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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

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Tesla Model S officially rated at 89 MPGe with 265-mile range

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:21 PM PDT

Tesla Model S officially rated at 89 MPGe with 265-mile range


Tesla Model S officially rated at 89 MPGe with 265-mile range
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors The numbers are in, and they're looking good. According to the EPA, the Tesla Model S gets a miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) of 89 (combined), 88 (city) and 90 (highway). Green Car Reports says the range has been declared to be 265 miles, which beats the previous distance champion - the Tesla Roadster - by 20 miles. To compare, other pure electric cars on the market include the Honda Fit at 118 combined MPGe, the Mitsubishi i with 112 MPGe, the Ford Focus Electric with 105 MPGe and the Nissan Leaf with "just" 99 MPGe. Even at the bottom of this particular list, these are impressive numbers for the Model S. Still, that range figure only applies to the top-of-the-line version with the 85-kWh battery that starts at an equally eye-popping $97,900. We're on the lookout for more information from Tesla, and we expect it'll come before the first deliveries take place this Friday at the company's Fremont factory in California.Tesla Model S officially rated at 89 MPGe with 265-mile range originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lumia 900 owner vents Windows Phone 8 frustrations, Stephen Elop responds

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:21 PM PDT

Lumia 900 owner vents Windows Phone 8 frustrations, Stephen Elop responds


Lumia 900 owner vents Windows Phone 8 frustrations, Stephen Elop responds
If you've been following our Windows Phone 8 coverage today, you know that anybody who buys a Windows Phone today will not be able to upgrade to WP8 when it ships this fall. If you were an early adopter that's not such a bad deal, but if you bought a Lumia 900 oh, say, three weeks ago you might be upset -- and rightly so. And rightfully angry is Luke, who sent us an email he fired off to Nokia's Stephen Elop and AT&T's Ralph de la Vega in which he asks why he shouldn't, right now, turn around and return his phone. I just watched the Windows Phone 8 announcement and learned that the Lumia will not be upgradeable to WP8, it will more or less get a skin with the new live tiles and a few other features... at the end of the day unless one of you responds and convinces me to stay with Microsoft Windows Phone, Nokia Lumia or Att wireless I will just wash my hands of all three companies and move over to Verizon. Surprise surprise, Elop responded very promptly, stating: We have a lot of exciting capabilities coming as part of a pattern of updates for the existing Lumia products. This includes some of the most significant visual elements of WP8 - for example, the new start screen. As we have always been, Nokia is committed to delivering a long term experience to any purchasers of our products. Granted, Nokia is bringing some nice updates to current Lumias, like some Scalado-augmented photo magic, but Elop's mention of "significant visual elements" leaves us wanting. We're waiting to hear what Luke's going to do, but here's your chance to weigh in. What do you think he should do? Full emails are after the break.View PollContinue reading Lumia 900 owner vents Windows Phone 8 frustrations, Stephen Elop respondsLumia 900 owner vents Windows Phone 8 frustrations, Stephen Elop responds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon line up to offer Windows Phone 8 devices

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:21 PM PDT

AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon line up to offer Windows Phone 8 devices


AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon line up to offer Windows Phone 8 devices
We know who's making Windows Phone 8 hardware, but we're now seeing US carriers step up to either confirm their support for the new OS or stay on the sidelines. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have all pledged to PCMag that they'll support WP8, with those first two publicly promising to have devices by the end of the year. None of them is a big stretch, even Verizon -- but it's good to know that the HTC Trophy is still on track to get a successor. Other carriers aren't quite so enthusiastic. Sprint prefers to keep things a mystery and will only say that it won't comment on unannounced products, while Cricket and MetroPCS won't budge from their fence-sitting. As such, this year's American release appears to be a repeat of years past, just with a possible dash of Nokia.AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon line up to offer Windows Phone 8 devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | PCMag | Email this | Comments

Qualcomm: all new Windows Phone 8 devices to be powered by Snapdragon S4 Plus fo...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:21 PM PDT

Qualcomm: all new Windows Phone 8 devices to be powered by Snapdragon S4 Plus for now


