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Friday, July 6, 2012

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Henrik Fisker, what are you drawing?

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 03:12 PM PDT

Henrik Fisker, what are you drawing?


Henrik Fisker, what are you drawing?
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Fisker, Videos "Cars have become an appliance... And on top of that, you start feeling a bit guilty about driving a car, because it pollutes, you use a lot of gasoline." These are the words of Henrik Fisker, car designer and the man who startes his eponymous automobile company, which currently builds and sells the extended-range electric Karma. "Why do electric cars, or small fuel-efficient cars, always have to look dorky? Why can't we make a beautiful, gorgeous car?" Well, if you're the man who penned the BMW Z8 and a couple of show-stopping Aston Martin coupes, you don't have to design a dorky EV. Which explains the sleek lines of the aforementioned Karma and upcoming Fisker Atlantic. Will Fisker ultimately succeed in establishing a viable automaker that continues to build cars well into the future? Only time will tell. Either way, we have to admire Henrik's bravado. "The doubters out there, they are rarely the builders. And those who are the skeptics, are never really the inventors... There are a lot of us out there who believe that dreams are possible." Those parting words were spoken as Henrik Fisker laid out what appears to be a two-door sports car with a low-slung profile that would seemingly mesh quite well with the rest of Fisker's eco-conscious machinery. Scroll down below to watch the video, which was shot during his TEDxChapmanU talk.Continue reading Henrik Fisker, what are you drawing?Henrik Fisker, what are you drawing? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Furby gets a reboot for 2012, we go hands-on (video)

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 03:12 PM PDT

Furby gets a reboot for 2012, we go hands-on (video)


Furby gets a reboot for 2012, we go hands-on (video)
Of all the childhood toys to update for the early 21st century, the Furby seems like a no-brainer. After all, the hairy ball of amalgamated animal strangeness packed in electronics so baffled the general public that it managed to get itself banned from the Pentagon as a threat to national security. After the Furby was first decommissioned in 2000 (managing to sell an impressive 40 million units in its first three years), Hasbro attempted to revamp the line in 2005 with Emtro-Tronic Furbies, bigger versions of the toy that brought increased facial emotions and voice recognition, failing to recapture the success of the original line. The latest addition to the line marks a much more significant update for our old furry pal, bringing him up-to-date for a generation growing up with smartphones and tablets, with revamped aesthetics, new innards and an appetite for Apple's iPad. We managed to get our hands on the squirming and verbose little Mogwai-esque creature -- four of them in fact -- for a bit, when Habro popped by our office with a furry blue army packed in a duffle bag. Check out some impressions of the reborn furball after the break. Gallery: Furby on whiteContinue reading Furby gets a reboot for 2012, we go hands-on (video)Furby gets a reboot for 2012, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

ITU wants to bring smartphone makers to peace talks, hash out patent wars

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 03:11 PM PDT

ITU wants to bring smartphone makers to peace talks, hash out patent wars


ITU wants to bring smartphone makers to peace talks, hash out patent wars
The United Nations defines the stereotype of a peace broker, so it's not that far-fetched to hear that its International Telecommunication Union (ITU) wing is hoping to step in and cool down the rapidly escalating patent world war. The organization plans to convene a Patent Roundtable on October 10th -- in neutral Geneva, Switzerland, of course -- to have smartphone makers, governments and standards groups try and resolve some of their differences. Those mostly concerned about Apple's actions won't be happy with the focus of the sit-down, however. Most of the attention will surround allegations that companies are abusing standards-based patents, which will put the heat largely on a Google-owned Motorola as well as Samsung. Still, there's hope when the the ITU's Secretary-General Dr. Hamadoun Touré talks of desiring a "balancing act" between what patent holders want and what customers need. Our real hope is that we don't have to hear talk of customs delays and product bans for a long while afterwards. [Image credit: Patrick Gruban, Flickr]ITU wants to bring smartphone makers to peace talks, hash out patent wars originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink BBC | ITU | Email this | Comments

Facebook's App Center pokes its way into the UK, now available to you and your f...

