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Friday, August 10, 2012

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Start-stop coming to 8 million vehicles in North America by 2017

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 03:06 PM PDT

Start-stop coming to 8 million vehicles in North America by 2017


Start-stop coming to 8 million vehicles in North America by 2017
Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy, USA We know that start-stop technology - which shuts down a car's engine when the car comes to a halt - is going to be available in more and more vehicles. BMW, Mercedes and Porsche already have the technology on non-hybrid vehicles and Jaguar and Kia will introduce it soon. Ford, too, is adding start-stop to non-hybrid models for a modest fee. In the 2013 Fusion (pictured), it costs just $295. But how many vehicles soon get all quiet at red lights? Around 8 million in North American by 2017, says a study by Lux Research, as automakers get ready to meet higher CAFE standards. AAA is getting out in front of the questions by issuing answers to questions it thinks drivers will have about why their car turns "off" so often. Here's some of what the AAA has to say. Start-stop can increase fuel economy by up to 12 percent. The engine is shut off under different circumstances in manuals and automatics (transmission in neutral, clutch released in manuals; vehicle stopped for several seconds, brake pedal applied for autos). In both cases, once the driver makes moves to go again, the engine fires up. Alongside worries about HVAC performance and the potential higher cost to replace the bigger batteries start-stop required (which gas savings should more than cover) the biggest downside AAA can come up with is driver expectations: "The engine stop-start transitions must be smooth and seamless, and drivers new to the technology will need to learn that engine shutdown at idle is a normal thing and not a sign of a problem." One of the bigger questions we have is why the U.S. is so far behind the curve on this issue. Over 40 percent of new vehicles sold in Europe and Japan have start-stop. The answer, it turns out, is the EPA.Continue reading Start-stop coming to 8 million vehicles in North America by 2017Start-stop coming to 8 million vehicles in North America by 2017 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Census Bureau releases first mobile app, offers real-time stats on the US economy

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 03:06 PM PDT

Census Bureau releases first mobile app, offers real-time stats on the US economy


Census Bureau releases first mobile app, offers real-time stats on the US economy
The US Census Bureau just released its first public API last month, giving web and mobile app makers access to its vast stores of statistics, and it's now also gone the extra mile by releasing its first mobile app. Dubbed America's Economy, the app draws on data from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor to provide a real-time picture of the US economy, offering details on everything from the country's gross domestic product to housing sales to the unemployment rate (all presented with the requisite charts and graphs). That's available for Android smartphones and tablets right now, while an iOS app promised in the "coming weeks." It's also the first of three planned apps from the Bureau -- the others are said to be coming over the next several months (both of which will also be available for both Android and iOS).Filed under: SoftwareCensus Bureau releases first mobile app, offers real-time stats on the US economy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink @uscensusbureau (Twitter) | Google Play (Phone), (Tablet), Census Bureau | Email this | Comments

Motorola starts Android 4.0 upgrades for international RAZR owners

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 02:30 PM PDT

Motorola starts Android 4.0 upgrades for international RAZR owners


Motorola starts Android 4.0 upgrades for international RAZR owners
Motorola may have pushed some of its earliest Android 4.0 updates to the Verizon-centric Droid RAZR, but it hasn't forgotten those who call the international, HSPA-based RAZR (the XT910) their own: the phone's first wave of over-the-air upgrades to the new OS should be rolling out now, going by GSMArena's tips. Who exactly is getting the upgrade isn't obvious, although at least one owner on Tesco's network has the visual evidence to suggest the UK is part of the first batch. We can vouch that at least a few Canadian RAZRs are still making do with Android 2.3. Never mind the unconfirmed claims of carrier-related delays for the update, though -- we're just glad that both Americans and the rest of the world will likely be on the same page before too long.Filed under: CellphonesMotorola starts Android 4.0 upgrades for international RAZR owners originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | GSMArena | Email this | Comments

Chrysler likes CNG, thinks electrification is better used 'sparingly'