Qualcomm: all new Windows Phone 8 devices to be powered by Snapdragon S4 Plus for now
The puzzle pieces are already falling into place, one at a time. After announcing Qualcomm as the exclusive chipset provider for upcoming Windows Phone 8 handsets, we didn't get any word on which models would be used. Fortunately, Qualcomm reps have confirmed to us that all new devices will feature the MSM8960 dual-core Krait (Snapdragon S4 Plus) processor for now. As a sidenote, the company told us that other chipsets may be used at a later time, but Microsoft certainly appears eager to keep to its mantra of a universal experience amongst its phones.Qualcomm: all new Windows Phone 8 devices to be powered by Snapdragon S4 Plus for now originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Chromium OS gets ported to Raspberry Pi

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:21 PM PDT

Chromium OS gets ported to Raspberry Pi


Chromium OS gets ported to Raspberry Pi
Hexxeh has already proven his love for Chromium OS and the Raspberry Pi, obviously the next step was for the hacker to combine his passions into one project. Thus was born Chromium OS for the tiny ARM-powered computer from the UK. The initial commit of the port was officially approved by the Chromium team, meaning that anyone lucky enough to get their mitts on the board can download the code themselves. Of course, there's a long road to hoe before we see a stable version -- if we ever see such a thing. Right now the OS does little more than boot up, but if the embedded version of Chromium can be made to function without issue it could make browsing the web on the Broadcom SOC-sporting PC much less painful. Then again, performance is a big question mark. Seeing how much the 700MHz ARM11 chip struggled with the Midori browser, we wouldn't hold our breath for miracles. Then again, the underlying system is far less demanding than a full fledged Linux distro with a desktop. Hit up the source link to download Chromium OS for the Raspberry Pi yourself.Chromium OS gets ported to Raspberry Pi originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Liliputing | Chromium.org | Email this | Comments

Nokia Lumia 610 with NFC hands-on (video)

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:21 PM PDT

Nokia Lumia 610 with NFC hands-on (video)


Nokia Lumia 610 with NFC hands-on (video)
You never know what's going to be hiding in the deep dark corners of an event, and in our searches during the Windows Phone Developer Summit we came across the Nokia Lumia 610. But this isn't just the standard fare; no, this particular version offers NFC and should soon be making its way to Orange. Yes, by offering Near-Field Communication, the handset will be compatible with Nokia's NFC-enabled accessories like the Essence and Play360. While this elusive device is no stranger to us -- we've seen it shown on video, it's been certified for MasterCard's PayPass service and it's even been blessed by the FCC -- this was the first time we held it in our hands. So what can we expect from this particular flavor of the Tango-running Lumia 610? Frankly, our impressions matched that of its non-NFC predecessor: build and overall feel remain unchanged from the original version. Naturally Nokia needed to find some space to stick the contacts and antenna, and those are inconspicuously found on the back of the device and on the battery cover, respectively. We still haven't seen any pricing surface, but it's been expected to arrive on Orange at the beginning of next quarter -- which frankly means we could well see it available within the next couple weeks, though we couldn't get an official date. Head below to get a good look at the NFC-enabled glory as well as a brief video showing the phone interacting with the Essence. Gallery: Nokia Lumia 610 NFC hands-onContinue reading Nokia Lumia 610 with NFC hands-on (video)Nokia Lumia 610 with NFC hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Acer Iconia A510 Olympic Tab now on sale in the UK for £349, gold medal not incl...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:21 PM PDT

Acer Iconia A510 Olympic Tab now on sale in the UK for £349, gold medal not included


Acer Iconia A510 Olympic Tab now on sale in the UK for £349, gold medal not included
Aligning perfectly with what we'd heard a few weeks ago, it looks like Acer's Londonized Iconia A510 will finally be hitting UK doorsteps, just in time for next month's Summer Olympics. To give you a quick refresh, this special edition Olympic Tab boasts a Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage -- though, we can't leave out any mention of that fancy Olympic logo on the tablet's rear and those Eurosport channels to help you stay on top of the action coming from the renowned event. For all that, you'll have to shell out £349 (around $550) at Carphone Warehouse, where it's now up for grabs and being shipped gratis to folks who want to show off their Olympian support.Acer Iconia A510 Olympic Tab now on sale in the UK for £349, gold medal not included originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Unwired View | The Carphone Warehouse | Email this | Comments

Kinetis L Series MCUs use ARM Cortex-MO+ to sip least power, cost 49 cents each...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:21 PM PDT

Kinetis L Series MCUs use ARM Cortex-MO+ to sip least power, cost 49 cents each per 10K order