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 02:38 PM PDT

Facebook's App Center pokes its way into the UK, now available to you and your friends


Facebook's App Center pokes its way into the UK, now available to you and your friends
It's been nearly a month since we saw Facebook officially introduce us to its newly minted App Center, and now Zuck & Co. are taking the application-loaded service to internet grounds over in the UK. Facebook's App Center in the Kingdom (or, as UKers call it, App Centre) won't be much different in comparison to its American counterpart, thus you'll still be able to grab all those big-name apps like the network's own Instagram, Draw Something, Spotify and Pinterest -- of course, there's over 600 others to choose from. In addition to these, though, there are some Euro-specific additions to the application mix, including Deezer's music streaming goods. Eager to find out what all the App Centre fuss is about? Then head over to the source below, where you'll be able to poke around it yourself.Facebook's App Center pokes its way into the UK, now available to you and your friends originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Telegraph | Facebook | Email this | Comments

Samsung gets temporary stay on Galaxy Nexus ban in US while waiting for Apple re...

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 02:38 PM PDT

Samsung gets temporary stay on Galaxy Nexus ban in US while waiting for Apple response


Samsung gets temporary stay on Galaxy Nexus ban in US while waiting for Apple response
Samsung is getting just a bit of respite from the ban on the Galaxy Nexus, after all: Judge Lucy Koh has granted Samsung's request for a temporary halt to the ban while waiting on Apple's response on the subject, due July 12th. That's not much of a break, but it lets Google resume selling the phone on Google Play for several more days before there's a more definitive consideration on the merits of a preliminary injunction. We're still seeing the Android 4.1 phone listed only as "coming soon," but it may just be a matter of hours before Jelly Bean lovers get another taste.Samsung gets temporary stay on Galaxy Nexus ban in US while waiting for Apple response originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Bloomberg | Email this | Comments

Droid Incredible 4G LTE review: Verizon gets an excellent smaller-sized Android...

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 02:05 PM PDT

Droid Incredible 4G LTE review: Verizon gets an excellent smaller-sized Android phone


Droid Incredible 4G LTE review: Verizon gets an excellent smaller-sized Android phone
It's hard to underestimate the value of brand loyalty. Just ask Verizon Wireless. It's with satisfied Incredible and Incredible 2 owners in mind that the carrier is promoting the Droid Incredible 4G LTE, a 4-inch, $149 device that -- as you may have guessed -- rides along VZW's fast LTE network. More Info PSA: HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE lands in Verizon stores, gets us tongue-tied HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE for Verizon hands-on at CTIA 2012 (update: video) Verizon officially announces HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE Interestingly, the Incredible 4G LTE is landing at a time when many consumers might have preferred, say, the HTC One X. In fact, though, Verizon's decision to instead update the Incredible (also made by HTC) introduces a rather enviable proposition to Verizon customers. Remember that in a short matter of time, the Samsung Galaxy S III will soon make its debut at Verizon, at which point, it's expected to become the network's premiere smartphone. Still, its large size will deter many shoppers, and when viewed through this lens, the Droid Incredible 4G LTE begins to make sense. Put simply, it's a compact handset that stands as the antithesis to the assumption that size equals power. While the handset doesn't quite approach the capabilities or elegance of the One X (or the One S, for that matter), the latest Incredible is a worthy successor and deserves consideration as your next smartphone -- regardless of your current provider. Read on to learn why.Gallery: HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE reviewContinue reading Droid Incredible 4G LTE review: Verizon gets an excellent smaller-sized Android phoneDroid Incredible 4G LTE review: Verizon gets an excellent smaller-sized Android phone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 16:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Mini still mulling diesel model for U.S.

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT

Mini still mulling diesel model for U.S.


Mini still mulling diesel model for U.S.
Filed under: Diesel, MINI, USA Patrick McKenna, head of Mini's U.S. product strategy, said Thursday during the automaker's Mini Takes The States road rally that the brand is still considering building a diesel model for U.S. customers, but that it has not reached a final decision. The problem for Mini is apparently deciding if a diesel version will simply divert customers who would have otherwise bought a gas version of the compact car rather than attract new green customers who want to have performance and high fuel economy numbers. Meanwhile, Mini continues to develop its new gas engines for the next-generation models, which McKenna said has produced good results. He declined to give specifics on the engines, only saying that some engines have shown more power than current engines with better fuel economy numbers. "We have seen such great results with our new three-cylinder and four-cylinder engines, it's difficult to decide if we need to have a diesel engine here," McKenna told Autoblog. "It's a great problem to have." Diesel owners would likely fit right in with some of the brand's more enthusiastic regular customers. With their devotion to all things Mini, these folks have proven themselves zealous owners during our time on the first two days of the 11-day Mini Takes The States rally. But Mini remains unsure if bringing diesel to the U.S. would be the best use of its limited resources. If they do push forward with an oil-burning offering, we suspect it would be on one of its larger, pricier models like the Countryman crossover, which has a higher MSRP that would likely do the best job of absorbing diesel's extra cost while returning the most meaningful mileage improvements.Mini still mulling diesel model for U.S. originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Facebook and Yahoo! friends again, agree to patent cross-license

