPTO | Email this | Comments

Fully Charged spends two episodes on two wheels

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 09:31 AM PDT

Fully Charged spends two episodes on two wheels


Fully Charged spends two episodes on two wheels
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, UK, Vectrix Robert Llewellyn's Fully Charged video series has, over its many episodes, focused on vehicles of the four-wheeled variety. Now, as if in atonement, it has produced two successive shows centered on two-wheelers. From bicycles with electric assist to scooters to motorcycles, Llewellyn makes up for previous omissions, all in one two fell swoops. Most of the variety occurs in one episode, with Robert starting out on a basic electric bicycle bearing A2B badging and working his way up through increasingly powerful, longer-range models. The pedals disappear altogether when he steps up to the passenger pillion of the lithium-power Vectrix VX-1. Finally, they pull out the pièce de résistance: the Zero S from Zero Motorcycles. Although shorter than the multi-bike show, the other two-wheeled episode is special in that it features the Agility Saietta. Now, we might have been a little harsh on the Saietta's aesthetics when it was first unveiled, but we we're not alone. Indeed, one comment we came across asked whether or not this was the same creature that burst out of that guy's chest in that Prometheus sequel. Eighteen months on though, that initial shock has (mostly) worn off and we've been impatiently waiting to see it actually moving under its own power. We were not disappointed. Much. There is actually footage of it winding out down a city street, but it is over pretty quick. The bike features an interesting "Wide-Base Variable-Geometry" unequal length front double-wishbone suspension that we would have like to seen put through some corners. We'll take what we can get however, and the discussion that ensues the brief bit of riding is well worth the watching. Scroll down and you can do just that.Continue reading Fully Charged spends two episodes on two wheelsFully Charged spends two episodes on two wheels originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

FCC Fridays: June 15, 2012

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 09:30 AM PDT

FCC Fridays: June 15, 2012


FCC Fridays: June 15, 2012
We here at Engadget tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there individually, we've gathered up an exhaustive listing of every phone and / or tablet getting the stamp of approval over the last week. Enjoy!Continue reading FCC Fridays: June 15, 2012FCC Fridays: June 15, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Insert Coin: Deeper Smart sonar Fishfinder for Android and iOS

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:57 AM PDT

Insert Coin: Deeper Smart sonar Fishfinder for Android and iOS


Insert Coin: Deeper Smart sonar Fishfinder for Android and iOS
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. We can't say a smartphone-connected sonar fish detector ranks high on our must-have list, but man is it a cool idea. Friday Lab's taking the plunge with its Deeper Smart Fishfinder -- a spherical waterproof device that beams back individual fish depth and location info, along with temperature and floor depth to your Android 2.2+ or iOS 4.0+ smartphone or tablet within 150 feet via Bluetooth. You simply use a standard rod and line to lower Deeper from a bridge, boat or shore, and the device automatically powers on when it makes contact with water -- a six-hour battery should suffice for all but the most dedicated of fishermen, unless they have a USB power source nearby for charging. Naturally, the sphere is water- and shock-resistant, and can operate in temperatures ranging from -10 to 40 degrees Celsius (14 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit). The Deeper app also provides air temperature and moon phase readouts, and social media functionality that lets you post fishing updates to Facebook or Twitter -- so all of your less fortunate friends can see how much fun you're having catching fish and stuff. The first 60 Deeper backers can snag one set for $129 (plus $20 shipping) on Indiegogo, while latecomers can hop on board for $20 more. You can also place your pre-order through the company's site, also for $149. There's just shy of four weeks left for Friday Lab to meet its $49,000 goal, so hit up our source link after the break to show your support. And if you're not quite ready to commit, there's a video awaiting you there as well.Continue reading Insert Coin: Deeper Smart sonar Fishfinder for Android and iOSInsert Coin: Deeper Smart sonar Fishfinder for Android and iOS originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Indiegogo, Friday Lab | Email this | Comments

Samsung, Apple Walk Away With 90 Percent Of Smartphone Profits In Q1 2012, Says...

