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Sunday, June 24, 2012

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Switched On: Surface tension

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 03:05 PM PDT

Switched On: Surface tension


Switched On: Surface tension
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. If you hadn't been paying too much attention to the wide swath of tablets and clamshells (and mashups of the two) that Microsoft is targeting with Windows 8 and Windows RT, then the announcement of Surface contained many surprises. If you have, then there were probably far fewer surprises. But even if you knew just about everything about Windows 8 and Windows RT, you were probably a bit surprised to see Microsoft jump in with its own pair of devices to support the flavors of the imminent Windows upgrades supporting Intel and ARM processors. After all, the fundamental business model of Windows has relied upon licensing to third parties. Ballmer himself has noted in the past that products that ship in the hundreds of millions (or more) of units per year lend themselves well to the licensing model as opposed to the vertical integration model most notably pursued by Apple among Microsoft's main competitors.Continue reading Switched On: Surface tensionSwitched On: Surface tension originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Renault Twizy: will it drift?

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 01:58 PM PDT

Renault Twizy: will it drift?


Renault Twizy: will it drift?
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Renault, UK, Videos By all accounts, the Renault Twizy is a surprisingly entertaining vehicle to drive. With its very low center of gravity, firm suspension and wheels at the extreme corners, it can whip around turns with extraordinary confidence. What happens though, if all its grip goes away? Will it drift? That's the question Autocar asks and answers in a new short-and-sweet video. (Yes, some automotive enthusiast publications prefer to endow electric vehicles with more grip, others like to take it away.) With a mere 17 horsepower on tap, the 2-seat city car/scooter thingamajig isn't able spin its tires into a smoking frenzy on dry tarmac. Throw adequate amounts of water down however, and the equation changes. Spoiler alert: Due to a nicely balanced chassis and rear wheel drive, the Twiz can whiz sideways in a nice, controllable manner. Of course, this attribute won't be a direct benefit to many, but still, for those brave souls with a down parka (the Twizy doesn't have side windows) and a sense of adventure, this sort of knowledge might come in handy in the winter.Scroll on down for a bit of entertaining episode of "will it drift?" from Autocar. As a bonus, we've also thrown in their 'straight" review. Extra special double bonus? Fully Charged's Twizy video review.Continue reading Renault Twizy: will it drift?Renault Twizy: will it drift? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

PSA: Sony Xperia Ion lands in US today, yours starting at $50 with two-years of...

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 01:24 PM PDT

PSA: Sony Xperia Ion lands in US today, yours starting at $50 with two-years of commitment


PSA: Sony Xperia Ion lands in US today, yours starting at $50 with two-years of commitment
You've likely read our review of Sony's Xperia Ion by now, so just consider this a reminder for those who've yet to peruse it. After nearly half a year from being christened at CES, the Ion can officially be purchased today in the US. Agreeing to a two-year commitment and laying out 100 smackers at AT&T -- or just 50 at Sony or Best Buy -- will net you this handset and its curious match-up of dated and up-to-date specs. On the one hand, this Xperia disappointingly runs Android Gingerbread (2.3.7) atop a dual-core 1.5Ghz Snapdragon S3 processor. However, it also packs a 4.6-inch HD Reality display (1280 x 720), 1,900mAh battery, 1GB of RAM, a 12MP (720p video) Exmor R sensor-loaded rear shooter, NFC and PlayStation certification. Hit up your local AT&T, Best Buy or Sony store to see if it feels better in your hand than it did in ours, or shop for it online at the source links below. [Thanks, Jason & Oliver]Continue reading PSA: Sony Xperia Ion lands in US today, yours starting at $50 with two-years of commitmentPSA: Sony Xperia Ion lands in US today, yours starting at $50 with two-years of commitment originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 15:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Sony, AT&T, Best Buy | Email this | Comments

Chinese astronauts go hands-on, manually dock with orbiting module

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 12:16 PM PDT

Chinese astronauts go hands-on, manually dock with orbiting module


Chinese astronauts go hands-on, manually dock with orbiting module
Looks like China continues to add to its space cred after recently joining the rarefied ranks of countries that have successfully docked craft in the final frontier. Fresh off from the recent joining of the Shenzhou 9 capsule with the Tiangong 1 orbiting module, China's three astronauts have now replicated the feat manually, according to the Washington Post . For the uninitiated, the first docking was done via remote control from the ground. The mission has had plenty of firsts for China so far, including the country's first female astronaut. It also serves as a precursor to establishing China's first permanent space station, a 60-ton facility that's about a sixth of the size of the International Space Station but is slightly bigger than NASA's old Skylab. 'Cause sometimes, you just gotta have your own space in space, you know? [Image credit: Associated Press]Chinese astronauts go hands-on, manually dock with orbiting module originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Washington Post | Email this | Comments

UK 2012 Olympics Super Hi-Vision tickets are available, grab a seat for some Ult...

