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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

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Seat testing three electric cars in Barcelona (yes, just three)

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT

Seat testing three electric cars in Barcelona (yes, just three)


Seat testing three electric cars in Barcelona (yes, just three)
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, Europe/EU, SEATSeat continues on its snail's pace to make electric vehicles by the middle of the decade by sending three - three! - Altea XL Electric Ecomotive EVs to the city of Barcelona, Spain for tests. The Barcelona City Hall will use its all-electric vehicle in its municipal car fleet for the next six months, and Seat will get information about how the cars are working and "assess performance prior to mass production of electric vehicles." A note to our long-time readers: we apologize if this sounds like a rehash from the 2008 AutoblogGreen archives. Still, something electric is better than nothing, and Seat is at least pushing its home auto industry forward (we hear Spain has a somewhat big financial problem going on these days, too). Ramon Paredes, Seat's executive vice president for governmental and institutional relations, said in a statement that, "we are the only brand with the capacity to think through, develop and produce an electric vehicle in Spain." Aside from city hall, Endesa and the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN) will each get an e-Altea (as well as a Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive) for testing. The e-Altea can go up to 84 miles an hour and has a range of 84 miles. There are solar panels on the roof to help cool the cabin, but not to help power the vehicle. Read more about the cars here.Continue reading Seat testing three electric cars in Barcelona (yes, just three)Seat testing three electric cars in Barcelona (yes, just three) originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Microsoft launching Windows 8 on October 26th for new and upgrade customers

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT

Microsoft launching Windows 8 on October 26th for new and upgrade customers


Microsoft launching Windows 8 on October 26th for new and upgrade customers
The title says it all, folks -- Microsoft's newest operating system will hit the masses starting on October 26th, nearly three years to the day after the launch of Windows 7. Just days after the company previewed Office 2013, we're now told that Steven Sinofsky has affirmed the date at MS's annual sales meeting, but it's not clear if that's a global date or one reserved for the US market. Customers will be able to grab Win8 as an upgrade or in new, unmolested form on that date, and you can bet we'll have a review out to coincide. For now, our in-depth preview of the Release Preview will have to tide you over.Microsoft launching Windows 8 on October 26th for new and upgrade customers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Next Web | Microsoft | Email this | Comments

Google opens Web Lab at London's Science Museum, because 'the internet is incred...

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT

Google opens Web Lab at London's Science Museum, because 'the internet is incredible'


Google opens Web Lab at London's Science Museum, because 'the internet is incredible'
Still unable to resist its techno-philanthropic urges, Google has just unveiled the Web Lab at the Science Museum in London. Paid for entirely with Google juice and constructed in a basement area that was previously used for storage, the exhibition consists of five experiments that help us to "discover the power of the internet while we're on the internet." That might sound cheesy, but we've had a good play with each installation and they're actually very well thought out and accessible -- although, if you're already a hyper-connected nutcase then you might find it more appropriate for friends and family. We won't give too much away in case it spoils your fun, but you can get a flavor from the attached promo video we saw back at Google I/O, plus our gallery and the PR after the break. In any case, it's safe to say that each experiment involves creating and sharing media in a way you've never tried before. What's more, everything you do is stored in a little personal account in the cloud that you can access using the unique "lab tag" shown in the photo above. (Incidentally, all those symbols floating around in the background represent other individuals who are also currently participating in the project -- which ought to give you some idea of the overall premise.) The exhibition opens to the public tomorrow, is free to enter and follows the same opening hours as the main museum -- although the lab's online dimension will remain active for a distinctly un-British 24-7-365.Gallery: Google Web LabContinue reading Google opens Web Lab at London's Science Museum, because 'the internet is incredible'Filed under: Science, InternetGoogle opens Web Lab at London's Science Museum, because 'the internet is incredible' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Samsung 75-inch ES9000 smart TV makes stateside debut: on sale in August for $9,999

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT

Samsung 75-inch ES9000 smart TV makes stateside debut: on sale in August for $9,999