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT

Facebook and Yahoo! friends again, agree to patent cross-license


Facebook and Yahoo! friends again, agree to patent cross-license
And so, the Facebook v. Yahoo! courtroom tussle has come to an end. The two Silicon Valley giants have agreed to a legal truce and cross-licensed a bit of each other's IP, meaning that's one less legal donnybrook we have to worry about upsetting consumer sensibilities. Not only have the two settled their differences over their respective advertising and social networking patents, but they've also agreed to an ad sales partnership, too. Now, if only all those other, myriad tech litigants could amicably settle their differences with such alacrity. Perhaps they should all take a gander at the PR after the break to see how it's done.Continue reading Facebook and Yahoo! friends again, agree to patent cross-licenseFacebook and Yahoo! friends again, agree to patent cross-license originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 16:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

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

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT

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


Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET!
Lots of fireworks and a dearth of crazy developer summits this week doesn't mean it can't make for a very interesting podcast. Episode 145 is upon us, so please join Myriam, Brad and Joseph as we talk about the week that was wireless! July 6, 2012 5:00 PM EDTContinue reading Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET!Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5PM ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Twitter brings search autocomplete to the web, helps find Biebs tweets in record...

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 12:58 PM PDT

Twitter brings search autocomplete to the web, helps find Biebs tweets in record time


Twitter brings search autocomplete to the web, helps find Biebs tweets in record time
Twitter had been hinting at a big search update today, and that's just what it delivered. Instead of the (quite frankly clunky) search results page, a search box at top now provides autocompleting search results that split into keywords and people. The system is smart enough to check for spelling gaffes and related searches, and results can drill down just to followed users rather than the entire social network. Autocompleting has been a mainstay of the Android and iOS apps for some time, but we're glad to hear that web users can now track down their favorite recently graduated teen pop stars faster than ever.Twitter brings search autocomplete to the web, helps find Biebs tweets in record time originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Twitter | Email this | Comments

Bentley's EXP 9 SUV Concept in Motion

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 12:58 PM PDT

Bentley's EXP 9 SUV Concept in Motion


Bentley's EXP 9 SUV Concept in Motion
Automaker reveals more images and the first rolling footage of SUV.

Scientists take mind-controlled robot for a stroll (video)

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 12:22 PM PDT

Scientists take mind-controlled robot for a stroll (video)


Scientists take mind-controlled robot for a stroll (video)
What if you could control a robot -- wait, don't answer yet -- with your mind? Pretty great, right? That's what the Virtual Embodiment and Robotic Re-embodiment (VERE) group is working on, and it's made some pretty good, you know, strides. New Scientist details a test utilizing fMRI brain activity-sensing technology to control a robot in France from a laboratory in Israel. The volunteer was able to perform tasks like walking around a room, following a person with the small 'bot and locating a teapot, using visuals from a camera embedded in the robot's head. There's a "small" delay in the technology, but researcher Ori Cohen insists that it's possible to anticipate and compensate for it. The technology, which one scientist compared to Avatar, naturally, has some truly beneficial potential applications, and the scientists have plans to test it out with paralyzed subjects, giving them the opportunity to control a surrogate with their mind. The fMRI technology, meanwhile, may be swapped out for an electrode-based electroencephalogram system, and the scientists plan to try things out with a Japanese robot that is roughly the height of a human for future testing. Check out a video of the project in its current state after the break.Continue reading Scientists take mind-controlled robot for a stroll (video)Scientists take mind-controlled robot for a stroll (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Gizmodo | New Scientist (Registration Required) | Email this | Comments

