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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

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Google Now gets an epic 47-question interrogation, survives for now (video)

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 02:41 PM PDT

Google Now gets an epic 47-question interrogation, survives for now (video)


Google Now gets an epic 47-question interrogation, survives for now (video)
You've seen us give Google Now a shakedown in our Jelly Bean review, but one JLishere decided to give the voice command system an unusually thorough grilling. The 47-question test goes beyond what Google showed onstage at I/O and shows that, in some cases, Android's new rival to Siri can cover a wide range of answers, whether it's day-to-day queries like directions and image searches to more esoteric trivia, like the minimum height for riding Disney World's Space Mountain. There's even a special treat for those who dare to bring up Google's best-known Easter egg. That said, we wouldn't be too eager to kick earlier voice command systems to the curb: we've tried a few close variants on the questions and sometimes managed to stump Google Now, so it's clear Google could stand to layer on some more polish. JLishere's original video evidence is available after the break.Continue reading Google Now gets an epic 47-question interrogation, survives for now (video)Google Now gets an epic 47-question interrogation, survives for now (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Android Police | Email this | Comments

Verizon Wireless Stops Subsidizing Tablets, Now Selling Them At Full Retail Sans...

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 02:41 PM PDT

Verizon Wireless Stops Subsidizing Tablets, Now Selling Them At Full Retail Sans Wireless Contract


Verizon Wireless Stops Subsidizing Tablets, Now Selling Them At Full Retail Sans Wireless Contract
Watch out for exploding prices! Verizon Wireless just stopped subsidizing tablets, which naturally results in a lot higher advertised prices. Want a 16GB Motorola XYZBoard? That will be $629. A Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7? Hand over $549. Verizon Wireless quietly made the switch late last month when launching the "Share Everything" family plans. With this new service contract, subscribers have the option of allowing a tablet access to the bucket of data shared among devices. In the past tablets required a separate data plan, and therefore a separate contract, which locked owners into a tablet that will likely be quickly outdated.

Beats buyout of MOG worth $14 million, splits company not-so-neatly into two

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 02:09 PM PDT

Beats buyout of MOG worth $14 million, splits company not-so-neatly into two


Beats buyout of MOG worth $14 million, splits company not-so-neatly into two
More official details are emerging from Beats Electronics' acquisition of MOG, and they paint a considerably messier picture of the deal than we saw just a day ago. HTC (which has a big stake in Beats) has confirmed that the move into streaming music was worth $14 million -- not a whole lot considering that MOG had raised $33 million through its entire independent lifetime. The low price might come as the result of Beats being very surgical with its deal. The Jimmy Iovine- and Dr. Dre-founded outfit is taking control of the core audio service as a separately-managed company, while the ad and music blog components are mostly left untouched. MOG's loss of independence is coming on a very ignominious note as a result, but it could be good news for subscribers anxious about the service's future as well as HTC phone owners wondering just where Sense UI's Beats integration might go next.Beats buyout of MOG worth $14 million, splits company not-so-neatly into two originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Unwired View, The Next Web | HTC | Email this | Comments

Toshiba hit for $87 million in LCD price fixing verdict, maintains innocence

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:34 PM PDT

Toshiba hit for $87 million in LCD price fixing verdict, maintains innocence


Toshiba hit for $87 million in LCD price fixing verdict, maintains innocence
Toshiba decided not to settle when faced with allegations of price fixing, and now the company may have to pay the price. A jury handed down a verdict in the District Court for the Northern District of California today, hitting the company with $87 million in damages as part of a class action suit. The civil suit, separate from the criminal charges some of its alleged co-conspirators faced, wrapped today with the decision to award consumers $70 million and gave $17 million to manufacturers who purchased the company's panels. Toshiba may not actually have to pay up, however, thanks to settlements struck by others caught up in the same scandal, which could cover the damages. Regardless, the company maintains its innocence and actually plans to pursue "all available legal avenues" to reverse the decision. For more of Toshiba's response, check out the PR after the break.Continue reading Toshiba hit for $87 million in LCD price fixing verdict, maintains innocenceToshiba hit for $87 million in LCD price fixing verdict, maintains innocence originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Reuters | Email this | Comments

5 Over-The-Top Luxury Car Features

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:34 PM PDT

5 Over-The-Top Luxury Car Features


5 Over-The-Top Luxury Car Features
Here are a few features that go the extra mile to do something ridiculous.

Google retiring iGoogle, Google Mini, others for 'spring cleaning'