Kinetis L Series MCUs use ARM Cortex-MO+ to sip least power, cost 49 cents each per 10K order
Freescale aims to drag 8- and 16-bit manufacturing into the modern era with a 32-bit MCU that's cheaper than a cup o' Joe. The ARM Cortex-MO+ based Kinesis L series MCU is now available in alpha to interested parties, it's capable of sipping a scant 50 µA/MHz of power and will cost just $0.49 when you buy 'em in lots of 10,000. While the cheap chips will no doubt go on to help power the internet of things, the associated debut of a $12.95 development board coming in August will also be a boon to developers and hobbyists. The platform will allow "quick application prototyping and demonstration" according to the company, and provide a GUI tool for generating start-up code and device drivers. So, if you've gotta have that new beer dispenser mock-up running at a full 32-bits, check the PR after the break.Continue reading Kinetis L Series MCUs use ARM Cortex-MO+ to sip least power, cost 49 cents each per 10K orderKinetis L Series MCUs use ARM Cortex-MO+ to sip least power, cost 49 cents each per 10K order originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

LG VS930 pops up at the FCC, may be world-roaming Optimus LTE II for Verizon

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:21 PM PDT

LG VS930 pops up at the FCC, may be world-roaming Optimus LTE II for Verizon


LG VS930 pops up at the FCC, may be world-roaming Optimus LTE II for Verizon
Verizon may be getting into a regular habit of carrying high-end LG smartphones. If the FCC is anything to go by, the Optimus LTE II could be next to get the Big Red treatment: a filing has just emerged for the VS930, a likely successor to the VS910 (Revolution) and VS920 (Spectrum). While it's been showing up only in bits and pieces through certifications and tests, the more complete picture we're getting now shows a world-ready roaming device. It has the requisite CDMA and Verizon-specific LTE frequencies, but also GSM and HSPA as bonuses -- on AT&T-friendly bands, no less. LG is understandably shy about showing photos or other clues, but anything resembling the Optimus LTE II would flaunt a 4.7-inch 720p screen, a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 and that all-important 2GB of RAM. To us, the real question is one of timing. Verizon has been making a habit of offering one 4G-equipped LG flagship every year, but early 2013 would be a long time to wait for what's more of an iteration than a... wait for it... revolution.LG VS930 pops up at the FCC, may be world-roaming Optimus LTE II for Verizon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments

Uncomfortable With Facebook Auto-Sharing? Tap The Deliberate New “Like Action” F...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:21 PM PDT

Uncomfortable With Facebook Auto-Sharing? Tap The Deliberate New "Like Action" For Web and Mobile


Uncomfortable With Facebook Auto-Sharing? Tap The Deliberate New "Like Action" For Web and Mobile
Every developer wants Facebook referral traffic, but not all apps have actions that fit well with auto-sharing, and others might not want to post to Facebook without their users' express permission. So today Facebook launches a Like action for mobile and web apps. Don't call it a "Like Button" though, as instead of immediately being one-click, the new Like Action requires a user to give publishing permission to an app first. The Like Action will also generate activity Facebook can turn into Sponsored Stories, the center of its mobile monetization plan. Though subtle, this is actually a big step forward for privacy on Facebook in addition to being growth tool for developers. The Like Action means apps that want growth don't have to tack auto-sharing onto some action or invent their own "love" "favorite" or "hell yeah!" button. That will give developers the flexibility to add deliberate sharing to more sensitive types of content that could have caused auto-sharing disasters.

GM's Orion Assembly goes solar with 350-kilowatt array

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

GM's Orion Assembly goes solar with 350-kilowatt array


GM's Orion Assembly goes solar with 350-kilowatt array
Filed under: Manufacturing/Plants, Solar, Buick, Chevrolet, GM Nothing like a hot Michigan summer to power a few homes.General Motors is making good use of that sun by building a solar array on a two-acre plot of land next to its Orion factory, which is about 40 miles north of Detroit. GM is partnering with Detroit-based utility DTE Energy on the project, which involves a 350-kilowatt array that will be able to provide power to the equivalent of about 45 typical Michigan houses. The factory, which was built in 1983, produces about 10,000 vehicles a year, including the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano models. The array is part of the U.S. automaker's effort to double the solar power production used at its factories to 60 megawatts by 2015. In January, GM released its first annual sustainability report since emerging from bankruptcy in 2009 and said that it met many of its goals to cut its carbon footprint, including making more than 80 factories landfill-free and having them recycle more than 92 percent of their waste. Just this week, GM said it now has 100 "landfill-free" facilities. The automaker said it was looking to further reduce its plants' carbon footprint by 20 percent and also reduce water use by 15 percent. Details below.Continue reading GM's Orion Assembly goes solar with 350-kilowatt arrayGM's Orion Assembly goes solar with 350-kilowatt array originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Windows 8 in-app advertisements get their own preview