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 08:55 AM PDT

UK 2012 Olympics Super Hi-Vision tickets are available, grab a seat for some Ultra HDTV


UK 2012 Olympics Super Hi-Vision tickets are available, grab a seat for some Ultra HDTV
If you're a UK resident, missed out a ticket to the London 2012 Olympics and find the extensive home and mobile coverage to be lacking in pixels have no fear -- free tickets are available for Super Hi-Vision screenings at three locations. While certain days and times are already fully booked, you can still get one of the first public glimpses of NHK's 8K Ultra HDTV technology at the BBC Radio Theatre, BBC Scotland (Glasgow) and the National Media Musuem in Bradford (other viewing locations are in Japan and Washington D.C.) Before the games get started, the Radio Theater is screening a London Prepares promo from July 23rd to the 28th. During the games (July 28th - August 12th) all will have highlights of the previous day's action from the Aquatic Centre, Olympic Stadium, Velodrome, and Basketball Arena plus clips of the Opening Ceremony. The lone live feed is scheduled for Sunday July 29th, from the Aquatics Centre. Sure, you could be paying a fortune for scalped passes to be in the house when Usain Bolt, Ryan Lochte or Michael Phelps are doing their thing, or you could be enjoying 33MP video and 22.2 channel surround sound in one of the custom setups TechRadar previewed in March. Your choice.UK 2012 Olympics Super Hi-Vision tickets are available, grab a seat for some Ultra HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 11:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Recombu | National Media Museum, BBC Scotland, Radio Theatre | Email this | Comments

Sony Xperia Ion Review: Punching Above Its Weight

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 06:43 AM PDT

Sony Xperia Ion Review: Punching Above Its Weight


Sony Xperia Ion Review: Punching Above Its Weight
It's been a long time since Sony released a smartphone in the U.S. market that had a chance of hitting it off with customers — too many of their recent releases have either been meant for niche markets (the Xperia Play 4G) or were expensive and unlocked (nearly all of these things). That said, they're looking to give it another go the new Xperia ion, and it certainly looks like it could go all the way. It's the company's first LTE-enabled phone to land in the United States, it packs an impressive camera, and it'll only set AT&T customers back $99. What's not to like? Read on for all the juicy details.

Sony Xperia Ion review: an Android handset with a split personality

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 06:43 AM PDT

Sony Xperia Ion review: an Android handset with a split personality


Sony Xperia Ion review: an Android handset with a split personality
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. But that adage, such a truism when applied to interpersonal relationships, doesn't quite carry the same weight when extended to the intimacy between expectant geek and promised hardware. So here we are, six months later: CES has long passed, the One X and Galaxy S III have been revealed, and the Android landscape is now decidedly governed by Ice Cream Sandwich. A veritable eternity has passed since Sony first introduced the AT&T-bound Xperia Ion, its LTE flagship for the US market, muting much of the initial buzz surrounding the handset. So, why choose now to bow a smartphone that's already been outshone by more recent and robust contenders? Perhaps it's simply a case of better late than never. But surely after all of that time, both parties could've managed to ship it with Android 4.0 and not the dated 2.3.7 build of Gingerbread that we get instead. More Info Sony Xperia Ion hits AT&T June 24th for $99 on contract Sony Xperia Ion hands-on Sony outs Xperia Ion HSPA for poor 4G-lacking citizens The Ion's aging OS and 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 CPU may be a nod to mobile's past, but the rest of its internals paint a more forward-thinking picture. This 4.6-inch Sony-bred device boasts a 1280 x 720 HD Reality display, 720p webcam / 12-megapixel rear camera with Exmor R sensor, PlayStation Certification, 16GB of storage plus 1GB RAM, a 1,900mAh battery and NFC. For that spec mix, you'd expect the Ion's on contract cost to double up on the Benjamins, but instead it's been priced to sell at an attractive $99 -- much like the Lumia 900. Will that retail positioning hurt or help its prospects? Can the Ion effectively straddle two worlds, carving out an identity for itself and attracting a defined market segment? Or will this hodgepodge of internals prove too inconsistent for any demographic, save, perhaps, bargain hunters? Find the answers to those questions and more below.Gallery: Sony Xperia Ion reviewContinue reading Sony Xperia Ion review: an Android handset with a split personalitySony Xperia Ion review: an Android handset with a split personality originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

ALMS to go green with natural gas

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 06:09 AM PDT

ALMS to go green with natural gas


ALMS to go green with natural gas
Filed under: Chevrolet, Natural Gas, Racing The American Le Mans Series is going a little greener next season. Teams are developing Le Mans Prototype Challenge cars that use natural gas in place of traditional race fuel. According to The Washington Post, Patrick Racing is already working on a natural gas 430-horsepower Chevrolet LS3 V8 to power a 1,985-pound ORECA FLM09 chassis. Rated at 130 octane, the fuel is ideal for high-compression race engine applications. ALMS has made it clear the series is pushing to become one of the world's most efficient by following the Environmental Protection Agency Green Racing protocols. Last year, organizers started researching both natural gas and electric systems for race teams, and while ALMS is keeping details on the Prototype Challenge program quiet at the moment, The Washington Post says that the natural-gas racers should be ready in time for the 2013 season.ALMS to go green with natural gas originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Amazon Studios adds first four original shows to its 'development slate'

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 04:34 AM PDT

Amazon Studios adds first four original shows to its 'development slate'


Amazon Studios adds first four original shows to its 'development slate'
Back in May, Amazon put a call out for budding screenwriters to submit their ideas for an original comedy or children's series. Now, four of the submissions have been marked up on the Amazon Series Development Slate, with more being added to a "consider" list. The chosen projects comprise three comedies, and one preschooler's show. By getting the Amazonian thumbs-up, the ideas receive $10,000 to extend the initial option, assistance to develop the script, and potentially a pilot episode. So, we might not be seeing them on our screens / displays just yet, but we're sure we're not the only ones paying close attention.Amazon Studios adds first four original shows to its 'development slate' originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Next Web | AS Hollywonk blog, Amazon Studios | Email this | Comments

Friendshake: Facebook’s New Mobile Feature For Finding People Nearby (And A High...

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 02:21 AM PDT

Friendshake: Facebook's New Mobile Feature For Finding People Nearby (And A Highlight Killer?)


Friendshake: Facebook's New Mobile Feature For Finding People Nearby (And A Highlight Killer?)
Facebook has created a new feature that lets users find friends and potential friends nearby. Called "Friendshake" (for now), it's another step in Facebook furthering its reach into mobile, and creating services to meet new people -- rather than build more connections up with the ones you already know. And, in keeping with Facebook's emphasis on being as ubiquitous as possible, it's not in a native app, but via the mobile web. The feature follows a little under two months after Facebook announced the acquisition of Glancee, a mobile app that helps users discover people near them with similar interests, whose three founders have now joined Facebook and closed down their app. It is not clear if Friendshake has been created out of that acquisition, or if it has been developed along an altogether different thread -- and how the functions of the two may eventually dovetail.

Military hunting smartphone safety to hold off enemy bugs, spooks

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 01:47 AM PDT

Military hunting smartphone safety to hold off enemy bugs, spooks


Military hunting smartphone safety to hold off enemy bugs, spooks
Ah, smartphones -- the delightful little slates carry our contacts, our content -- even our cash, and they still fit right in our pockets. No surprise then, that a lost or stolen phone can be a minor disaster -- or a major security risk (just ask the President). Now that soldiers are packing them to send GPS coordinates or situational images in the field -- on top of using them at home -- DARPA has enlisted security company Invincea to fortify the devices. Its first effort, encrypting OS files and filling the memory of a lost phone with worthless data, has already been deployed to 3,000 troops in Afghanistan. Its next target is to cloister apps into virtual rooms within the OS, locking off access to sensitive parts of the phone like its GPS or contact lists. That would keep any nasty bits of malware from potentially gaining root privileges so soldiers can fight, and Facebook, without compromise.Military hunting smartphone safety to hold off enemy bugs, spooks originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 04:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | New York Times | Email this | Comments

Hitchcock classics Dial M for Murder (3D) and Strangers on a Train come to Blu-r...