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:34 PM PDT

Google retiring iGoogle, Google Mini, others for 'spring cleaning'


Google retiring iGoogle, Google Mini, others for 'spring cleaning'
To everything (Turn, Turn, Turn). There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn). Sometimes those seasons can get a bit convoluted, however -- or such is the premise of Google's "Spring cleaning in summer" post, outlining the end of a handful of tech offerings. Because heck, even a company as big as Google has to pick its battles. On the chopping block this time out are the Google Mini enterprise search system, the Google Talk Chatback widget, Google Video, iGoogle and the Symbian search app. Of course, the company won't be leaving people hanging entirely. Google's pushing users toward existing properties like the Meebo bar for Talk Chatback and YouTube for Google Video (which already stopped taking uploads a while back), the latter of which will be fully integrated into the more popular video offering come August. More info on what all this means in the source link below.Google retiring iGoogle, Google Mini, others for 'spring cleaning' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Phonescoop | The Official Google Blog | Email this | Comments

Rush Limbaugh picks on electric cars in wake of D.C. storm. Again.

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:01 PM PDT

Rush Limbaugh picks on electric cars in wake of D.C. storm. Again.


Rush Limbaugh picks on electric cars in wake of D.C. storm. Again.
Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in Here we go again, folks. Rush Limbaugh, one of the loudest opponents of electric cars in America, has once again spoken out against EVs on his radio show, this time in connection with power outages in Washington, D.C., after a hard-hitting storm swept through the nation's capitol. According to various reports, millions of homes and businesses across the States have yet to have their power restored. You can probably guess where this is going, but we'll go ahead and quote Mr. Limbaugh: "If you're in the DC area, are you happy you don't have an electric car? Yeah, with the power outages, are you happy you don't have an electric car? ... It's a good thing you don't have an electric car or you couldn't get around, you couldn't escape. Isn't it amazing." We're not going to mention that gas stations require electricity in order to pump gas... oh, wait, we just did. Rush goes on to attack windmills and solar panels: "All those windmills are really working out, huh? Solar panels, yeah, man, that's the future. There you are, sitting there, sweating, stinking like a stuck pig for three days, and it's gonna be this way for another week. ... How many windmills would still be standing if they were there in that land hurricane?" We're not going to mention that the D.C.-area storm didn't single out windmills or solar panels, leaving all other power-generating plants and equipment intact. Um, oops. We'll leave you with Rush's parting words: "And, of course, global warming is back. Forget the fact that it hadn't been hot like this in ten years. Global warming is back." Hey, you said it.Rush Limbaugh picks on electric cars in wake of D.C. storm. Again. originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Huawei's Emotion UI for Ice Cream Sandwich devices starts rolling out in China

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:00 PM PDT

Huawei's Emotion UI for Ice Cream Sandwich devices starts rolling out in China


Huawei's Emotion UI for Ice Cream Sandwich devices starts rolling out in China
We knew its arrival was imminent, and it looks like the time to shine for Huawei's Emotion UI is right about now -- well, at least in areas near the Great Wall. To celebrate its official debut, the company's launched a new website where it goes into nearly every detail about its novel Android skin, touting fresh features such as a voice assistant, smart contact finder, customizable fonts, smart triggers and an all-new chat application that's very reminiscent of Cupertino's iMessage or Samsung's ChatOn. Unfortunately, the Emotion UI overlay is only available to Huawei devices -- that are running Ice Cream Sandwich -- in China, but word has it coming to the US of A and Europe once the outfit's upcoming Ascend D Quad finally hits the shelves.Huawei's Emotion UI for Ice Cream Sandwich devices starts rolling out in China originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechnoBuffalo | Emotion UI | Email this | Comments