Samsung 75-inch ES9000 smart TV makes stateside debut: on sale in August for $9,999
The mammoth 75-inch ES9000 LED smart TV that Samsung recently unveiled for the Korean market is making its way stateside. Today the 3D-capable, LED-backlit set was on display in New York as part of the Sammy-sponsored SpaceFest marking the Space Shuttle Enterprise's arrival at the Intrepid. How smart TVs relate to Space Shuttle orbiters is beyond us, but the ES9000's US debut is welcome news for those with a massive living room to fill, and were disappointed after the ES8000 75-incher shown at CES and even given a price tag earlier this year failed to materialize. Detailed specs are currently MIA, but as we noted before in our hands-on, the 75-incher's bezel measures just 0.31 inches, and the frame sports a rose-gold finish. There's also a built-in web camera that retracts when not in use, and the TV comes with four pairs of 3D glasses. Being a smart TV, this guy also includes the full suite of Smart TV features, such as Smart Interaction for enabling gesture and voice controls and Smart Content for sharing media across several devices. Samsung also used today's occasion to introduce a new Angry Birds app for its smart TVs, which lets users play the game entirely with gesture controls. The app will be available for a free download later this month, and the ES9000 will go on sale in August for a super-sized price of $9.999. Check out the PR below for more info.Continue reading Samsung 75-inch ES9000 smart TV makes stateside debut: on sale in August for $9,999Filed under: Home Entertainment, HouseholdSamsung 75-inch ES9000 smart TV makes stateside debut: on sale in August for $9,999 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Microsoft responds to critics, defends touch UI in Office 2013

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 12:55 PM PDT

Microsoft responds to critics, defends touch UI in Office 2013


Microsoft responds to critics, defends touch UI in Office 2013
If you read our preview of Office 2013, you know we liked it. A lot. But if we had one reservation it's that Office still isn't that finger-friendly, even with the addition of a touch mode that widens the spacing between onscreen objects and flattens the menus so that you don't have to tap quite as much. As if in response to critics like us (and readers too!) Microsoft has published a lengthy blog post detailing the thinking that went into the design of Office's new touch-enabled features. Which is to say, it's a more detailed recap of how the company's engineers tweaked the desktop interface for touch, and designed some standalone apps that better match the Metro experience of Windows 8. At the very least, it's a handy primer for folks who missed Steve Ballmer's keynote and haven't yet read up on radial menus or the Metro-styled OneNote MX app. Even if you have, though, it's worth a read: Microsoft offers some interesting insight into the various scenarios where it imagined each touch-enabled app being used, and what kind of posture the user is likely to have, even. Whether that's enough to prompt a change of heart is up to you, but it's interesting nonetheless to get a little more color on how it all came together.Filed under: SoftwareMicrosoft responds to critics, defends touch UI in Office 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Office Next | Email this | Comments

AT&T and Verizon shared data plans compared

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 12:55 PM PDT

AT&T and Verizon shared data plans compared


AT&T and Verizon shared data plans compared
With the introduction of AT&T's Mobile Share this morning, the two largest mobile operators in the US (the other one, of course, being Verizon) have officially embraced the idea of pooled data plans. The concept is simple: bundle talk, text and data together in the same family plan, instead of forcing each individual member to pay a separate fee if they want internet access. With the announcement of these plans, we were instantly curious to find out if these new options will save customers money on a monthly basis -- and which company offers the best value. Determined to get some answers, we've broken down AT&T and Verizon's plans and will highlight the pros and cons for you after the break.Continue reading AT&T and Verizon shared data plans comparedFiled under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, WirelessAT&T and Verizon shared data plans compared originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Enyo 2.0 released in finished form, shares webOS' web app legacy with everyone