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

Windows 8 in-app advertisements get their own preview


Windows 8 in-app advertisements get their own preview
Microsoft's own advertising blog (yes, it exists) has revealed how its going to frame ads inside incoming Metro-themed apps. While announcing partnerships with six different ad design teams, Microsoft threw up an example, above, that ties together a Seattle Sounders FC app with a panel showing off a pair of Adidas' latest Predator cleats. The adis located at the far edge of the apparently scroll-able app and clicking / tapping on the side will launch into a dedicated page, with a back button visibly ready to swing you back. While it looks relatively unobtrusive at the moment, the background of the app will also be up for advertising grabs, able to integrate videos, text and other media. Let's hope it doesn't ruin those delicate Metro lines when Windows 8 finally arrives.Windows 8 in-app advertisements get their own preview originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Neowin | Microsoft Advertising | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy S III is hot: bursts into flames and melts through its own casing

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S III is hot: bursts into flames and melts through its own casing


Samsung Galaxy S III is hot: bursts into flames and melts through its own casing
It doesn't look good. This Galaxy S III apparently malfunctioned while in an in-car holster, causing some substantial melting and burn marks across the lower half of the device. The global HSPA+ iteration of Samsung's new flagship apparently sparked into white flames, followed by a bang. While it's certainly not the first smartphone to implode in transit, the damage -- along the base but separate to the charging port -- looks pretty substantial and although the screen still apparently worked, reception was dead. The phone has been whisked off to a repair center through phone retailer Carphone Warehouse for the full autopsy. User dillo2k10 was left unscathed, but it's apparently left some nasty molten plastic remains on the inside of his car. Hit up the gallery link below for some more scorch-marked close-ups. [Thanks Dillon]Samsung Galaxy S III is hot: bursts into flames and melts through its own casing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Boards.ie | Email this | Comments

Junaio Augmented Reality Browser Gets A UI Makeover (Video)

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

Junaio Augmented Reality Browser Gets A UI Makeover (Video)


Junaio Augmented Reality Browser Gets A UI Makeover (Video)
When it comes to Augmented Reality browsers on mobile devices, I always particularly liked Junaio (just one of the many AR tools created and maintained by Munich-based company Metaio). It's an especially appealing option since it's quite powerful, and has many, many content channels to choose from (a good side effect of their successful developer outreach - they have over 10,000 active content developers to date). I'll admit (and I've said this before) that while there are some great AR content choices in the app — like the Instagram channel where you can see local Instagram shots based on where they were tagged — I've always found the "channel" motif for organizing AR content clumsy and slightly confusing. That is until now.

T-Mobile Galaxy S III pricing plans revealed, and they aren't exactly 'cheap'

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

T-Mobile Galaxy S III pricing plans revealed, and they aren't exactly 'cheap'


T-Mobile Galaxy S III pricing plans revealed, and they aren't exactly 'cheap'
Not interested in paying $200 on contract for a new Galaxy S III over at Sprint / AT&T? Fret not, lost souls -- T-Mobile USA will soon be willing to sell you one for more. Much more. We just landed our hands on an internal pricing sheet for the forthcoming Android superphone, with the 16GB model listed at $229.99 on a Value Plan contract, or $279.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate, no less) on a Classic Plan contract. Those on the latter can snag it for $449.99 if you're eligible for an early upgrade, while those who'd rather not extend their contractual relationship can pay $629.99 for a (still carrier locked) off-contract handset. The notice also states that no sales can occur prior to June 21st (that's tomorrow, folks!), but of course, it'll be even later if you aren't in one of those "top 29 markets." [Thanks, Anonymous]T-Mobile Galaxy S III pricing plans revealed, and they aren't exactly 'cheap' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Visualized: Nokia Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.8

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Visualized: Nokia Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.8