Google patent filing would identify faces in videos, spot the You in YouTube

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 12:29 PM PDT

Google patent filing would identify faces in videos, spot the You in YouTube


Google patent filing would identify faces in videos, spot the You in YouTube
Face detection is a common sight in still photography, but it's a rarity in video outside of certain research projects. Google may be keen to take some of the mystery out of those clips through a just-published patent application: its technique usees video frames to generate clusters of face representations that are attached to a given person. By knowing what a subject looks like from various angles, Google could then attach a name to a face whenever it shows up in a clip, even at different angles and in strange lighting conditions. The most obvious purpose would be to give YouTube viewers a Flickr-like option to tag people in videos, but it could also be used to spot people in augmented reality apps and get their details -- imagine never being at a loss for information about a new friend as long as you're wearing Project Glass. As a patent, it's not a definitive roadmap for where Google is going with any of its properties, but it could be a clue as to the search giant's thinking. Don't be surprised if YouTube can eventually prove that a Google+ friend really did streak across the stage at a concert.Google patent filing would identify faces in videos, spot the You in YouTube originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | USPTO | Email this | Comments

HP’s Unreleased, All-Touch webOS Phone Spotted In Video Teaser

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:54 AM PDT

HP's Unreleased, All-Touch webOS Phone Spotted In Video Teaser


HP's Unreleased, All-Touch webOS Phone Spotted In Video Teaser
I was always a sucker for Palm and HP's little mobile operating system that couldn't — for all its faults, webOS brought with it some features that put it ahead of the curve. It's sort of a shame then that most webOS phones tended to suck in terms of execution. The original Pre was light and plasticky, the Pre 2 didn't improve enough, the Pixi was underpowered, the Veer was strangely small, and the Pre 3 died before it ever made it to our shores. There was another webOS device that was killed before it ever saw the light of day though, and a newly revealed video from design visualization firm Transparent House shows off what would have been HP's next smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S III hits Verizon shelves on July 10

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:54 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S III hits Verizon shelves on July 10


Samsung Galaxy S III hits Verizon shelves on July 10
In regards to the Samsung Galaxy S III, Verizon Wireless has been very vague about its "coming weeks" launch window, but it's become much more specific now: July 10, to be exact. The flagship device will be hitting both online and brick-and-mortar stores on that day, though only the 16GB model is going to be in retail stores at first (the 32GB will be available online, but won't get to stores until the "coming weeks"). The phone will come in both white and blue -- the same color selection we've seen on Sprint and T-Mobile. As for pricing, the 16GB version will cost you $200, while the 32GB will be $250. The press release is just below, if you want to check it out.Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S III hits Verizon shelves on July 10Samsung Galaxy S III hits Verizon shelves on July 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Line messaging and VoIP app adds 'timeline' and 'home' features, throws in new p...

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:54 AM PDT

Line messaging and VoIP app adds 'timeline' and 'home' features, throws in new platform for app integration


Line messaging and VoIP app adds 'timeline' and 'home' features, throws in new platform for app integration
With now over 45 million users, while you may not use Line yourself, someone you know (or at least someone they know) probably does. The Asia-centric Skype rival has decided to roll-out some extra functionality and is looking to go a few rounds with even bigger competition. 'Home' offers up a base for sharing photos and other content, as well as your own status updates, while the 'timeline' feature will throw together a familiar-sounding chronological breakdown of your latest adventures to show your friends, adding in the ability to comment on each other's posts. Its 'Line channel' sounds even more nebulous and aims to use the existing app as a foundation for integrating and linking to yet more programs and services. The screenshots hint at camera, gaming and (yes) horoscope integration, while Line is gearing up for both HTML5 and native applications. Hit up the company's notions on a heavily connected messaging service in two servings of press release, right after the break.Continue reading Line messaging and VoIP app adds 'timeline' and 'home' features, throws in new platform for app integrationLine messaging and VoIP app adds 'timeline' and 'home' features, throws in new platform for app integration originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

North Carolina plant boosts U.S. lithium capacity

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:22 AM PDT

North Carolina plant boosts U.S. lithium capacity


North Carolina plant boosts U.S. lithium capacity
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Legislation and Policy, North America, USA Tobacco Road? Try lithium. Rockwood Lithium, as part of the federal government's Recovery Act, opened a larger lithium factory in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, to help meet what's expected to be an increase in lithium demand stemming from more purchases of plug-in vehicles. The expanded plant is a result of a $28.4 million investment from the federal government's Recovery Act and will support about 100 new jobs. Overall, the Rockwood Lithium project, which also includes a Nevada plant, will make enough lithium to make batteries for more than half a million electric-drive vehicles a year. U.S. lithium demand has tripled in the past three decades because of increases in electronic components and automobiles that require lithium batteries, forcing the U.S. to import most of its lithium from South America. With more domestic lithium supply, automakers are looking to control the costs of battery-electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids in order to better meet more stringent greenhouse-gas emissions standards. President Obama has said he hopes for 1 million plug-in vehicles to be on U.S. roads by 2015.North Carolina plant boosts U.S. lithium capacity originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Higgs boson just may, possibly, more or less be proven to exist by ATLAS and CMS...