Posted: 23 Jun 2012 11:01 PM PDT

Hitchcock classics Dial M for Murder (3D) and Strangers on a Train come to Blu-ray October 9th


Hitchcock classics Dial M for Murder (3D) and Strangers on a Train come to Blu-ray October 9th
Warner Bros. is reaching deep into its vaults and releasing two Alfred Hitchcock classics on Blu-ray this fall in Dial M for Murder and Strangers on a Train. While both are notable for their content, Dial M for Murder reaches back to a much earlier infatuation with 3D during the 50s, however few moviegoers at the time actually got to see it in the intended format. According to the press release, the studio has gone back to the original camera negative for a 4K scan, with restoration done for both eyes and tweaks to improve convergence where necessary (a 2D version is also included). Fans of classic 3D should keep an eye out more on the way, as EVP Jeff Baker says House of Wax is up next from the catalog of 15 movies Warner is able to draw from. The Dial M for Murder Blu-ray 3D is scheduled to hit shelves October 9th for $35.99, while Strangers On A Train will be released the same day for $19.98. Check after the break for the press release with full details, as well as trailers for both movies.Continue reading Hitchcock classics Dial M for Murder (3D) and Strangers on a Train come to Blu-ray October 9thHitchcock classics Dial M for Murder (3D) and Strangers on a Train come to Blu-ray October 9th originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 01:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Ask Engadget: best online storefront for a small business?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012 08:22 PM PDT

Ask Engadget: best online storefront for a small business?


Ask Engadget: best online storefront for a small business?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Cesar, who wants to become the next eBoy. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I design and make customized t-shirts in my town, and over the last two years they've become pretty popular. I've had to expand to keep up with all the demand, so now I'm looking at taking my business online, but I don't know anything about building my own e-store. What's the best way for a newbie to start their own e-store? I've been looking at services like Wix, but can you think of anything better? Thanks in advance!"We're always looking to ask questions that are a little bit different than "help me pick an Android tablet" and this one's a real doozy. In a former life we once had to help build a site that used POWA, which we were quite taken with, but that's as far as our knowledge goes. Perhaps one of you knows of a truly excellent e-commerce platform for small businesses and can point Cesar in the right direction. Go on, let's be good to one another.Ask Engadget: best online storefront for a small business? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jun 2012 23:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Mobile Miscellany: week of June 18th, 2012

Posted: 23 Jun 2012 06:41 PM PDT

Mobile Miscellany: week of June 18th, 2012


Mobile Miscellany: week of June 18th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, we learned of the first market outside of China for ZTE's new Grand X smartphone, and received news that both the Sony Xperia U and Xperia P will arrive in Australia. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of June 18th, 2012.Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of June 18th, 2012Mobile Miscellany: week of June 18th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jun 2012 21:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Two more nails in the coffin for Media Center, start-up options and tuner certif...

Posted: 23 Jun 2012 03:52 PM PDT

Two more nails in the coffin for Media Center, start-up options and tuner certification


Two more nails in the coffin for Media Center, start-up options and tuner certification
We fully expected Microsoft put minimal effort into Media Center on Windows 8, but we have to say we didn't expect it to get like this. It was one thing when our favorite HTPC app didn't get a single enhancement, but another when it didn't receive a single bug fix. Now, in the latest Release Preview of Windows 8 the folks at Redmond have gone out of their way and disabled the ability to boot directly to Windows Media Center -- a feature required for any proper HTPC build. Another required feature, in our minds at least, is the ability to record TV and use a remote and it seems Microsoft no longer wants any part in that either. Revealed in the Windows Logo Program Newsletter is the sad reality that the ability to test TV tuners and remotes is no longer included in Windows Hardware Certification Kit. This doesn't preclude someone from making tuners for Windows 8 Media Center, but it certainly does indicate what type of support said manufacturer can expect from Microsoft.Two more nails in the coffin for Media Center, start-up options and tuner certification originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jun 2012 18:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Missing Remote | The Digital Lifestyle, The Digital Media Zone | Email this | Comments