Engadget Podcast 300 - 07.06.2012

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 11:50 AM PDT

Engadget Podcast 300 - 07.06.2012


Engadget Podcast 300 - 07.06.2012
300 episodes ago, the Engadget Podcast existed, before podcasts themselves really even existed, amongst Treos, StarTACs, and O.G. RAZRs. This one is hanging out with Qs, 7s, and Beans. What hardware will 600 be accompanied by? Where on the time-space continuum will the hosts record from? Will their cortical stacks be podcasting for them? These are the questions of Generation Engadget Podcast. Hosts: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater, Dana WollmanGuests: Ryan Block, Darren Murph, Phillip Torrone, Josh FruhlingerProducer: Trent WolbeMusic: Orbital - Never 08:10 - Nexus 7 review: the best $200 tablet you can buy 21:21 - Nexus Q social streaming device hands-on 28:25 - Jelly Bean, Android 4.1 revealed by Google, rolling out in mid-July 36:55 - Google's Project Glass gets some more details 50:30 - RIM announces Q1 earnings: $518 million net loss, 5,000 job cuts, BB10 not due until Q1 2013 51:00 - RIM's Thorsten Heins denies company's 'death spiral,' predicts successful transition to BlackBerry 10Hear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace. Download the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast Send your questions to @tim_stevens. Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005) E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com Engadget Podcast 300 - 07.06.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Toyota installs generators to cut power-usage at Japan plants

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 11:18 AM PDT

Toyota installs generators to cut power-usage at Japan plants


Toyota installs generators to cut power-usage at Japan plants
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Manufacturing/Plants, Toyota, Carbon Offset, Legislation and Policy, Asia, Japan Toyota is looking to cool its energy usage during the heat of summer. The company's installing eight new gas-powered generators to help reduce demand from the energy grid in and around Toyota City by five percent, as the Japanese automaker looks to comply with the Japanese government's energy-reduction mandate for the summer months. The generators will allow Toyota to get almost a third of its required power internally. Toyota has already cut its peak-power usage by about 40 percent from 1996 levels with a combination of more efficient energy sourcing and production techniques. Toyota early last year opened its first Japanese factory in almost two decades and designed it to reduce energy use while speeding up production. For instance, the cars on the factory line are positioned parallel to each other instead of nose to tail so that employees can work on both the front and back of the cars at the same time. The new Miyagi factory cuts assembly-line time by 35 percent. The generators are part of a broader efforts by Japan's manufacturers to reduce energy demand from the grid this summer. Earlier this week, the Japanese publication the Asahi Shimbun reported that all but one of Japan's nuclear reactors have been shut down, with the government requiring that power in various areas of the country be cut by between five percent and 15 percent from 2010 levels until Sept. 7. Utilities are planning for rolling blackouts in order to manage supply and prevent unexpected blackouts, according to the publication. Companies like Panasonic are moving holidays into the summer to cut power use, while Kyushu Railway Co. will reduce its number of routes, according to the paper.Continue reading Toyota installs generators to cut power-usage at Japan plantsToyota installs generators to cut power-usage at Japan plants originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

EA opens SimCity Social on Facebook, really, really hopes you'll 'like' it

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 11:18 AM PDT

EA opens SimCity Social on Facebook, really, really hopes you'll 'like' it


EA opens SimCity Social on Facebook, really, really hopes you'll 'like' it
Sure, it may not have been the most, you know, explosive launch at this year's E3 -- but if Facebook "likes" are any sort of metric (which, granted, is debatable), EA's newly reborn and heavily-socialized SimCity has a bright future ahead of it. SimCity Social opened up shop on the Zuckerbergian social network this week, letting players plan and build cities, harnessing the site's massive user base to build friendly relationships or form rivalries between towns. The 800k or so likes the game has currently racked up clearly aren't enough, so EA is offering up exclusive content for those who click the friendly thumb. And seeing as how sitting in front of your computer wouldn't be complete without some fried breakfast pastries, Dunkin' Donuts is getting in the act, allowing players to gift coffee and doughnut "Boosts" in-game.Continue reading EA opens SimCity Social on Facebook, really, really hopes you'll 'like' itEA opens SimCity Social on Facebook, really, really hopes you'll 'like' it originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Facebook | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy S III OTA update adds brightness widget to drop-down menu