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:22 AM PDT

Higgs boson just may, possibly, more or less be proven to exist by ATLAS and CMS teams


Higgs boson just may, possibly, more or less be proven to exist by ATLAS and CMS teams
We had a false alarm over the possible discovery of the theory-unifying Higgs boson last year, but a bit of poking and prodding in subsequent months may well have given us much more definitive evidence of the elusive particle. According to some rare rumors emerging from Nature, both CERN's ATLAS and CMS detectors have seen particle decay signals suggesting the existence of Higgs to within a 4.5 to 5 sigma level of proof -- in other words, very nearly concrete evidence. That's not quite the 5-plus needed to settle the matter, but it's to a much higher level of certainty than before. As if to add fuel to the fire, ScienceNews even located a briefly posted, CERN-made video (sadly, since pulled) saying bluntly that the CMS team had "observed a new particle." Whether or not there's any substance is another matter. Nature hears that scientists are supposedly still working out what to say at an event on Wednesday, while CERN has made the slightly odd claim to ScienceNews that the yanked video is just one of several pre-recorded segments made to cover possible outcomes -- you know, in that "Dewey defeats Truman" sort of way. Unless the scientists have to go back to the drawing board, though, the focus from now on may be more on learning how Higgs behaves than its very existence. Any significant truth could see researchers proving the validity of the standard model of physics just as we're firing up our Independence Day barbecues.Higgs boson just may, possibly, more or less be proven to exist by ATLAS and CMS teams originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink New Scientist, Ars Technica | Nature, ScienceNews | Email this | Comments

Deutsche Telekom Launches Mobile Component Marketplace

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:22 AM PDT

Deutsche Telekom Launches Mobile Component Marketplace


Deutsche Telekom Launches Mobile Component Marketplace
Mobile app component marketplace and former Disrupt finalist Verious has just announced a strategic partnership with mobile operator Duetsche Telekom which will expand its international footprint and reach. The mobile operator is now launching its Verious-powered Developer Garden Component Marketplace across 14 countries in Europe, where it will feature not only mobile app components for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and HTML5, but also Telekom's own APIs.

Google indoor maps comes to the UK, helps commuter meet pasty in record time

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:48 AM PDT

Google indoor maps comes to the UK, helps commuter meet pasty in record time


Google indoor maps comes to the UK, helps commuter meet pasty in record time
If you're forever getting lost looking for Barratts, or feeling faint hunting down a Greggs to fill your mall-explorer's belly, then Google Maps to the rescue. Mountain View's already made it clear it doesn't want walls to get between you and its mapping of the world, and now those hungry Android-using indoor Britons can get in on the action. There's only a hair over 40 venues covered right now -- a mix of museums, stations, malls and airports in the main -- and most of them in London. With building owners being able to upload their own maps, however, this should / could expand quickly. Good news either way, though if you can get lost at London Bridge Station, then no amount of maps will likely help.Google indoor maps comes to the UK, helps commuter meet pasty in record time originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Google Lat-Lon | Email this | Comments

McLaren MP4-12C Spider Unleashed

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:48 AM PDT

McLaren MP4-12C Spider Unleashed


McLaren MP4-12C Spider Unleashed
The retractable hardtop is a clear challenge to the Ferrari 458 Spider.

Solmeta N3 geotagging module for Nikon DSLR review: fast GPS locks, minimal batt...

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:15 AM PDT

Solmeta N3 geotagging module for Nikon DSLR review: fast GPS locks, minimal battery drain