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:56 AM PDT

Samsung, Apple Walk Away With 90 Percent Of Smartphone Profits In Q1 2012, Says ABI Research


Samsung, Apple Walk Away With 90 Percent Of Smartphone Profits In Q1 2012, Says ABI Research
Despite the rapid growth of the smartphone market (41 percent YOY, to be exact), Samsung and Apple are the only smartphone makers really enjoying this growth. Combined, they took home 55 percent of global smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2012. More importantly, they're walking away with 90 percent of the market's profits. Surprisingly, however, Samsung and Sony were the only OEMs to see any sequential growth in shipments. Even more surprising, RIM (of all companies) is set to surpass Nokia, despite the fact that both companies saw a decrease in shipments, 20 percent and 40 percent respectively.

Huawei M660 wields portrait keyboard, headed for Cricket Wireless?

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:56 AM PDT

Huawei M660 wields portrait keyboard, headed for Cricket Wireless?


Huawei M660 wields portrait keyboard, headed for Cricket Wireless?
After the familiar vertical keyboard structure of a BlackBerry, but with all the Google friendliness and app breadth of an Android phone? Then Huawei may have the answer -- and it looks like it'll land on the US carrier, Cricket. According to leaked photos sent to PhoneArena, the Huawei M660 is modestly equipped with Android 2.3 and a portrait QWERTY keyboard nestled below a 3.2-inch display. Its existence is backed up by a page on the manufacturer's site, pointing to a (now non-existent) user guide that references expandable microSD storage, the possibility that it may arrive as the Ascend Q, and name-drops Cricket in the process. For those with portrait keyboard needs, you can hit up the link below for a few more shots of the device.Huawei M660 wields portrait keyboard, headed for Cricket Wireless? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | PhoneArena, Huawei | Email this | Comments

Microsoft patent app wants SMS-to-spreadsheet, so you can Excel while you excel

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:22 AM PDT

Microsoft patent app wants SMS-to-spreadsheet, so you can Excel while you excel


Microsoft patent app wants SMS-to-spreadsheet, so you can Excel while you excel
If you're too busy racking up commissions to submit your expense report, a Microsoft patent application might let you text that steak-dinner-schmoozefest straight to a spreadsheet in accounting. That's one use that pops to mind for the proposed invention, which which could permit text and multimedia messages to interact with Redmond's Office suite. It could then process that info and redirect the message or send you a reply, confirming your shenanigans. Now, how to justify that $1,500 bottle of cognac? [Image Credit: Shutterstock]Microsoft patent app wants SMS-to-spreadsheet, so you can Excel while you excel originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | USPTO | Email this | Comments

Apple iOS 6 Maps Ported Over To An iPhone 4, 3D Flyover Mode Intact

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:49 AM PDT

Apple iOS 6 Maps Ported Over To An iPhone 4, 3D Flyover Mode Intact


Apple iOS 6 Maps Ported Over To An iPhone 4, 3D Flyover Mode Intact
News that Apple's brand-spankin' new Maps app wouldn't have full functionality across all of their iOS 6-capable devices struck many as a major blow this week. Apple's known to keep flagship features on flagship devices, so relegating turn-by-turn navigation and the 3D "Flyover" mode to the iPhone 4S and new iPad only fits with that strategy. But it turns out that a Russian website called iGuides has cracked the case, at least where Flyover mode is concerned. Without even using Cydia, the hackers have found a way to get Maps up and running on an iPhone 4, including Flyover. Unfortunately, turn-by-turn navigation is still a trouble spot.

Audi A3 e-tron hands-on (video)

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:49 AM PDT

Audi A3 e-tron hands-on (video)


Audi A3 e-tron hands-on (video)
It's not often that we spend quality time with automobiles here at Engadget, but our motives are usually geared by electricity when we do. Take for instance, the Audi A3 e-tron concept above. This isn't the first e-tron concept -- if you'll recall, the A1 and A2 EVs were recently cancelled -- but back in November we learned that the German automaker planned to begin testing this all-electric plug-in in four regions within the US. It hopes to gain insight into how these cars will take to different climates and roadways in the country, while finding out how it will fit into drivers' daily lives. Naturally, the goal is to have something ready for consumers, but Audi figures that it's still about two years away from realization. After being in the hands of folks within the company, it's decided to let these prototypes loose in the hands of news media like ourselves (!) to show it off and see what outsiders think. As you've probably figured out, we definitely just took this four-door hatchback for a spin near Engadget HQ, and you'll find out all about how it got us around the city in one piece -- with us nearly draining the battery in Times Square in the process -- after the break. Gallery: Audi A3 e-tron hands-on Gallery: Audi A3 e-tron press shotsContinue reading Audi A3 e-tron hands-on (video)Audi A3 e-tron hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Buick moves to trademark Electra