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 11:17 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S III OTA update adds brightness widget to drop-down menu


Samsung Galaxy S III OTA update adds brightness widget to drop-down menu
While we didn't have many complaints with what Samsung offered us in its 2012 flagship, several users noted that the auto-brightness setting wasn't really making the most of that 4.8-inch screen. The Galaxy S III's latest OTA update tries to fix this by throwing in a new brightness gauge and auto toggle within the drop-down notification menu. There's also a handful of stability fixes included in the 73MB update and according to SlashGear, the update can now be pushed to global models by hitting up the update section in the settings menu.Samsung Galaxy S III OTA update adds brightness widget to drop-down menu originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | SlashGear | Email this | Comments

Honda Offers Free Insurance

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 11:17 AM PDT

Honda Offers Free Insurance


Honda Offers Free Insurance
Automaker throws in free collision insurance for Fit EV owners.

Vevo Brings ‘Call Me Maybe’ (And 50,000 Other Music Videos) To The Mobile Web

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 10:45 AM PDT

Vevo Brings 'Call Me Maybe' (And 50,000 Other Music Videos) To The Mobile Web


Vevo Brings 'Call Me Maybe' (And 50,000 Other Music Videos) To The Mobile Web
If you get a sudden hankering to watch Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" (who hasn't?), and the only device handy is your iPhone, starting today there's even less standing between you and instant gratification. Vevo (the joint venture music video site from Sony Music, Universal Music, and Abu Dhabi Media) already has a strong mobile presence, with apps for iOS, Android, Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry Playbook. Previously, however if you visited the site on your mobile device, you wouldn't have been able to watch videos — instead, it directed you to download one of the apps. Now, thanks to the launch of Vevo's new mobile Web experience, you can watch directly form your mobile browser, no downloads required. (You can also watch a bunch of music videos, including "Call Me Maybe", via YouTube's mobile apps and mobile website, but with Vevo you get a music-focused experience and access to a library of 50,000 videos.)

Google slips out YouTube Android Player API, third-party apps get full Nyan Cat...

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 10:45 AM PDT

Google slips out YouTube Android Player API, third-party apps get full Nyan Cat experience (video)


Google slips out YouTube Android Player API, third-party apps get full Nyan Cat experience (video)
For all of Google's emphasis on integrating its own services across Android, playing YouTube videos outside of the official YouTube app has usually required losing some piece of the experience, whether it's backwards compatibility, mobile optimization or just keeping viewers in the same app where they started. As it turns out, Google was well aware of this problem during Google I/O this year and teased a solution while everyone else was still recovering from their Nexus 7-induced fevers. A new YouTube Android Player API will let third parties integrate a full YouTube player into their Android apps with adaptive streaming, orientation and other special tricks intact. Any Android 2.2 or later device (including Google TV boxes) can come along for the ride, and views will count towards producers getting paid. Full details are only coming in the next few months, but app developers who've been craving a chance to slip in some viral videos can get an early look at the API near the start of the session video below -- or just load the Google I/O 2012 app, which has the code baked in.Continue reading Google slips out YouTube Android Player API, third-party apps get full Nyan Cat experience (video)Google slips out YouTube Android Player API, third-party apps get full Nyan Cat experience (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Android Central | Email this | Comments

IRL: Fujifilm X-Pro1, Garmin Edge 200 and Otterbox's Universal Defender case, re...

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 10:11 AM PDT

IRL: Fujifilm X-Pro1, Garmin Edge 200 and Otterbox's Universal Defender case, revisited


IRL: Fujifilm X-Pro1, Garmin Edge 200 and Otterbox's Universal Defender case, revisited
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. If we've never explained where the idea for IRL came from, now might be as good a time as any. Our own Tim Stevens, a car nut in his own right and a one-time auto editor for Engadget, wanted to test gadgets the way auto mags do vehicles. That is to say, on an ongoing basis, over a long period of time. That mission rings particularly true this week: Jon's taken hundreds of test shots with Fujifilm's X-Pro1, Terrence has been commuting with the Garmin Edge 200 cycling monitor and Brian has owned the Otterbox Universal Defender case so long that he's actually taking back the praise he gave in a prior IRL. All that and more after the break.Continue reading IRL: Fujifilm X-Pro1, Garmin Edge 200 and Otterbox's Universal Defender case, revisitedIRL: Fujifilm X-Pro1, Garmin Edge 200 and Otterbox's Universal Defender case, revisited originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Extreme Campers for Off-Roading

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 10:11 AM PDT

Extreme Campers for Off-Roading


Extreme Campers for Off-Roading
Not all four-wheeling is about blasting through a waist-deep mud bog.