Solmeta N3 geotagging module for Nikon DSLR review: fast GPS locks, minimal battery drain
There's a reason "Nikon GP-1 alternative" is a search phrase that finds its way into Google's simplistic query box frequently. Put simply, the only GPS add-on with Nikon's name on it is universally seen as a poor purchasing decision. For one, it's still right around $200... despite the fact that it's pushing four years old. But perhaps more importantly, it's a major battery hog and takes eons (read: four to five minutes) to get a solid GPS lock if you attempt to conserve your juice by having it shut down each time you flick your camera's power switch to 'off.' Recently, we embarked on a road trip that took us through sparsely populated areas of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and California. For the purposes of using a geotagging module to accurately journal the precise locations of thousands of shots through some of America's most pristine wilderness, we strapped Solmeta's Geotagger N3 atop a Nikon D3S. For those unaware, the N3 was first introduced at CES 2012, and just recently started shipping directly from the company's Hong Kong headquarters to purchasers all over the globe. Much to our surprise, it managed to not only outgun the GP-1, but it also exceeded even our lofty expectations. Care to hear more? Join us after the break. Gallery: Solmeta N3 geotagging module unboxing and hands-onContinue reading Solmeta N3 geotagging module for Nikon DSLR review: fast GPS locks, minimal battery drainSolmeta N3 geotagging module for Nikon DSLR review: fast GPS locks, minimal battery drain originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Google’s “Do A Barrel Roll” Easter Egg Now Spinning Jelly Bean Screens

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:15 AM PDT

Google's "Do A Barrel Roll" Easter Egg Now Spinning Jelly Bean Screens


Google's "Do A Barrel Roll" Easter Egg Now Spinning Jelly Bean Screens
In case you missed it the first time around, go to Google and search for "Do a barrel roll." Clever, right? It's a fun play on the classic Star Fox saying. But now with the power of Google Now, Android users can perform a barrel roll on by simply speaking to their phone. Try getting Siri to do that.

Design firm's video offers a glimpse of the touchscreen webOS phone that never was

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 10:15 AM PDT

Design firm's video offers a glimpse of the touchscreen webOS phone that never was


Design firm's video offers a glimpse of the touchscreen webOS phone that never was
Well, it looks like there's still a few surprises left from HP's brief foray into webOS hardware. As webOS Nation has discovered, the design firm Transparent House posted a brief clip of a device described as "WindsorNot" some eight months ago, which is very clearly a touchscreen-only webOS smartphone. As the site notes, that appears to be the very same device that had previously turned up in leaked photos under the codename "Stingray," and it estimates that the phone has the same 3.6-inch screen as the Pre 3. Details are scarce beyond that, but you can get a good look at what might have been in the video after the break -- not to mention yet another look at the unreleased TouchPad Go (a.k.a. Opal) on Transparent House's Vimeo page linked below.Continue reading Design firm's video offers a glimpse of the touchscreen webOS phone that never wasDesign firm's video offers a glimpse of the touchscreen webOS phone that never was originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | webOS Nation, Transparent House (Vimeo) | Email this | Comments

Read About It: Gartner Survey Finds Tablets Are Leading To A ‘Less Paper’ But No...

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:42 AM PDT

Read About It: Gartner Survey Finds Tablets Are Leading To A 'Less Paper' But Not 'Paperless' Publishing World


Read About It: Gartner Survey Finds Tablets Are Leading To A 'Less Paper' But Not 'Paperless' Publishing World
A report out earlier today from NPD highlighted how tablets are taking over from notebooks as the mobile PC of choice. By coincidence, a survey has been published by Gartner today that sheds some light on the "how" behind that shift: more people are using tablets for the functions that used to be the preserve of PCs, such as checking email, social networking and checking the weather. The survey also found that tablets are becoming a mainstay for people who read newspapers, magazines and books. More than 50 percent of respondents said they preferred to read on tablets instead of on paper. It's not clear if 'tablets' in this case includes devices like the Kindle as well, but what's clear so far is that a portable touchscreen is not replacing the physical versions of those completely, yet: it's about "less paper" rather than "paperless", Gartner says.

Kodak gets the green light to sell digital imaging patents

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:42 AM PDT

Kodak gets the green light to sell digital imaging patents


Kodak gets the green light to sell digital imaging patents
It's been a long road for Kodak to get to this point, but it seems the floundering company has finally won approval to sell off its digital imaging patents. Over the objections of Apple and Flashpoint (nothing like kicking a company when its down), the Bankruptcy Court awarded Kodak the right to auction off its Digital Capture and Kodak Imaging Systems and Services (KISS) patent portfolios. While the challenges haven't been completely dismissed, the ruling provides an opportunity for the struggling Rochester firm to move ahead with its auction plans in the face of what it calls "baseless claims." Soon enough the bids for the rather sizable and valuable portfolios will start rolling in, and should provide Kodak with enough cash to keep its head above water for a little bit longer. For more detail, check out the PR after the break. [Image Credit: MercerFilm]Continue reading Kodak gets the green light to sell digital imaging patentsKodak gets the green light to sell digital imaging patents originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Phys.org | | Email this | Comments