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:17 AM PDT

Buick moves to trademark Electra


Buick moves to trademark Electra
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Buick Could General Motors be planning to dust off another moniker from its heyday and reintroduce a Buick Electra? The General filed an application to protect the trademark on June 5, which might hint at a future, full-size Buick model. Once Buick's top-of-the-line sedan, the Electra did the same slow fade in the '80s as so many classic GM names, with the final 1990 Electra being supplanted by the Park Avenue. While those last Electras were examples GM badge-engineering at its worst, Electra 225 models of the 1960's were among Buick's best. With fender skirts and monstrous V8 engines, the Bill Mitchell-designed Electras were trumped in the GM pantheon only by full-size Cadillac models. But as much as we might like to see GM reintroduce a Buick land yacht, we find that notion unlikely. If the Electra name returns - which this trademark application certainly doesn't guarantee - it is more likely to be attached to a vehicle that's 180-degrees different from the traditional Buick model. We say this because the last time we heard rumors of GM reviving the name, it was because Electra sounds a lot like "electric." Back in 2008 GM was considering badging the Opel and Vauxhall version of the Volt as "Electra," but of course decided to go with Ampera instead. We'd be more likely to believe that this new trademark filing was prompted by similar motives than any return to form for a Buick Electra flagship.Buick moves to trademark Electra originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motorola Solutions buys Psion for $200 million

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:17 AM PDT

Motorola Solutions buys Psion for $200 million


Motorola Solutions buys Psion for $200 million
Psion has mostly slipped out of the public eye, but that's about to change -- Motorola just bought the company for $200 million to bolster its work with industrial companies. Developing...Continue reading Motorola Solutions buys Psion for $200 millionMotorola Solutions buys Psion for $200 million originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Insert Coin: Atlas human-powered helicopter gunning for elusive Sikorsky prize (...

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:17 AM PDT

Insert Coin: Atlas human-powered helicopter gunning for elusive Sikorsky prize (video)


Insert Coin: Atlas human-powered helicopter gunning for elusive Sikorsky prize (video)
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. The AeroVelo group, a team of students and professional engineers, wants its Atlas helicopter to hover for one minute, reaching at least three meters (10 feet) powered by human muscle alone. If the grunt-powered machine succeeds, it'll nab the American Helicopter Society International's $250,000 Sikorsky Prize, which has gone unclaimed since it launched in 1980 -- with the best efforts barely leaving the ground. But the University of Toronto-based team reckons it has the chops, with two PhDs aboard and Snowbird, the first successful human-power ornithopter, under its belt. The Atlas will feature four rotors like a 1994 design from Japan, which flew for 19 seconds, a simple and stable configuration that required less pilot power than other models. The would-be flyers have rustled up more than $27k toward the $30k target with 35 hours left, so if you'd like to help out -- and fulfill the dream of eccentric inventors everywhere -- hit the source link for details.Continue reading Insert Coin: Atlas human-powered helicopter gunning for elusive Sikorsky prize (video)Insert Coin: Atlas human-powered helicopter gunning for elusive Sikorsky prize (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Kickstarter | Email this | Comments

Apple’s iAd Diaspora: Former Senior Mgr Mike Owen Now CRO At AdColony

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 06:43 AM PDT

Apple's iAd Diaspora: Former Senior Mgr Mike Owen Now CRO At AdColony


Apple's iAd Diaspora: Former Senior Mgr Mike Owen Now CRO At AdColony
Another former executive from Apple's iAd business has made a move to another mobile ad venture: Mike Owen, who had been a senior manager overseeing iAd's New York office, is joining mobile video ad network AdColony as its chief revenue officer. The news comes amid two other executive appointments for AdColony -- Ty Heath as CTO, and Abe Pralle as VP of technology, both joining from gaming company Plasmaworks. The most high profile departures at iAd have been ex-head Andy Miller, who left last year to join Highland Capital; and Lars Albright, who helped had helped found Quattro Wireless and then establish iAd after Apple bought Quattro.