Nexus Q review: Google's mysterious little social streamer

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 09:38 AM PDT

Nexus Q review: Google's mysterious little social streamer


Nexus Q review: Google's mysterious little social streamer
When setting up a gadget for review, delicately unboxing and smelling the carcinogenic whiff of freshly molded plastics, we typically feel some amount of excitement and anticipation to see how it stacks up against the competition. It's either that or a resigned sense of duty as we run yet another iterative evolution of this or that laptop through the same benchmarks to see just how this year's model stacks up to the older model now being sold on discount. With the Nexus Q, though, we felt something different altogether: genuine curiosity. Why? Well, it's a high-end device with a $299 MSRP, pricing it orders of magnitude higher than media streamers like the Apple TV, anything from Roku and, indeed, Google's own Google TV. And yet, the Q has considerably less functionality than any of them. Largely because of this, many who witnessed its unveiling at Google I/O were quick to write it off. Despite having our own doubts we pledged to give it a fair swing, a week of solid use at home and with friends. How did it do? Does this high-concept device with high-end componentry make up for some decidedly low-end capabilities? There's only one way to find out. Continue reading Nexus Q review: Google's mysterious little social streamerNexus Q review: Google's mysterious little social streamer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Cisco climbs down another rung over unpopular Connect Cloud service

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 09:38 AM PDT

Cisco climbs down another rung over unpopular Connect Cloud service


Cisco climbs down another rung over unpopular Connect Cloud service
Cisco has already tried to soothe angry customers by scrapping a key section in its new Linksys privacy agreement -- a clause which allowed the company to monitor a person's internet history via their router. However, realizing that probably wasn't enough to quell the sense of intrusion, it's now gone one step further. Writing on an official blog, Cisco VP Brett Wingo has declared that Linksys customers will no longer be pushed into signing up for Connect Cloud, the service which lay at the heart of the problem: "In response to our customers' concerns, we have simplified the process of opting-out of the Cisco Connect Cloud service and have changed the default setting back to traditional router set-up and management." In other words, you'll no longer have to hook up to a convoluted cloud service just to access advanced settings on your router, and neither will you have to sign away an even greater chunk of your personal space -- which is just how it should have been (and indeed how it was) in the first place.Cisco climbs down another rung over unpopular Connect Cloud service originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | ZDNet | Email this | Comments

How Big Is Too Big? Samsung’s New Galaxy Note Said To Sport 5.5-Inch Screen

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 09:38 AM PDT

How Big Is Too Big? Samsung's New Galaxy Note Said To Sport 5.5-Inch Screen


How Big Is Too Big? Samsung's New Galaxy Note Said To Sport 5.5-Inch Screen
I don't know too many people who would look at the Galaxy Note and its 5.3 inch display and say "y'know, it would be great if this thing was just a little bigger," and I now I know why. As it turns out, those people live in Korea, work for Samsung, and may have decided just that. According to their usual unnamed sources, Korea's MK Business News reports that Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 will sport an even larger 5.5-inch display when its unveiled at Germany's IFA 2012 trade show in August.