Mazda doubles Skyactiv engine capacity

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:09 AM PDT

Mazda doubles Skyactiv engine capacity


Mazda doubles Skyactiv engine capacity
Filed under: Diesel, Manufacturing/Plants, MPG, Mazda We've grown quite fond of Mazda's new Skyactiv engine range, and apparently, we aren't the only ones. High demand for these engines has caused Mazda to double its production of both the gasoline and diesel versions, and starting in October, the automaker will produce 800,000 of these efficient mills globally, up from 400,000. In the United States, the 2.0-liter gasoline engine is the only Skyactiv unit currently available, found under the hoods of the Mazda CX-5 (pictured) and Mazda3. Elsewhere in the world, CX-5s can be had with a 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D turbo-diesel engine, which we had a chance to test (and fall in love with) in Iceland. The automaker has confirmed that its next-generation Mazda6 sedan will be available with both of these four-cylinder engines, though it's unclear if the diesel will be available Stateside. Part of the reason for this Skyactiv engine increase is the high demand globally for the new CX-5 crossover. Mazda will be upping production from 200,000 units annually to 240,000, all of which are built at the automaker's Ujina facility. Because of strong demand since the crossover hit dealerships in February, Mazda has increased its global sales target from 160,000 units to 190,000.Scroll down for the full press blast.Continue reading Mazda doubles Skyactiv engine capacityMazda doubles Skyactiv engine capacity originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

RIM's Thorsten Heins denies company's 'death spiral,' predicts successful transi...

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:09 AM PDT

RIM's Thorsten Heins denies company's 'death spiral,' predicts successful transition to BlackBerry 10


RIM's Thorsten Heins denies company's 'death spiral,' predicts successful transition to BlackBerry 10
RIM CEO Thorsten Heins has the unenviable task of, well, being the CEO of RIM. Still, in spite of some gloomy numbers, the exec thinks the company is on the right track. Heins told CBC Radio that, since taking over, the company has been implementing changes that are helping Research in Motion transition to BlackBerry 10, adding that "there's nothing wrong with the company as it exists right now." Heins told the Metro Morning radio show, "This company is not ignoring the world out there, nor is it in a death spiral," adding, "Yes, it is very, very challenged at the moment - specifically in the U.S. market. The way I would describe it: we're in the middle of a transition." It's a transition from which, Heins insists, RIM "will emerge successfully." What's more, Heins also has an op-ed in today's Globe & Mail, where he mostly reiterates that stance and flatly says "don't count BlackBerry out." You can find it at the source link below.RIM's Thorsten Heins denies company's 'death spiral,' predicts successful transition to BlackBerry 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Mobile Syrup | Canada.com, The Globe & Mail | Email this | Comments

Real-world impressions of Dolby Atmos surround sound (ears-on)

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 08:36 AM PDT

Real-world impressions of Dolby Atmos surround sound (ears-on)


Real-world impressions of Dolby Atmos surround sound (ears-on)
Dolby and AMC are both marketing the latest in surround sound technology heavily this past weekend with the release of "Brave," the first movie mixed and presented in Dolby Atmos. There are only 14 theaters in the world with the setup right now and one of them, and with one just an hour away yours truly decided to make the trek and report back for those who can't. Read on to see if our impressions of this new tech live up to the hype.Continue reading Real-world impressions of Dolby Atmos surround sound (ears-on)Real-world impressions of Dolby Atmos surround sound (ears-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

AppThwack Takes On Android Fragmentation With New Automated Testing Service

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 08:02 AM PDT

AppThwack Takes On Android Fragmentation With New Automated Testing Service


AppThwack Takes On Android Fragmentation With New Automated Testing Service
Android development doesn't always have to look like this. Smaller developers without their own in-house QA departments often outsource their testing to services like Testdroid, for example, which tests their Android apps on physical devices. But today, Testdroid and the like will have some new competition from a company called AppThwack, which plans to not only match Testdroid's capabilities, but will go even further in terms of the number of automation frameworks it supports.