Visualized: Nokia Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.8
It may not be the mysterious prototype Joe Belfiore showed off at today's Windows Phone Developer Summit keynote, but it's a nice treat nonetheless: we had the opportunity to sneak a peek at an AT&T-branded Nokia Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.8, complete with the brand new Start screen. Because it's at such early stages in the development game, we weren't able to get our own grubby hands on the device and play around with any of the highlighted features, but it was still great to see it working on a real, honest-to-goodness device. What other secrets this software holds will remain that way for now, but we can certainly look forward to an action-packed summer full of interesting revelations.Visualized: Nokia Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.8 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Visualized: Nokia Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.8

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 12:45 PM PDT

Visualized: Nokia Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.8


Visualized: Nokia Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.8
It may not be the mysterious prototype Joe Belfiore showed off at today's Windows Phone Developer Summit keynote, but it's a nice treat nonetheless: we had the opportunity to sneak a peek at an AT&T-branded Nokia Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.8, complete with the brand new Start screen. Because it's at such early stages in the development game, we weren't able to get our own grubby hands on the device and play around with any of the highlighted features, but it was still great to see it working on a real, honest-to-goodness device. What other secrets this software holds will remain that way for now, but we can certainly look forward to an action-packed summer full of interesting revelations.Visualized: Nokia Lumia 900 running Windows Phone 7.8 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Jolicloud launches Android app, keeps all your favorite services in one place

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 12:44 PM PDT

Jolicloud launches Android app, keeps all your favorite services in one place


Jolicloud launches Android app, keeps all your favorite services in one place
In case those famed Pinterest and Flipboard apps just weren't doing enough tricks for you, Jolicloud's here to save you from your application wretchedness. Essentially, the Jolicloud Android offering will allow you to bring services such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and Flickr together into one place (much like its ME beta), with the cloud service saying others are expected to be added at some point in the future. Of course, this means the Jolicloud app will show you content you've pinned, tweeted and liked, as well as giving you multiple searching options -- all without the need to ever leave out of the new application. Even better, Jolicloud won't ask a dime out of you, and it's up for download now via the Google Play link down there. Worth a shot, no?Jolicloud launches Android app, keeps all your favorite services in one place originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Next Web | Google Play, Jolicloud Blog | Email this | Comments

Augmented reality browser Junaio offers less 'clunky' apps, new API for develope...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 12:12 PM PDT

Augmented reality browser Junaio offers less 'clunky' apps, new API for developers (video)


Augmented reality browser Junaio offers less 'clunky' apps, new API for developers (video)
Remember Metaio? Back in February we reported on the company's rather neat brand of markerless augmented reality, and now it has some fresh news: a major revamp to its Junaio AR browser for iOS and Android, which incorporates the markerless algorithms and a lot more besides. The browser is an open platform for a myriad of smaller AR apps coded by independent developers, and the new version includes both a new UI and API to give those devs additional tools in HTML5 and JavaScript. Right now, the app is worth a peek for the various curiosities demo'd after the break -- such as the ability to see other people's Instagram photos overlaid on the view from your rear camera, showing the direction and distance to the point where they were snapped. In time, though, we're really hoping that developers will latch on to platforms like this and take AR to where it needs to be: something that let's us recognize and augment people and objects naturally and instantaneously, without pre-conceived markers. In fact, Junaio really needs to have coffee with Project Glass.Continue reading Augmented reality browser Junaio offers less 'clunky' apps, new API for developers (video)Augmented reality browser Junaio offers less 'clunky' apps, new API for developers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 review roundup: a $99 card that fails to keep Kepler's pro...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 12:12 PM PDT

NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 review roundup: a $99 card that fails to keep Kepler's promise


NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 review roundup: a $99 card that fails to keep Kepler's promise
NVIDIA blew reviewers away with its flagship GTX 680, but building cards for the low-end is a whole different challenge. The GT 640 hits the $99 price point, where it sits right between the AMD Radeon HD 7750 at $109 and the last-gen Radeon 6670 at around $80. As it turns out, these rivals pull off something of a pincer movement, leaving NVIDIA's card little room to retaliate. The GT 640 contains a 28nm Kepler chip, but it's a cutdown version of the silicon with just 384 CUDA cores, a poor memory bandwidth of 28.5GB/s and no GPU Boost feature -- which means the card can't boost its 900MHz to make use of thermal headroom. These limitations have a significant impact on the benchmarks, as you'll see in our little review roundup after the break.Continue reading NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 review roundup: a $99 card that fails to keep Kepler's promiseNVIDIA GeForce GT 640 review roundup: a $99 card that fails to keep Kepler's promise originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

iCloud down for many, iMessages not going through

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:41 AM PDT

iCloud down for many, iMessages not going through


iCloud down for many, iMessages not going through
Something's afoot at Apple's massive North Carolina data center -- or perhaps just on the various pipes and tubes leading to it. We've received many reports of iCloud and iMessage problems and, looking online, plenty of other folks are issuing the same complaints. Seeing something amiss on your end? Add your experiences in comments below -- while you still can. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]iCloud down for many, iMessages not going through originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Educational Startup KinderTown Launches KinderSights, Tells App Developers What...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:41 AM PDT