Navistar may switch emissions-treatment method

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 09:05 AM PDT

Navistar may switch emissions-treatment method


Navistar may switch emissions-treatment method
Filed under: Diesel, Manufacturing/Plants, MPG, Legislation and Policy, North America, UK Navistar International's not beating 'em, so it looks like it's going to join 'em. The truckmaker, which has been pushing its exhaust-gas recirculation process as a cheaper, simpler emissions-treatment method than the selective catalytic reduction method used by its competitors, will likely switch to SCR to better appease the Environmental Protection Agency, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the process that weren't identified. Navistar's use of EGR has caused potential customers to question whether the truckmaker's engines could meet EPA emissions standards established in 2010, and recent warranty claims, which have led to two straight quarterly losses, have further fueled questions about Navistar and its emissions-treatment process, according to the Journal. Shares of Navistar, whose spokesman says is in discussions with the EPA, are down almost 30 percent this year. Last month, Reuters, citing a Financial Times Deutschland report, said Volkswagen was looking into buying a stake in Navistar to better compete with German vehicle-making rival Daimler. VW has ownership stakes in both truckmakers MAN and Scania. Heavy-duty truck emissions have been topical because of the potential to make major gains in emissions reduction from such fuel-guzzling engines. Last August, the Obama Administration set the first-ever fuel-economy guidelines for heavy-duty trucks, mandating semi trucks to cut fuel use by 20 percent by 2018.Navistar may switch emissions-treatment method originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hooray! Google Now Gets Ported From Jelly Bean To Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 09:05 AM PDT

Hooray! Google Now Gets Ported From Jelly Bean To Ice Cream Sandwich


Hooray! Google Now Gets Ported From Jelly Bean To Ice Cream Sandwich
Good news, Android fans. A developer over on the forever awesome XDA Developers forums has figured out how to extract Google Now from Android Jelly Bean and port it over to devices running Ice Cream Sandwich. The process for doing so requires a slightly geeky skill set, of course. You have to have a rooted device and you'll need to be comfortable navigating through the Android file system, for starters. But assuming that's you, then you can be among the first to try Google Now in (nearly) all its glory.

FCC Fridays: July 6, 2012

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 09:05 AM PDT

FCC Fridays: July 6, 2012


FCC Fridays: July 6, 2012
We here at Engadget tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol' Federal Communications Commission's site. Since we couldn't possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there individually, we've gathered up an exhaustive listing of every phone and / or tablet getting the stamp of approval over the last week. Enjoy!Continue reading FCC Fridays: July 6, 2012FCC Fridays: July 6, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 11:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Motorola DEFY Pro heads to Brazil, tough and tactile Android action

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 08:30 AM PDT

Motorola DEFY Pro heads to Brazil, tough and tactile Android action


Motorola DEFY Pro heads to Brazil, tough and tactile Android action
You got to give it to Motorola, it's pretty specific with its handset releases. Today's announcement? It's the DEFY Pro doing the Samba towards Brazil. The "lifeproof" phone is designed to battle the elements (water, dust and carnival spirit,) and is the first touchscreen / QWERTY Android handset from the firm. There's 2.7-inches of Gorilla Glassed screen to poke at, an SD card slot to upgrade the 2GB onboard memory (upto 32GB) plus GPS and WiFi (so you can find your way home with the morning after). How much for this party of a phone? We don't know just yet, but the fun starts on July 15th, when it becomes available.Continue reading Motorola DEFY Pro heads to Brazil, tough and tactile Android actionMotorola DEFY Pro heads to Brazil, tough and tactile Android action originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 11:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Nintendo debuts new 3DS variants in spicy summer colors

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 07:56 AM PDT

Nintendo debuts new 3DS variants in spicy summer colors


Nintendo debuts new 3DS variants in spicy summer colors
While we're still itching to handle its bigger (and more stylish) XL iteration, that hasn't stopped Nintendo rolling out the acid colors for two Asia-bound handhelds. The 3DS in Cerulean (the bright blue one) and Shimmer (the hot pink version) will hit stores in Hong Kong and Taiwan, accompanying the launch of the 3DS XL in September. No word from Nintendo so far on whether it'll follow the Aubergine-hued model to the US .Nintendo debuts new 3DS variants in spicy summer colors originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Kotaku | Nintendo Taiwan (translated) | Email this | Comments

Amazon Is Reportedly Working On A Smartphone, But Cracking The Market Won’t Be Easy

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 07:56 AM PDT

Amazon Is Reportedly Working On A Smartphone, But Cracking The Market Won't Be Easy


Amazon Is Reportedly Working On A Smartphone, But Cracking The Market Won't Be Easy
Amazon's Kindle Fire has done a remarkable job carving out its own niche in the tablet space, and it seems a sequel is already barreling down the pipeline for a release in the coming months. That new tablet may not be alone though, as rumblings of yet another Amazon hardware project have started up once again. After conferring with their sources, Bloomberg reported late yesterday evening that Amazon is working on a new smartphone that they hope will go toe-to-toe with the iPhone and Android smartphones.