Samsung upstages Sony with f/1.4-equipped EX2F point-and-shoot for $549

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 08:02 AM PDT

Samsung upstages Sony with f/1.4-equipped EX2F point-and-shoot for $549


Samsung upstages Sony with f/1.4-equipped EX2F point-and-shoot for $549
Samsung's been flaunting its WiFi-equipped Smart cameras throughout the last year, but with a generally significant tradeoff in image quality, we haven't been terribly impressed. The EX2F, however, is a model we're finally eager to get our hands on. This 12.4-megapixel CMOS shooter packs an f/1.4-2.7 lens -- quite a feat for any point-and-shoot -- along with a full-size hot shoe, dual image stabilization, a top ISO setting of 12,800 (extended), a 24-79mm 3.3x lens and a 3-inch swivel VGA-resolution AMOLED display. That's in addition to the full manual shooting mode, RAW option, 1080/30p HD video capture and the standard plethora of WiFi options, including Remote Viewfinder and Auto Backup. Accessory add-ons include an optical viewfinder, external mic and a secondary flash (a smaller pop-up model is built-in, and retracts when not in use). There's no hint of pricing or availability, but with that industry-leading f/1.4 lens, pro-level features and AMOLED display, we're certain that the EX2F won't come cheap. Full PR is after the break. Update: It appears that the EX2F includes a 1/1.7-inch sensor, compared to the significantly larger 1-inch sensor on the Sony RX100. Samsung has also confirmed that the camera will be priced at $549, and is scheduled to hit stores in August.Gallery: Samsung EX2F product galleryContinue reading Samsung upstages Sony with f/1.4-equipped EX2F point-and-shoot for $549Samsung upstages Sony with f/1.4-equipped EX2F point-and-shoot for $549 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Renault Twizy EV added to U.K.-based car-sharing service

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 07:28 AM PDT

Renault Twizy EV added to U.K.-based car-sharing service


Renault Twizy EV added to U.K.-based car-sharing service
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Renault, Europe/EU, UK The Renault Twizy became the first electric vehicle to be offered in the U.K.-based WhipCar peer-to-peer car-sharing service after two Twizy owners in London and Glasgow made their cars available for rent. The Twizy vehicles will be available to rent for as low as 36 pounds ($57) a day. The cars are the first electric vehicles in the two-plug-year history of WhipCar, which has an owner inventory of about 19,000 vehicles across the U.K. Last month, Renault said it would start testing Twizy EVs under a program called Twizy Way, which is being operated in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, about 20 miles southwest of Paris. About 200 people are being allowed to sign up for access to the cars under the trial program, which will run through September and will be followed by a permanent program. Renault started sales of the Twizy EV in France in March and debuted sales of the model in the U.K. the following month. The 17-horsepower Twizy, which tops out at 50 miles per hour, is 92 inches long, or about a foot shorter than the Smart ForTwo. Read more about the program in the press release below.Continue reading Renault Twizy EV added to U.K.-based car-sharing serviceRenault Twizy EV added to U.K.-based car-sharing service originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motorola Photon Q wanders into the FCC with Sprint LTE

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 07:28 AM PDT

Motorola Photon Q wanders into the FCC with Sprint LTE


Motorola Photon Q wanders into the FCC with Sprint LTE
What's that? A Motorola phone with Sprint LTE, EVDO and the model number XT897 getting approved by the FCC? Why, it looks like this could be the Photon Q LTE! We weren't able to glean much in the way of detail save for the fact it packs NFC and LTE band 25 (Sprint's 1900MHz flavor), but this is good news for Motorola fans disappointed in the dearth of new handset options over the last six months. Head to the link to get your fill of measurements and other fun numbers.Motorola Photon Q wanders into the FCC with Sprint LTE originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments

Leaked RIM Roadmap Points To 2 BlackBerry 10 Phones In Q1 2013, New Tablet In Q3

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 07:28 AM PDT

Leaked RIM Roadmap Points To 2 BlackBerry 10 Phones In Q1 2013, New Tablet In Q3


Leaked RIM Roadmap Points To 2 BlackBerry 10 Phones In Q1 2013, New Tablet In Q3
Of all the disappointing details heard during RIM's most recent earnings call, the company's decision to push back the launch of its first BlackBerry 10 devices was among the most devastating to the company's loyal legion of fans. Bummer though it may be, we may now have a clearer view of RIM's hardware plans for the next year thanks to a newly-leaked roadmap obtained by BlackBerryOS. You know the drill folks -- have those grains of salt at the ready.