Educational Startup KinderTown Launches KinderSights, Tells App Developers What Parents Want


Educational Startup KinderTown Launches KinderSights, Tells App Developers What Parents Want
KinderTown, the company that makes the ever-useful educational app store for parents, is rolling out a new service targeted towards app developers. KinderSights, as it's called, will offer up a series of monthly reports based on KinderTown's internal data. The reports aim to answer the question: what apps are parents looking for right now? Since April, the startup says parents have performed over half a million searches for kids apps using KinderTown, and currently, most are in search of apps for language (34.9%) and math (33.8%).

iFixit rips open new 15-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch Air

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:41 AM PDT

iFixit rips open new 15-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch Air


iFixit rips open new 15-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch Air
You've got to admire the ferocity with which iFixit tears into a new gadget. Sure, there might not be much new to look at inside the non-Retina-packing MacBook Pro or updated Air, but that didn't stop the site's dedicated hackers from ripping open the laptops and spreading their guts around a table. So, how does the standard Pro differ from its pixel-packed sibling? Well, in almost every way imaginable. In fact, there's not a lot separating the mid 2012 Pro from the 2011 model. Sure it's got some mildly updated internals, but it's still got the original MagSafe connector, a single Thunderbolt port and it is much easier to upgrade or repair than the spotlight-hogging version. The Air, on the other hand, does get a slight physical facelift, though it also remains largely the same as last year's model. The SSD has a tweaked connector and a new Sandforce controller, but otherwise, it seems like the biggest visible changes are some rotated labels and stickers. To see the full teardowns check out the source links.iFixit rips open new 15-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch Air originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | iFixit 1, 2 | Email this | Comments

Windows Phone Marketplace has 100,000 published apps, counts Words with Friends...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:41 AM PDT

Windows Phone Marketplace has 100,000 published apps, counts Words with Friends and Draw Something among 'em


Windows Phone Marketplace has 100,000 published apps, counts Words with Friends and Draw Something among 'em
It's not quite App Store numbers, but the Windows Phone Marketplace has finally managed to break the six-digit published apps barrier (making good on the promise of all those app submissions) as Microsoft just announced that its mobile users now have over 100,000 apps to choose from. And, while it may not be as big a deal as multi-core proccessor support, a new Start screen, or turn-by-turn navigation, Microsoft just told of two more apps that'll be popping up in the Marketplace soon. That's right, a duo of Zynga's most popular titles, Words with Friends and Draw Something, are coming to Windows Phone. Congratulations, all you Microsoft mobile aficionados, your time-wasting can now reach levels previously seen only by your iOS and Android-toting friends.Windows Phone Marketplace has 100,000 published apps, counts Words with Friends and Draw Something among 'em originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Nokia Reveals New & Updated Apps For Existing Lumia Users

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:41 AM PDT

Nokia Reveals New & Updated Apps For Existing Lumia Users


Nokia Reveals New & Updated Apps For Existing Lumia Users
Microsoft delivered quite a blow to existing Windows Phone customers when they announced that there was no upgrade path between Windows Phone 7.5 and the forthcoming Windows Phone 8, but Nokia took the opportunity to step in and try to assuage their customers' concerns. Perhaps to ease the pain of being denied the wonders of Windows Phone 8, Nokia's Kevin Shields took the stage at Microsoft's sneak preview event to talk up some new and updated apps that will hit their line of existing Lumia phones shortly.