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 12:55 PM PDT

Enyo 2.0 released in finished form, shares webOS' web app legacy with everyone


Enyo 2.0 released in finished form, shares webOS' web app legacy with everyone
HP's plans to open-source webOS included mention of Enyo 2.0, a framework designed to spread webOS' learnings to other platforms -- to spread the love around, so to speak. The code foundation, while behind schedule, has just left beta: any developer with a mind to producing web apps can now create interface elements and whole apps using the technology derived from Palm's legacy. Any reasonably modern browser will run the end result, whether it's running Android, iOS or a full-fledged desktop release. We may never recreate the exact feeling of using an HP TouchPad on our iPads and Galaxy Tabs, but we know that some of its software design heritage will carry on.Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, SoftwareEnyo 2.0 released in finished form, shares webOS' web app legacy with everyone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Phone Scoop | Enyo | Email this | Comments

Arduino Kegerator hack checks in your homebrews on Untappd

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 12:21 PM PDT

Arduino Kegerator hack checks in your homebrews on Untappd


Arduino Kegerator hack checks in your homebrews on Untappd
Quite possibly the two greatest things in the world -- beer and Arduino -- have been married once again in a hack does them both justice. Accomplished maker and alcohol enthusiast Jeff Karpinski turned a spare Uno and an Ethernet shield into a gadget that automatically checks him in on Untappd. The build is connected to his kegerator through a hall-effect flow sensor that sits in his tap lines. Every time he pulls himself a pint of homebrew, the Aruino makes an API call to the so-called Foursquare for beer nerds, and updates his profile. Obviously, publishing to the site every time the keg is tapped could get messy, so there's an automatic five minute time out to avoid getting repeat hits just for topping off. There's also a button that manually engages the five minute lock out, allowing Jeff to pour his buddies a cold one without claiming the drink for himself on Untappd. And updating is a snap thanks to the simple web server that's integrated. Changing what beer is on tap in the API call is as simple as opening a web browser. Interested in upgrading your own kegerator? Check out the source link for complete instructions and a parts list.Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, InternetArduino Kegerator hack checks in your homebrews on Untappd originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Hack a Day | Jeff Karpinski | Email this | Comments

Honda announces its HondaLink infotainment system, teams up with Aha Radio for t...

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:44 AM PDT

Honda announces its HondaLink infotainment system, teams up with Aha Radio for the festivities


Honda announces its HondaLink infotainment system, teams up with Aha Radio for the festivities
We've known about Honda's plans to bring Aha Radio along for the ride and the tech has already gotten cozy in Subaru and Acura autos. The company has officially outted its plan to partner with Harman to bring web radio, podcasts and both Facebook and Twitter audio news feeds to the in-dash systems of 2013 vehicles. Unlike what we saw in the BRZ, though, HondaLink will arrive with its own smartphone app in tow for pre-selecting content before hopping in the driver's seat. However, you'll still need a tethered smartphone in order to run things, the entire kit can be futzed with via steering wheel and on-dash controls. The system will also bundle Pandora and voice-to-text SMS messaging that has already made its way to some models. HondaLink will break from cover this fall in the 2013 Accord, but a peek at the preliminary interface awaits after the break.Continue reading Honda announces its HondaLink infotainment system, teams up with Aha Radio for the festivitiesFiled under: Transportation, SoftwareHonda announces its HondaLink infotainment system, teams up with Aha Radio for the festivities originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Win a Boss 302 for 10 Bucks

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:44 AM PDT

Win a Boss 302 for 10 Bucks


Win a Boss 302 for 10 Bucks
$10 tickets benefit the National MS Society, and could land you this boss ride.

Research shows that lab-engineered muscle responds to a workout

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:44 AM PDT

Research shows that lab-engineered muscle responds to a workout


Research shows that lab-engineered muscle responds to a workout
It's fairly well known that if you want to get ripped, you gotta pump some iron. But what's more of a surprise is that lab-engineered muscle also responds to a workout. Researchers at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Institute for Regenerative Medicine have been looking at a way to help the body grow new muscle, and found that cells derived from muscle tissue (on a bio-compatible material) responded to "exercise." The research also showed that when tissue was applied to mice with reduced back muscles, those which received the exercised flesh enjoyed significant recovery benefits over those that just received the "sedentary" cells. The scientists who conducted the study suggest that if this was done on an equivalent human scale, muscle would have recovered to 70 percent of the force of native tissue within two months -- what they consider a significant amount. So if you ever need a transplant, perhaps that Thighmaster in the loft will finally come to use.Continue reading Research shows that lab-engineered muscle responds to a workoutResearch shows that lab-engineered muscle responds to a workout originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink GizMag | Wake Health | Email this | Comments

Australian BRZ Sells Out in 3 Hours

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:44 AM PDT

Australian BRZ Sells Out in 3 Hours


Australian BRZ Sells Out in 3 Hours
All 201 Subaru BRZs were quickly claimed online with a sizable deposit.

Better Place Israel lowers rates, gives plug-in drivers 'a simpler and better deal'

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:09 AM PDT

Better Place Israel lowers rates, gives plug-in drivers 'a simpler and better deal'


Better Place Israel lowers rates, gives plug-in drivers 'a simpler and better deal'
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, Middle East, Better PlaceBetter Place waited until its fleet of Renault Fluence plug-in vehicles was just about officially, commercially operational in Israel before letting customers know that the cost to drive the vehicles will be less than expected. Better Place's official launch, which happened this past weekend, means that the cars are now available to both fleets and private individuals. Better Place is also offering consumers a new lower-price plan that is "a simpler and better deal," writes Haaretz, because the previous rate was causing problems for the company to break into the market. Better Place is using traditional media advertisements to reach out to people - with the slogan, "It's not for everybody" - but it's the simpler plan that is getting the positive reviews. Remember, aside from battery swaps, Better Place's idea is to make EV driving more affordable by "selling miles" (like cell phone minutes). Previously, the lowest-cost plan was for 20,000 kilometers (12,427 miles) per year, and you needed to sign up for four years. The new cheapest plans are month-to-month leases (of a sort) that start at just 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) a month. Even better, those are "roll-over" miles, so you can drive more next month if you don't do as many this month. The cost is 65 agorot per kilometer (around 16 cents per km). Drivers who expect to spend more time in their cars can pay just 55 agorot per kilometer (about 14 cents) but they need to pay some money up front (either enough for 40,000 kilometers over three years or 50,000 kilometers over four years). Better Place's first customer deliveries happened in January after years of testing and delays, which Better Place blamed mostly on trouble with building permits. BP's marketing and strategy manager, Ori Lahav, told the Jerusalem Post, that "Israeli bureaucracy really slowed us down." Currently, there are 250 cars and 10 battery stations in operation in Israel, and many more should be online soon. We have an in-depth look at Better Place's plans here.Better Place Israel lowers rates, gives plug-in drivers 'a simpler and better deal' originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Editorial: Engadget on EyeTap, Project Glass and the future of wearable cameras

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:09 AM PDT

Editorial: Engadget on EyeTap, Project Glass and the future of wearable cameras


Editorial: Engadget on EyeTap, Project Glass and the future of wearable cameras
Summer in Paris -- you can't walk a block on Champs-Élysées without locking eyes with at least one camera-equipped tourist. But Steve Mann's shooter wasn't dangling from his shoulder and neck; it was mounted on his head, with a design strikingly similar to Google's Project Glass. Unlike that mainstream Mountain View product, however, Mann's version has reportedly been around in one form or another for 34 years, and was designed with the objective of aiding vision, rather than capturing stills and video or providing a bounty of database-aided readouts. It's also street-ready today. While on vacation with his family, the Ontario-based "father of wearable computing" was sporting his EyeTap as he walked down the aforementioned French avenue, eventually entering a McDonald's to refuel after a busy day of sightseeing. He left without his ranch wrap, but with seriously damaged hardware. What allegedly occurred inside the restaurant is no doubt a result of the increasing presence and subsequent awareness of connected cameras, ranging from consumer gear to professional surveillance equipment. As Mann sat to eat, he writes that a stranger approached him then attempted to pull off his glasses, which, oddly, are permanently affixed to his skull. The man, at that point joined by one other patron and someone that appeared to be a McDonald's employee, then pushed Mann out of the store and onto the street. As a result of the attack, the eyewear malfunctioned, resulting in the three men being photographed. It wouldn't be terribly difficult for police to identify those involved, but this encounter may have greater implications. McDonalds has since launched an investigation into the matter and seems to be denying most of the claims, but it'll be some time yet before the full truth is uncovered. Still, the whole ordeal got us at Engadget thinking -- is the planet ready for humans to wear video recorders, and will it ever shake a general unease related to the threat of a world filled with omnipresent cameras? Join us past the break for our take.Continue reading Editorial: Engadget on EyeTap, Project Glass and the future of wearable camerasFiled under: Digital Cameras, DisplaysEditorial: Engadget on EyeTap, Project Glass and the future of wearable cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Signs of the Times, Slashgear | Email this | Comments

UK judge forces Apple to state on its site that Samsung didn't copy the iPad

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:09 AM PDT

UK judge forces Apple to state on its site that Samsung didn't copy the iPad


UK judge forces Apple to state on its site that Samsung didn't copy the iPad
Apple is being forced by a British judge to tacitly state that Samsung didn't copy its iPad design. According to Bloomberg, Judge Colin Birss said that Apple has to post a notice both on its website and several British newspapers and magazines, to help correct the "damaging impression the South Korea-based company was copying Apple's product." The online part will reportedly stay there for six months. Apple lost its case against Samsung in the UK earlier this month, with the same judge awkwardly branding the 10-inch Android tablet "not as cool" as the iPad.UK judge forces Apple to state on its site that Samsung didn't copy the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Business Insider | Bloomberg | Email this | Comments

LocalResponse Teams Up With ShopLocal For In-Store Mobile Ads

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:08 AM PDT

LocalResponse Teams Up With ShopLocal For In-Store Mobile Ads


LocalResponse Teams Up With ShopLocal For In-Store Mobile Ads
LocalResponse co-founder and CEO Nihal Mehta has been talking about the potential of using social data to target ads — after all, that's what his company focuses on. Today we've got a specific example of what retailers can do with that data. LocalResponse is partnering with ShopLocal, a company whose SmartCircular product helps retailers (including Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot) bring their print catalogs and advertising circulars online. Until now, SmartCircular has been a desktop-only product, but with the new partnership, it's moving to mobile.

Inside NASA's Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:08 AM PDT

Inside NASA's Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center


Inside NASA's Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center
At the dawn of the Space Shuttle program, NASA's Launch Control Center (LCC) was placed off limits for public tours. On June 15, however, busses embellished with Kennedy Space Center (KSC) decals began whisking visitors off to the control complex for the first time in more than three decades - nearly a year after the final shuttle mission last summer. More Info NASA opens up Launch Control Center for public tours The end of an era: what the space shuttle means to Engadget Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off one last time (video) After clearing a security checkpoint, our bus wheels its way deep into Kennedy Space Center, NASA's 240,000-acre property on Merritt Island, Fla., that doubles as a wildlife refuge. The monolithic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) comes into view and grows larger as we approach. Referred to by NASA employees as the heart of the operation, the VAB houses spacecraft as they're pieced together. Once complete, a 6-million-pound crawler-transporter sidles up to the structure, gets fitted with the craft and ferries it over a gravel roadway to the launch pad 3.4 miles away. The LCC, which staff dubbed the brains of the system, is adjoined to the VAB by a slim corridor protruding from its boxy, white exterior. Gallery: NASA's Launch Control CenterContinue reading Inside NASA's Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space CenterFiled under: ScienceInside NASA's Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Elon Musk talks Tesla, space travel and something called hyperloop in "fireside"...

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:08 AM PDT

Elon Musk talks Tesla, space travel and something called hyperloop in "fireside" chat


Elon Musk talks Tesla, space travel and something called hyperloop in "fireside" chat
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, Tesla Motors, Videos If you've ever wanted to get an inside look into the world of a high-risk, high-tech entrepreneur, we've got just the video for you. Elon Musk, co-founder of Tesla Motors, SpaceX and Paypal (and Chairman of SolarCity) sat down with PandoDaily's Sarah Lacy for an entertaining hour-long interview and talked of his experiences starting and running billion-dollar companies. Besides regaling his host and audience with tales of wrecking his Mclaren F1 and trying to buy Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles, Musk gave interesting insights into intricacies of both rocket and VC funding failures. Although there technically wasn't any burning of wood during the so-called "fireside" chat, that doesn't mean there weren't any hot sparks. Indeed, Elon didn't hesitate to flame Fisker for its approach to the electric vehicle market. And we quote, "The reason we don't have electric cars is not for lack of styling." But it wasn't all retrospective. Musk also discussed his plans for the future - he will continue to run Tesla and SpaceX for some time - and what transportation solutions he would like to see, and possibly make, happen. He touched on his supersonic electric airplane idea as well as something completely new: a hyperloop. Say what? Now, he didn't go into detail about what a hyperloop actually is beyond that he envisions it using solar power as its energy source (it can store that energy somehow for night operation as well) and he expects it could take you from L.A. to San Francisco in about 30 minutes. In a tweet following the event, he also mentioned that he will expand on this idea publicly within the next couple weeks and that it doesn't involve vacuum tubes. Set aside a bit of time and scroll down for a lively conversation that includes so much more than what we've mentioned here. Bon appétit!Continue reading Elon Musk talks Tesla, space travel and something called hyperloop in "fireside" chatElon Musk talks Tesla, space travel and something called hyperloop in "fireside" chat originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Google Fiber is coming on July 26, Kansas readies to open its pipes

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:08 AM PDT

Google Fiber is coming on July 26, Kansas readies to open its pipes


Google Fiber is coming on July 26, Kansas readies to open its pipes
We're always being told we need more fiber in our lives. For most people, that might constitute a second bowl of cereal in the morning -- for the lucky Google Fiber-receiving residents of Kansas City (or Kansas City) however, it means big spoonfuls of super fast internet. While the project has been in the virtual pipes for a while, finally it looks like we're ready for the next step. July 26th, Google advises, is the date for diary. Better pencil that one in, and consider any last-minute hardware upgrades.Continue reading Google Fiber is coming on July 26, Kansas readies to open its pipesFiled under: InternetGoogle Fiber is coming on July 26, Kansas readies to open its pipes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Google, Google Fiber (blog) | Email this | Comments

Happy birthday, Intel -- celebrate like the rock star you are

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 10:32 AM PDT

Happy birthday, Intel -- celebrate like the rock star you are


Happy birthday, Intel -- celebrate like the rock star you are
Any idea what was going down in 1968? Preparations for Woodstock. Oh, and the birth of Intel -- a giant of a company that somehow raked in $2.8 billion in its Q2 earnings yesterday. We're guessing it'll find a way to splurge a bit to celebrate yet another year of silicon production, and maybe -- just maybe -- it'll publish a spin-off series on AMC based on the masterpiece embedded above. Happy birthday, Intel. Here's to CPU.Filed under: Desktops, LaptopsHappy birthday, Intel -- celebrate like the rock star you are originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Mashable | | Email this | Comments

GM Gets Into Car Sharing

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 09:57 AM PDT

GM Gets Into Car Sharing


GM Gets Into Car Sharing
Cadillac, Buick, GMC owners with OnStar can now rent out their cars.

Targeting Families, Sidebark’s Private Photo & Video Sharing App Debuts With Aut...

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 09:57 AM PDT

Targeting Families, Sidebark's Private Photo & Video Sharing App Debuts With Automatic List-Making Feature


Targeting Families, Sidebark's Private Photo & Video Sharing App Debuts With Automatic List-Making Feature
Want more proof that the private, mobile social networking space is exploding? Today, there comes yet another entrant into the game: an iOS and web application called Sidebark, which targets families and friends interested in sharing photos and videos privately via mobile. Because there are so many of these apps, with Path perhaps being the one to beat in this space, each has to offer some differentiating factor in order to stand out. In Sidebark's case, that feature is an automated email analysis tool that smartly builds sharing lists for you.

ZTE Grand X coming to UK for £190 pay-as-you-go: 4.3-inch qHD, microSD, stock An...

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 09:22 AM PDT

ZTE Grand X coming to UK for £190 pay-as-you-go: 4.3-inch qHD, microSD, stock Android 4.0


ZTE Grand X coming to UK for £190 pay-as-you-go: 4.3-inch qHD, microSD, stock Android 4.0
If this is the "advanced gaming smartphone" that ZTE teased a few days ago, then we can't help but feel a little miffed. It'd be fairer to describe the Grand X as the most advanced phone in ZTE's growing budget line-up, and if you look at it from that perspective then it's rather more impressive. For £190 PAYG with Virgin Mobile in the UK, you're getting a 4.3-inch qHD LCD touchscreen, dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 processor (no Nexus 7 guts here unfortunately), microSD expandable storage (plus of 4GB built-in and 512MB RAM), 5-megapixel rear camera and VGA front-facer, sub-10mm thickness and -- ta-da! -- stock Ice Cream Sandwich, albeit accompanied by legacy Gingerbread navigation buttons. We'd have liked to see the proper, up-to-date Android 4.0 button layout, but in any case the absence of ZTE's Kanzi skin or indeed any other customization is a welcome change, because Google juice tastes fine served neat. Now, we've already done an early hands-on with this phone (not to mention its previous incarnation, the Mimosa X) and noted its fluid operation, solid build quality and capable display, and all of those things remain true in the retail-ready handset we've seen in the UK. The budget scene has certainly come a long way since last year, but do we expect the Grand X to have an easy ride on the market? Probably not -- at least not when phones like the Orange San Diego are offering better performance, screen size and resolution for just £10 more. That said, if a pure and uncluttered OS is a priority, and if you can get this phone on a great deal when it arrives at Phones4U and Virgin Media stores at the beginning of August, then the Grand X is certainly worth a look.Filed under: CellphonesZTE Grand X coming to UK for £190 pay-as-you-go: 4.3-inch qHD, microSD, stock Android 4.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

YouTube add face blur tech to its videos, creates anonymous copies of your clips

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:48 AM PDT

YouTube add face blur tech to its videos, creates anonymous copies of your clips


YouTube add face blur tech to its videos, creates anonymous copies of your clips
YouTube has added another feature to its enhancements tool, allowing you to automate the process of blurring out people's faces in your photos. Its makers are quick to add that it's still an emerging technology, and that it may still miss out on faces depending on lighting obstructions and video quality. YouTube cites footage from human rights issues for bringing the idea forward, where identification of those involved could prove dangerous. You'll be able to preview how it looks, and if you choose to include the blurred option, a new copy is made to avoid losing the unedited original. The feature is rolling out to the site today -- now you just need a decent video camera.Continue reading YouTube add face blur tech to its videos, creates anonymous copies of your clipsYouTube add face blur tech to its videos, creates anonymous copies of your clips originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 11:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | YouTube blog | Email this | Comments

A Wide Variety Of iPhone 5 Cases Are Now Available, All Show A Taller, More Slen...

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:48 AM PDT

A Wide Variety Of iPhone 5 Cases Are Now Available, All Show A Taller, More Slender iPhone Is Coming


A Wide Variety Of iPhone 5 Cases Are Now Available, All Show A Taller, More Slender iPhone Is Coming
Anyone want an iPhone 5 case? A bunch of manufacturers are currently taking orders and shipping nearly every style from cheap silicon sleeves to hard shell Hello Kitty cases. All of them feature a design taller than that of the iPhone 4S and most of them make room for a smaller dock connector. As the next iPhone approaches, Apple will start handing out specs to trusted accessory makers. That could have already happened. After all, this move is a standard operating procedure to ensure the phone launches with strong accessory support. But these cases are now available for purchase as long as buyers are willing to order them in bulk.

Interior decorating for the great outdoors

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:16 AM PDT

Interior decorating for the great outdoors


Interior decorating for the great outdoors
Who says interior decorating just has to be for interiors? Apply some interior design principles to the great outdoors to improve your deck or patio, and you'll wow your friends when they come over for a barbecue.

Apple snaps up land for Texas campus expansion plans

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:16 AM PDT

Apple snaps up land for Texas campus expansion plans


Apple snaps up land for Texas campus expansion plans
Apple may not be doing much talking about its big Texas expansion plans itself, but we're still getting a fair bit of information about them. Following an impromptu announcement from Texas governor Rick Perry earlier this year, the Austin Business Journal is now reporting that Apple has closed a deal with Riata Vista LP for three large plots of land next to its existing campus in Austin. That sale was reportedly finalized on June 20th, but specifics otherwise remain light, with no word yet on a sale price or the exact size of the land. As we've heard previously, though, Apple is investing over $300 million into the campus, which will eventually result in the creation of 3,600 new jobs.Filed under: Misc. GadgetsApple snaps up land for Texas campus expansion plans originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 11:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Next Web | Austin Business Journal | Email this | Comments

StartApp’s Mobile Search Monetization Platform For Android Surpasses 150 Million...

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:16 AM PDT

StartApp's Mobile Search Monetization Platform For Android Surpasses 150 Million Downloads


StartApp's Mobile Search Monetization Platform For Android Surpasses 150 Million Downloads
You may remember StartApp from their September 2011 launch, or perhaps from the $4 million the company raised in March. But today, 10 months after the initial launch, StartApp is back with the news that its search monetization software has been downloaded more than 150 million times on Android. The company has said that around 4,000 live apps in the Google Play store are using its platform, with approximately 1.25 million daily SDK installs. If you're not already familiar with it, StartApp is basically a platform that lets developers bundle in a search portal with their app, meaning the user not only installs the Herp Derp app but they install a little search icon controlled by StartApp. Developers then receive a cut of the revenue generated by the search, though the user has every right to delete the icon immediately.

EC proposes 30% stricter emissions standards for 2020

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:16 AM PDT

EC proposes 30% stricter emissions standards for 2020


EC proposes 30% stricter emissions standards for 2020
Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy, Europe/EU As they do with fashion and culinary wonders, the Europeans are continuing to take the lead in tightening fuel-economy standards as well. The European Commission (EC) has proposed fleetwide greenhouse-gas emissions standards for cars that are about 30 percent stricter by the end of the decade than they were last year. Van emissions standards would be tightened by about 20 percent, Green Car Congress reports. Automakers would need to cut average new-car emissions to 95 grams of CO2 per kilometer by 2020, down from the 135.7-gram standard for 2011, according to the publication. Van emissions would be reduced to 147 grams per kilometer in 2020, down from 181.4 grams in 2010. Unsurprisingly, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) secretary general says it'll be tough for vehicle makers to reach these mandates by the end of the decade. But the EC says it's worth it, because, over the next two decades, consumers would cut their annual fuel costs by about $37 billion per year while oil use would decrease by 420 million tonnes, should such standards be put in place. To put the European proposal in perspective, the 2020 mandate would be slightly stricter than the U.S. emissions standards the Obama Administration proposed last year for 2025. That proposal, which would require automakers to boost fleetwide fuel economy by about 70 percent to a real-world average of about 40 miles per gallon, is expected to be ratified later this year.EC proposes 30% stricter emissions standards for 2020 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Unlike Verizon, AT&T Gives Users A Choice With New Mobile Share Plans

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:16 AM PDT

Unlike Verizon, AT&T Gives Users A Choice With New Mobile Share Plans


Unlike Verizon, AT&T Gives Users A Choice With New Mobile Share Plans
AT&T unveiled its new Mobile Share plans earlier this morning, and at first blush it seemed awfully familiar. Under those new plans, users pay a set monthly access fee for unlimited talk, messaging, and a specified lump of data, with different classes of devices adding to the total monthly cost. It's nearly identical to how Verizon's Share Everything plans work, but that's not exactly new for the two carriers — they've been jumping on and implementing each other's ideas for years now. That said, there are still some notable differences between how AT&T and Verizon have approached the shared data situation. The biggest of those differences? Unlike Verizon, AT&T's Mobile Share plans supplement their current offerings instead of replacing them, so there's no need to jump in if you like what you already have.