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:56 PM PDT

Chrysler likes CNG, thinks electrification is better used 'sparingly'


Chrysler likes CNG, thinks electrification is better used 'sparingly'
Filed under: Chrysler, Natural Gas Why has Chrysler been on the sidelines in the race for an, ahem, electrifying product lineup? The automaker is taking a more wait-and-see approach. As Bob Lee, Chrysler Group LLC's head of engine and electrified propulsion engineering, said during Center for Automotive Research's 2012 Management Briefing Seminars, ""We do believe in electrification, sparingly and for the right kinds of targeted applications. ... We're developing technology for commercialization, preparing for the shift when consumers start pulling them into the marketplace." There are other corporate priorities, such as parent company Fiat weathering the financial cataclysm in Europe. There's also the challenge of marketing the small Fiat 500 in the U.S. market at a time when sporty Fiat cars are, for most, merely a memory. Chrysler will begin production of an electric Fiat 500 later this year and will roll it out in 2013. While the company has been testing plug-in hybrid Chrysler Town & Country minivans with municipal fleets and is considering bringing in plug-in hybrid Ram pickups, compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles are more important to Chrysler Group, at least for now. Some of that comes from Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, who emphasizes CNG vehicles and high fuel efficiency internal combustion engine vehicles. Chrysler brought its bi-fuel CNG Ram 2500 pickup to the U.S. market this summer. State and municipal governments are bringing a lot of CNG-powered vehicles into their fleets and are sure to buy a few of these trucks.Chrysler likes CNG, thinks electrification is better used 'sparingly' originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

LG Eclipse (LS970) pops up in FCC docs, ready to prop up Sprint's LTE network

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:56 PM PDT

LG Eclipse (LS970) pops up in FCC docs, ready to prop up Sprint's LTE network


LG Eclipse (LS970) pops up in FCC docs, ready to prop up Sprint's LTE network
Where there's smoke, there's fire and by the looks of this latest FCC filing, LG's LS970 is all but a lock for Sprint's LTE lineup. Rumored to bow on that carrier as the Eclipse, the heavyweight handset, allegedly outfitted with a quad-core Krait processor, companion Adreno 320 GPU and 2GB RAM, has already been the subject of several leaks, leaving little of its spec load to the imagination. And now with the outing of these Commission docs, we can confirm that this uberphone does indeed pack 3G/4G radios tailored for the Hesse-led operator (CDMA 820 / 850 / 1900; LTE Band 25), as well as support for NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi a/b/g/n, GPS and SVLTE (simultaneous voice and data). While we can't be exactly sure as to its actual screen size, that reported 4.67-inch figure does appear likely given its 5.2 x 2.8 inch (130.9 x 71.6mm) dimensions. That's about all we were able to glean from the spate of included tests, but if you call Big Yellow your wireless home and are itching for a GS III alternative, this could be your next.Filed under: CellphonesLG Eclipse (LS970) pops up in FCC docs, ready to prop up Sprint's LTE network originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | FCC | Email this | Comments

RIM: Layoffs Are Ongoing, Will Not Affect BB10

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:56 PM PDT

RIM: Layoffs Are Ongoing, Will Not Affect BB10


RIM: Layoffs Are Ongoing, Will Not Affect BB10
RIM is about to layoff more employees in an ongoing effort to cut $1 billion by 2013. According to one report, as many as 3,000 RIM staffers could get the boot as soon as next week. However, RIM has not confirmed this as of yet. RIM's Global Corporate Communications Manager spoke to TechCrunch this afternoon and confirmed there are more layoffs on the horizon. She went on to explain that the company is "moving quickly for the impacted employees." As RIM communicated earlier, the company plans to eliminate 5,000 positions within the current financial quarter. While RIM hasn't pointed out affected departments and regions, it seems those working on BlackBerry 10 are safe -- well, at least for now.

NPD: Xbox 360 ruled a steadily declining video game empire in July

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:56 PM PDT

NPD: Xbox 360 ruled a steadily declining video game empire in July


NPD: Xbox 360 ruled a steadily declining video game empire in July
Microsoft must sometimes feel like its lead in the game market is a Pyrrhic victory. The Xbox 360 once again topped the NPD Group's hardware charts in July, claiming a near-majority 49 percent market share of consoles -- but the 203,000 units sold were a steep drop from the 257,000 units that traded hands in June, and a far cry from the glory days that would have given a victory more meaning. Nintendo and Sony haven't shared their own figures, although the analyst group notes that only Nintendo's 3DS and DSi had any kind of increase in the month. The industry as a whole was unmistakably feeling the combined effects of the pre-holiday doldrums and a console generation that's long in the tooth: hardware revenue was down 32 percent in the month to $150.7 million, while the games in question saw revenue dip 23 percent to $260.7 million. If you need a culprit, earlier reports for the second quarter had credited similar shifts to sales of physical game copies declining faster than digital sales could replace them. Hope remains in the usual fall spike; even so, the July figures suggest the big three platforms might be living on borrowed time.Filed under: GamingNPD: Xbox 360 ruled a steadily declining video game empire in July originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Official Microsoft Blog, Joystiq | Email this | Comments

The “Leaks” Keep Coming: New Images Reportedly Show New iPhone’s Tiny Dock Conne...

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:56 PM PDT

The "Leaks" Keep Coming: New Images Reportedly Show New iPhone's Tiny Dock Connector


The "Leaks" Keep Coming: New Images Reportedly Show New iPhone's Tiny Dock Connector
If rumors hold true, Apple should be gearing up to unveil its latest iGadgets in just a few weeks, and it's no surprise that all sorts of questionable leaks are now worming their way into daylight. The latest of those purported leaks comes in the form of images obtained by the French site Nowherelse.fr that reportedly depict Apple's tiny new dock connector next to a USB plug. Got your grains of salt ready? Good, let's go.

Chrysler likes CNG, thinks electrification is better used 'sparingly'

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:24 PM PDT

Chrysler likes CNG, thinks electrification is better used 'sparingly'


Chrysler likes CNG, thinks electrification is better used 'sparingly'
Filed under: Chrysler, Natural Gas Why has Chrysler been on the sidelines in the race for an, ahem, electrifying product lineup? The automaker is taking a more wait-and-see approach. As Bob Lee, Chrysler Group LLC's head of engine and electrified propulsion engineering, said during Center for Automotive Research's 2012 Management Briefing Seminars, ""We do believe in electrification, sparingly and for the right kinds of targeted applications. ... We're developing technology for commercialization, preparing for the shift when consumers start pulling them into the marketplace." There are other corporate priorities, such as parent company Fiat weathering the financial cataclysm in Europe. There's also the challenge of marketing the small Fiat 500 in the U.S. market at a time when sporty Fiat cars are, for most, merely a memory. Chrysler will begin production of an electric Fiat 500 later this year and will roll it out in 2013. While the company has been testing plug-in hybrid Chrysler Town & Country minivans with municipal fleets and is considering bringing in plug-in hybrid Ram pickups, compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles are more important to Chrysler Group, at least for now. Some of that comes from Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, who emphasizes CNG vehicles and high fuel efficiency internal combustion engine vehicles. Chrysler brought its bi-fuel CNG Ram 2500 pickup to the U.S. market this summer. State and municipal governments are bringing a lot of CNG-powered vehicles into their fleets and are sure to buy a few of these trucks.Chrysler likes CNG, thinks electrification is better used 'sparingly' originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vizio Thin + Light review (14-inch, 2012): how do the company's first laptops me...

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:24 PM PDT

Vizio Thin + Light review (14-inch, 2012): how do the company's first laptops measure up?


Vizio Thin + Light review (14-inch, 2012): how do the company's first laptops measure up?
More Info Vizio officially introduces PC line Hands-on with Vizio's laptops, desktops and 10-inch tablet Vizio details its first laptops: two thin-and-lights and a mainstream 15-incher, on pre-order for $898 and up Nine months ago, Vizio didn't make laptops. Now, it's seemingly all our readers are writing in about. The company, best known for its value-priced TVs, is expanding into the PC market, with a collection of all-in-ones and thin-and-light notebooks. So why have we been getting so many emails asking when the heck we're going to publish a review? After all, it's not like shoppers have any shortage of choice when it comes to Windows computers. The answer: Vizio is taking the same approach with PCs that it does with televisions, which is to say it's offering impressive specs while undercutting its competitors. Case in point: all of Vizio's laptops have a full-metal design, solid-state drive, zero bloatware and a minimum screen resolution of 1,600 x 900. And yes, that even applies to the lowest-end notebook, which goes for $900. Can you see now where this would be a tempting deal for folks who'd like to avoid spending $1,100-plus on an Ultrabook? Well, for those of you who've been curious, we've been testing Vizio's 14-inch Thin + Light, and are now ready to unleash that review you've been waiting for. Meet us past the break to see if this rookie computer is as good as it looks on paper.Gallery: Vizio Thin + Light review (14-inch)Continue reading Vizio Thin + Light review (14-inch, 2012): how do the company's first laptops measure up?Filed under: LaptopsVizio Thin + Light review (14-inch, 2012): how do the company's first laptops measure up? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Crysis 3 trailer shows off Crytek's CryENGINE 3, blows your mind in the process...

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 12:52 PM PDT

Crysis 3 trailer shows off Crytek's CryENGINE 3, blows your mind in the process (video)


Crysis 3 trailer shows off Crytek's CryENGINE 3, blows your mind in the process (video)
Now, the real question is this: can you run Crysis 3?Filed under: Gaming, SoftwareCrysis 3 trailer shows off Crytek's CryENGINE 3, blows your mind in the process (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Machinima (YouTube) | Email this | Comments

Does It Pay to Use Synthetic Oil?

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 12:52 PM PDT

Does It Pay to Use Synthetic Oil?


Does It Pay to Use Synthetic Oil?
If you buy in bulk and change oil less frequently -- maybe.

Adidas Social Media Barricade shoe concept moves tweets to the track (video)

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 12:52 PM PDT

Adidas Social Media Barricade shoe concept moves tweets to the track (video)


Adidas Social Media Barricade shoe concept moves tweets to the track (video)
Adidas is known for making connected shoes -- but never quite as linked-up as a Nash Money concept making its appearance late into the London Olympics. The Social Media Barricade weaves the guts of a phone and a basic two-line LCD into a running shoe, letting the footwear take Twitter updates very literally on the run through a public account. Even the signature Adidas stripes change their hue through remote control. Before anyone gets visions of athletes checking congratulatory tweets after the 100-meter sprint, just remember that it's an idea rather than a production blueprint: although Adidas is quick to call the Social Media Barriacade the "future of athlete connectivity," the only athletes putting eyes on a pair right now are those swinging by the Olympics' media lounge for interviews. Knowing this, we can still imagine some future shoes padding runners' egos at the finish line during the 2016 Rio games.Continue reading Adidas Social Media Barricade shoe concept moves tweets to the track (video)Filed under: WearablesAdidas Social Media Barricade shoe concept moves tweets to the track (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Pocket-lint | Adidas (YouTube), (Twitter) | Email this | Comments

DirecTV quietly updates iPad app, HR34 DVR

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 12:18 PM PDT

DirecTV quietly updates iPad app, HR34 DVR


DirecTV quietly updates iPad app, HR34 DVR
DirecTV has quietly updated both its iPad app and HR34 DVR with a variety of new features for Satellite-loving customers. The application will now resume from where you left off, comes with a much improved search function and best of all, a direct line into the company's support forums. Meanwhile, the HR34 swallowed a software package that included Pandora, a YouTube landing page and more readable closed captions amongst a raft of other nips and tucks. The former will be available through the app store, while the latter should have arrived on your box overnight, well before you start on that CSI marathon.Filed under: Home EntertainmentDirecTV quietly updates iPad app, HR34 DVR originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Solid Signal, (2) | Email this | Comments

CyanogenMod 9 now stable on every device, get your fix today

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:42 AM PDT

CyanogenMod 9 now stable on every device, get your fix today


CyanogenMod 9 now stable on every device, get your fix today
We saw CyanogenMod 9 reach the perfect poise of a stable release on the Galaxy Nexus just this past Thursday. It's now time for everyone else to join the club: all devices that can run CM9 now get the firmware in the same polished state, giving more conservative fans a path to CyanogenMod's custom Android 4.0 build. The code brings an audio equalizer, OS gesture commands and themes, among other tweaks that you won't find sitting in that vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich. If you're not so adventurous as to live on the bleeding edge that is CyanogenMod 10, hit the source link for the (considerably safer) next best thing. [Thanks, Bryson]Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, SoftwareCyanogenMod 9 now stable on every device, get your fix today originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | CyanogenMod | Email this | Comments

Google to downrank sites hit by valid copyright claims

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:42 AM PDT

Google to downrank sites hit by valid copyright claims


Google to downrank sites hit by valid copyright claims
Google has been dogged by claims that it facilitates the piracy of content through its search results pretty much since day one. Starting next week, the web giant will be taking a much more aggressive approach to sites hosting pirated material by downranking frequent offenders. The new results algorithm will take into account the number of valid copyright notices received against a site and penalize them appropriately in the rankings. Google says that this will allow consumers to more readily find legitimate sources of content such as Hulu and Spotify, but it's hard not to see the move as one intended to appease studios, content producers and government officials that routinely threaten to hammer companies like Google with lawsuits and restrictive legislation. Mountain View was also quick to highlight how responsive it's been to industry concerns -- citing the fact that it receives and processes more copyright complaints in a day than it did in all of 2009 combined. For more details, hit up the source link.Filed under: InternetGoogle to downrank sites hit by valid copyright claims originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Inside Search | Email this | Comments

Next iPhone's tiny docking connector possibly spotted

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:42 AM PDT

Next iPhone's tiny docking connector possibly spotted


Next iPhone's tiny docking connector possibly spotted
We've seen the rumored next iPhone's minuscule docking port more than once. Any of the cabling that plugs into that port, however, has been non-existent until today. If photos slipped to Nowhereelse.fr are more than just flights of fancy, they show a much narrower and possibly slimmer connector that matches up with the hole we've seen. It's so small that a full-size USB connector dwarfs it by comparison, and there's only eight contact pins per side (or possibly total) versus the 30 overall that we know today. We're not told if there are any special tricks besides the size reduction, though: while the new cable end looks dual-sided, there's no guarantee Apple will have eliminated the right-side-up requirement that afflicts just about every mobile-sized port format we've seen to date. If real, the redesign could lead to one less hassle for charging and syncing. It just wouldn't be much consolation to those who'd been hoping for a switch to a standard like micro-USB -- or, for that matter, to long-time iPhone owners who may have to give up or convert legions of accessories.Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCsNext iPhone's tiny docking connector possibly spotted originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Nowhereelse.fr (translated) | Email this | Comments

Audi bringing digital rearview mirror from racing to production

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:08 AM PDT

Audi bringing digital rearview mirror from racing to production


Audi bringing digital rearview mirror from racing to production
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Audi Audi's digital rearview mirror is officially going from the Le Mans clobbering, race-only Audi R18 to the road-going R8 e-tron (click the image above to enlarge). Lacking a rear window put the R8 e-tron in the same rear-view challenged category as its racing brethren, and so has been provided the same solution. The 7.7-inch AMOLED screen receives the feed from a tiny camera just a few millimeters across. The screen is dimmable, will automatically reduce the glare from the headlights of cars behind, and can be switched off if the driver just isn't with it. For now, it appears the screen will just display the camera image, but Audi says it's working on adding more information to the display in the future. You can find out more about it in the press release below.Continue reading Audi bringing digital rearview mirror from racing to productionAudi bringing digital rearview mirror from racing to production originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sprint's Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE detailed: 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, QWERTY keyboard

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:08 AM PDT

Sprint's Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE detailed: 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, QWERTY keyboard


Sprint's Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE detailed: 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, QWERTY keyboard
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse already confirmed that the Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE was coming "very soon," but now we're able to affirm even more details surrounding the launch. With Sprint's LTE network finally live in select cities, employees are now undergoing training regarding the device -- something that typically means that a launch onto store shelves is imminent. Thanks to our source and the photos seen here, we've been able to confirm that the 4.3-inch superphone will ship with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1,785mAh battery (non-removable), WiFi, GPS, 3G / 4G LTE radios, 8GB of internal storage space and built-in NFC. Perhaps the most prominent feature is the five-row QWERTY keyboard, alongside the adjustable LED edge lighting. Other specs include an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera, an "HD" front-facing camera and perhaps most curiously, a skinned version of Ice Cream Sandwich that fails to mention the word "Motoblur." We're still trying to lock down an exact price and release date, and will update this post if and when those tidbits roll in. [Thanks, Anonymous]Continue reading Sprint's Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE detailed: 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, QWERTY keyboardFiled under: CellphonesSprint's Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE detailed: 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, QWERTY keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Digiboo movie kiosks now do wireless, still insist on Windows

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:08 AM PDT

Digiboo movie kiosks now do wireless, still insist on Windows


Digiboo movie kiosks now do wireless, still insist on Windows
So far, Digiboo's movie kiosks have been severely limited by a couple of factors, before you even get to the fact that their content is SD only. Firstly, they've required users to carry a USB stick on their person, and secondly they've only been able to transfer rentals to a Windows device. Today, however, the company has cleared a major hurdle on its passage to relevance, by allowing wireless transfers to any "Windows-enabled PC, laptop or tablet." This should make Digiboo's next step -- Android support, which is promised to come this month -- a whole lot easier.Continue reading Digiboo movie kiosks now do wireless, still insist on WindowsFiled under: TransportationDigiboo movie kiosks now do wireless, still insist on Windows originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

SIGGRAPH 2012 wrap-up

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 10:34 AM PDT

SIGGRAPH 2012 wrap-up


SIGGRAPH 2012 wrap-up
Considering that SIGGRAPH focuses on visual content creation and display, there was no shortage of interesting elements to gawk at on the show floor. From motion capture demos to 3D objects printed for Hollywood productions, there was plenty on entertainment at the Los Angeles Convention Center this year. Major product introductions included ARM's Mali-T604 GPU and a handful of high-end graphics cards from AMD, but the highlight of the show was the Emerging Technologies wing, which played host to a variety of concept demonstrations, gathering top researchers from institutions like the University of Electro-Communications in Toyko and MIT. The exhibition has winded down for the year, but you can catch up with the show floor action in the gallery below, then click on past the break for links to all of our hands-on coverage, direct from LA.Gallery: SIGGRAPH 2012 wrap-upContinue reading SIGGRAPH 2012 wrap-upFiled under: AnnouncementsSIGGRAPH 2012 wrap-up originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

FTC and Facebook settle privacy dispute, skip the fine

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 10:34 AM PDT

FTC and Facebook settle privacy dispute, skip the fine


FTC and Facebook settle privacy dispute, skip the fine
Well, Mark Zuckerberg is finally trying to make things right after admitting to a "bunch of mistakes" when dealing with user privacy on his juggernaut of a social network. The FTC and Facebook had agreed to settle the dispute in November, and now the final details of the deal have been ironed out. Noticeably missing from the list of concessions is cash. The government isn't asking Facebook to cough up any dough as part of the settlement -- avoiding the sort of hefty fine that Google recently found itself on the wrong end of. The company will, however, have drastically revamp how it handles user data and subject itself to privacy audits every two years for 20 years. Customers will now be provided with "clear and prominent" warnings any time information is shared. And, before anything can be shared, users must give express consent to for that information to be distributed. Ideally, these measures would have been in place on day one, but we'll take what we can get at this point. For more details, check out the FTC's press release after the break.Continue reading FTC and Facebook settle privacy dispute, skip the fineFiled under: InternetFTC and Facebook settle privacy dispute, skip the fine originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink CNET | | Email this | Comments

Colloidal Display uses soap bubbles, ultrasonic waves to form a projection scree...

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 10:34 AM PDT

Colloidal Display uses soap bubbles, ultrasonic waves to form a projection screen (hands-on video)


Colloidal Display uses soap bubbles, ultrasonic waves to form a projection screen (hands-on video)
If you've ever been to an amusement park, you may have noticed ride designers using some non-traditional platforms as projection screens -- the most common example being a steady stream of artificial fog. Projecting onto transparent substances is a different story, however, which made this latest technique a bit baffling to say the least. Colloidal Display, developed by Yoichi Ochiai, Alexis Oyama and Keisuke Toyoshima, uses bubbles as an incredibly thin projection "screen," regulating the substance's properties, such as reflectance, using ultrasonic sound waves from a nearby speaker. The bubble liquid is made from a mixture of sugar, glycerin, soap, surfactant, water and milk, which the designers say is not easily popped. Still, during their SIGGRAPH demo, a motor dunked the wands in the solution and replaced the bubble every few seconds. A standard projector directed at the bubble creates an image, which appears to be floating in the air. And, because the bubbles are transparent, they can be stacked to simulate a 3D image. You can also use the same display to project completely different images that fade in and out of view depending on your angle relative to the bubble. There is a tremendous amount of distortion, however, because the screen used is a liquid that remains in a fluid state. Because of the requirement to constantly refresh the bubbles, and the unstable nature of the screen itself, the project, which is merely a proof of concept, wouldn't be implemented without significant modification. Ultimately, the designers hope to create a film that offers similar transparent properties but with a more solid, permanent composition. For now, you can sneak a peek of the first iteration in our hands-on video after the break.Gallery: Colloidal Display hands-onContinue reading Colloidal Display uses soap bubbles, ultrasonic waves to form a projection screen (hands-on video)Filed under: DisplaysColloidal Display uses soap bubbles, ultrasonic waves to form a projection screen (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Yoichi Ochiai | Email this | Comments

Contractor tips: Wise advice for laundry room design

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 09:26 AM PDT

Contractor tips: Wise advice for laundry room design


Contractor tips: Wise advice for laundry room design
Thinking ahead when installing or moving a washer and dryer can prevent frustration and damage down the road.

Prisoners pedal for electricity in Brazil, lighting the city at night

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 09:26 AM PDT

Prisoners pedal for electricity in Brazil, lighting the city at night


Prisoners pedal for electricity in Brazil, lighting the city at night
Filed under: Etc., Green Culture, Videos Generating electricity through energy sources other than coal and nuclear is being debated in legislatures and board rooms around the world. In addition to natural gas, wind, solar and geothermal, there's one zero-emission energy source that we really don't hear much about: prisoner power. But it's real.Inmates at a facility in Brazil have been given an option to reduce their sentences by pedaling bicycles that generate electricity. It's taking place at a maximum security prison near Santa Rita do Sapucai in the mountains north of São Paolo. See the video below. According to news reports, doing the local community a solid helps the inmates feel better about themselves and improves their health. Gilson Rafal Silver, the prison director, says prisoners can exercise and lose weight. As for reducing their sentence, every 24 hours of pedaling reduces their prison stay by one day. The energy lights up city lights. In this age of government budget cuts and energy efficiency, does it make sense for prisoner power to become a viable alternative? Human power is also considered by some to be an important transportation power source, by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association, for example. Do these power bikes count?Continue reading Prisoners pedal for electricity in Brazil, lighting the city at nightPrisoners pedal for electricity in Brazil, lighting the city at night originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 09:25 AM PDT

Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops


Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today we're getting down to the very important business of helping you sift through laptops, and you can always head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Freshman year of college may no longer be the gateway to the magical world of laptop ownership, but even if you already have a notebook, who can resist a new machine in the spirit of starting fresh when September rolls around? Whether you're looking for a Core i5 companion to get you through semesters of paper-writing, Facebooking and WoWing, or a super-sleek centerpiece to your bare-bones dorm, there's a vast playing field of machines to choose from. While sifting through the countless options would surely get you back in the academic research frame of mind, it's a daunting task. We're here to take some of the work off your plate with nine solid mainstream laptops that should satisfy every budget. Continue reading Engadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptopsFiled under: LaptopsEngadget's back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Stuffed Toys Alive! replaces mechanical limbs with strings for a much softer fee...

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:50 AM PDT

Stuffed Toys Alive! replaces mechanical limbs with strings for a much softer feel (hands-on)


Stuffed Toys Alive! replaces mechanical limbs with strings for a much softer feel (hands-on)
It worked just fine for Pinocchio, so why not animatronic stuffed bears? A group of researchers from the Tokyo University of Technology are on hand at SIGGRAPH's Emerging Technologies section this week to demonstrate "Stuffed Toys Alive!," a new type of interactive toy that replaces the rigid plastic infrastructure used today with a seemingly simple string pulley-based solution. Several strings are installed at different points within each of the cuddly gadget's limbs, then attached to a motor that pulls the strings to move the fuzzy guy's arms while also registering feedback, letting it respond to touch as well. There's not much more to it than that -- the project is ingenious but also quite simple, and it's certain to be a hit amongst youngsters. The obligatory creepy hands-on video is waiting just past the break.Gallery: Stuffed Toys Alive! hands-onContinue reading Stuffed Toys Alive! replaces mechanical limbs with strings for a much softer feel (hands-on)Filed under: RobotsStuffed Toys Alive! replaces mechanical limbs with strings for a much softer feel (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | SIGGRAPH | Email this | Comments

Quick Spin: 2013 Acura RDX

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:50 AM PDT

Quick Spin: 2013 Acura RDX


Quick Spin: 2013 Acura RDX
More power, greater comfort, better mileage – what's not to like?

Best Buy founder wants slashed prices, Apple-style customer service in $10 billi...

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:15 AM PDT

Best Buy founder wants slashed prices, Apple-style customer service in $10 billion rescue plan


Best Buy founder wants slashed prices, Apple-style customer service in $10 billion rescue plan
Best Buy founder Richard Schulze is proposing a plan to turn around the ailing electronics store as part of a $10 billion buyout. He's proposing the retailer slashes prices to compete with online rivals like Amazon, while offering Apple Store-levels of customer service. He's concerned that the current closure and size-reduction policy will spell the end of the business, which is rumored to announce another round of closures shortly. It's yet to be seen if his plan, which would mean running Best Buy at a loss for several years, would be accepted by the company's management, who are meeting to discuss the proposals at the end of the month.Filed under: Misc. GadgetsBest Buy founder wants slashed prices, Apple-style customer service in $10 billion rescue plan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments

Cheap NFC-based chips run on your phone's radio waves, can be read and written

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:15 AM PDT

Cheap NFC-based chips run on your phone's radio waves, can be read and written


Cheap NFC-based chips run on your phone's radio waves, can be read and written
A new generation of cheaper, passively powered smart tags could accelerate NFC adoption very soon. Developed at Sunchon National University and Paru Printed Electronics Research Institute in Korea, the circuits could be printed in a similar method to newspapers, but it's the inclusion of the rectenna that makes the new chip technology so appealing. The combination antenna and rectifier can pick up residual radio waves from your phone to power itself. This new technology could apparently drop the cost of installing NFC to as little as one penny per unit, while offering up additional two-way functionality over its RFID rival. And if there's a speed boost in the process, well, all the better.Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, ScienceCheap NFC-based chips run on your phone's radio waves, can be read and written originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink New Scientist | Nanotechnology | Email this | Comments