Windows Phone 8 updates coming over the air, early access to 'registered enthusi...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:41 AM PDT

Windows Phone 8 updates coming over the air, early access to 'registered enthusiasts,' 18 month support program announced


Windows Phone 8 updates coming over the air, early access to 'registered enthusiasts,' 18 month support program announced
Tired of plugging your Lumia 900 into your PC or Mac in order to apply software updates? Tough luck -- you'll still be doing it while future buyers snack on Windows Phone 8. Harshness aside, Microsoft made clear at today's Windows Phone Summit that all WP8 updates will be delivered over the air, with an available program to give "registered enthusiasts" early access prior to broad consumer pushes. The real kicker, however, is this line: "Devices are supported with updates for at least 18 months." For those keeping count, the Lumia 900 shipped here in the US on April 8th. Two months later, it's already confirmed that the flagship WP7 handset in America won't get Windows Phone 8. We'd also like to take this opportunity to remind you just how poorly an identical promise from Google went over in May of 2011. You may remember Andy Rubin confessing that an 18 month Android update program was being put into place at Google I/O 2011, and here we are -- halfway through 2012 -- and we've still heard zero details on how that's being policed. Pardon our skepticism, but we'll need to see it to believe it. To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog!Windows Phone 8 updates coming over the air, early access to 'registered enthusiasts,' 18 month support program announced originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Microsoft Announces Hardware Partners, OTA Updates And Something Special For “En...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:41 AM PDT

Microsoft Announces Hardware Partners, OTA Updates And Something Special For "Enthusiasts"


Microsoft Announces Hardware Partners, OTA Updates And Something Special For "Enthusiasts"
When Microsoft launches Windows Phone 8 this fall, hardware partners Nokia, Huawei, Samsung and HTC will be aboard to provide the goods. Each device will be powered by Qualcomm chips. Devices will come in 50 languages with apps available in 180 countries. All updates to Windows Phone will be delivered OTA. Devices will be supported with updates for at least 18 months from launch. Registered "enthusiasts" will get early access to updates before broad consumer push.

Microsoft Partners With Audible For Better Speech Recognition, Available Today F...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:41 AM PDT

Microsoft Partners With Audible For Better Speech Recognition, Available Today For WP7.5


Microsoft Partners With Audible For Better Speech Recognition, Available Today For WP7.5
In a canned video demo, Microsoft gave an update to its speech recognition software that allows users to have a conversation with apps. Sounds like Siri, right? To be fair, Windows Phone has had speech recognition capabilities since launch. But today, Microsoft announced a partnership with Audible for improved speech recognition.

Saab majority buyer headed by businessman with biofuels background

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:10 AM PDT

Saab majority buyer headed by businessman with biofuels background


Saab majority buyer headed by businessman with biofuels background
Filed under: Biodiesel, Emerging Technologies, Ethanol, EV/Plug-in, Saab, Europe/EU, Asia, Japan, China More good news for Saab enthusiasts big on alt-fuel transportation. The China-based entity slated to be the majority owner of Saab is headed by a tycoon that runs companies in the biofuels industry, the Associated Press reports. Kai Johan Jiang, who once worked for Volvo Trucks, heads a company called National Bio-Energy Group that builds power plants fueled by straw, corn stalks and other farm waste, the wire service said. That company partners with the China government-owned State Grid on biomass energy production. State Grid also installs electric-vehicle charging stations and other infrastructure necessary for EV use throughout China. Jiang oversees the entity that owns 51 percent of National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB (NEVS), which recently reached an agreement to buy Saab out of bankruptcy for a price that wasn't disclosed. The buying group, which will be run by ex-Volvo Trucks chief Karl-Erling Trogen, will re-establish the longtime Swedish automaker as a purely electric-vehicle company, with plans to debut an EV version of the 9-3 by 2014.Saab majority buyer headed by businessman with biofuels background originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Windows Phone 8 to start on HTC, Huawei, Nokia and Samsung devices with support...

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:10 AM PDT

Windows Phone 8 to start on HTC, Huawei, Nokia and Samsung devices with support for 180 countries


Windows Phone 8 to start on HTC, Huawei, Nokia and Samsung devices with support for 180 countries
When Windows Phone 8 arrives in the fall, it will have a relatively narrow slice of hardware makers: HTC, Huawei, Nokia and Samsung will represent the first wave. When they do ship, all of them will be using new Qualcomm processors. There also won't be any shortage of regional support with over 180 countries and 50 languages accounted for -- more than Apple mentioned with iOS 6, Microsoft is keen to add. Developing... To check out the latest updates from Microsoft's Windows Phone event, visit our liveblog!Windows Phone 8 to start on HTC, Huawei, Nokia and Samsung devices with support for 180 countries originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments