Subscribe:

Friday, August 3, 2012

Shops Online

Shops Online

Apple SVP Eddy Cue wanted 7-inch iPad in 2011, internal email says

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 02:42 PM PDT

Apple SVP Eddy Cue wanted 7-inch iPad in 2011, internal email says


Apple SVP Eddy Cue wanted 7-inch iPad in 2011, internal email says
During today's proceedings at the Apple vs. Samsung patent infringement trial in Northern California, an internal Apple email came to light, where Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue suggested that the company manufacture a 7-inch tablet, anticipating a market for a smaller slate. The email reportedly dates back to January of 2011, and was sent to Scott Forstall, Tim Cook and Phil Schiller, according to The Next Web. AllThingsD added that the topic originated with an email from a reporter, who shared that they had switched to a 7-inch Samsung tablet from the iPad, because they found the smaller size of the Tab more appealing. Cue reportedly agreed with the findings, and made his own suggestion. That email hasn't led to a smaller form-factor iPad to date, but with rumors heating up around an upcoming "iPad Mini," it's possible that Apple's compact tablet could one day arrive. And Cue was right -- there's clearly demand for a 7-inch tablet.Filed under: Tablet PCsApple SVP Eddy Cue wanted 7-inch iPad in 2011, internal email says originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 17:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | All Things D, The Next Web | Email this | Comments

German Olympic team gets decked-out Audi A1 e-tron plug-in hybrid

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 02:07 PM PDT

German Olympic team gets decked-out Audi A1 e-tron plug-in hybrid


German Olympic team gets decked-out Audi A1 e-tron plug-in hybrid
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Audi, Germany The German Olympic team may be trailing the Chinese and Americans in London when it comes to medal count, but at least it has a cool ride. Audi has presented the team with an A1 e-tron decked out in German colors, to promote the automaker's plug-in vehicles. The 102-horsepower extended-range plug-in can sprint along at 80 miles per hour and includes an on-board gas-powered engine/range-extender that provides about 150 miles of range after the initial electrons are used up. As fun as that might be, for now, the car's being used for nothing more than a shuttle between the Olympic Village and the MS Deutschland cruise ship. The German automaker has been busy publicizing its work on its e-tron group recently, including posting a video of its e-tron Quattro in June and operating a pilot project with its battery-electric version of its A3 hatchback in Colorado.German Olympic team gets decked-out Audi A1 e-tron plug-in hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Verizon survey reveals FiOS Companion Android tablet, aka the Motorola Corvair

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 02:06 PM PDT

Verizon survey reveals FiOS Companion Android tablet, aka the Motorola Corvair


Verizon survey reveals FiOS Companion Android tablet, aka the Motorola Corvair
While it hasn't actually started to roll out yet, one of our readers sent in pics of a Verizon FiOS survey gauging reactions to a new device that "may be available in the future" as the FiOS Companion tablet. As described in the survey, it's a WiFi-connected Android slate that not only runs the usual apps, but also works as universal remote control and streams "select" TV channels (probably the same ones as the Xbox 360 app) directly to its screen. The sole picture included confirms we're looking at the Motorola Corvair 6-inch Android 2.3 tablet that surfaced late last year with all of those features, home automation tie-ins and a 4000mAh battery. The survey questions don't reveal much else about its capabilities or potential pricing other than asking users if they would be interested in customizing their own home screen, and how. We'd hope the software has seen some updates since its original leak, but knowing this market that seems unlikely. All we can do now is help Verizon / Motorola with that customer research they were hoping to perform so let them know -- is this something you'd be interested in? [Thanks, anonymous]Filed under: Home Entertainment, Tablet PCsVerizon survey reveals FiOS Companion Android tablet, aka the Motorola Corvair originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

BLU Products intros Vivo 4.3, says it's 'world's first' dual-SIM smartphone with...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 02:06 PM PDT

BLU Products intros Vivo 4.3, says it's 'world's first' dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus


BLU Products intros Vivo 4.3, says it's 'world's first' dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus
It feels like it was only yesterday that BLU was keeping us slightly occupied with its Studio 5.3 and TouchBook 7.3 devices, which, as you may or may not know, left us with somewhat of a bittersweet taste in our mouths. Still, the past is the past, and now the company's back for more with the recent revelation of its Vivo 4.3 handset; one the company's loudly dubbing as the "world's first dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus." Regardless of any global, self-induced titles, the 4.3-inch Vivo appears to offer some interesting features of its own, including that aforementioned Super AMOLED Plus screen, a 1GHz, dual-core Cortex A9 CPU, dual-SIM capabilities and a tweaked flavor of Android 4.0. What's best, however, is BLU plans on selling the Vivo 4.3 unlocked in the US next month for $250, while additional availability is "soon to follow" through Latin America and some parts of Asia.Continue reading BLU Products intros Vivo 4.3, says it's 'world's first' dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED PlusFiled under: CellphonesBLU Products intros Vivo 4.3, says it's 'world's first' dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | BLU Products | Email this | Comments

Pacific NW Nationals Brings Power

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 02:06 PM PDT

Pacific NW Nationals Brings Power


Pacific NW Nationals Brings Power
What's better than a weekend checking out these toys of summer?

Pacific NW Nationals Brings Power

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 01:32 PM PDT

Pacific NW Nationals Brings Power


Pacific NW Nationals Brings Power
What's better than a weekend checking out these toys of summer?

AT&T plans to shut down entire 2G network by 2017

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:55 PM PDT

AT&T plans to shut down entire 2G network by 2017


AT&T plans to shut down entire 2G network by 2017
AT&T has only just begun the transition away from 2G services with its spectrum refarming in New York City, but it now has a target end date to mark on the calendar: January 1st, 2017. Courtesy of an SEC filing, we know that the carrier hopes that both its GSM voice and EDGE data networks will have gone to the great cell tower in the sky before we're popping the champagne corks about four and a half years from now. The Big Blue Ball expects the transition to be a smooth one, as only 12 percent of its regular subscribers are using 2G-only phones today; if it ever gets bumpy, the company promises to "proactively" steer the holdouts towards 3G and 4G. Don't get too misty-eyed. While the transition will mark the end to what's arguably one of the most definitive chapters in US cellular history, that far-flung date will likely come well after most of us have moved on -- much like the AMPS shutdown, it could be less of a bang and more of a whimper.Filed under: Cellphones, WirelessAT&T plans to shut down entire 2G network by 2017 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Wall Street Journal | AT&T | Email this | Comments

Kobo for Android gets updated with support for extra languages, more Facebook in...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:21 PM PDT

Kobo for Android gets updated with support for extra languages, more Facebook integration


Kobo for Android gets updated with support for extra languages, more Facebook integration
App updates are always nice, right? Well, if you're an avid user of Kobo's intellectual offerings on Android handsets and slates, you'll be happy to know the all-things-eReader service has rolled out a fresh update to its eBooks application. Most notably, this new version brings support for an array of new languages within the app, such as French, Italian, Dutch, German and Spanish. That's not it, however, and in addition to gaining a "multi-language experience," Kobo's eBooks application now also offers an in-book progress indicator, a two-page landscape view for folks using tablets and the ability to share current readings with friends on Facebook or Kobo Pulse. As usual, you'll find the refreshed goods inside Google's Play store, link for that is down below.Continue reading Kobo for Android gets updated with support for extra languages, more Facebook integrationFiled under: SoftwareKobo for Android gets updated with support for extra languages, more Facebook integration originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Kobo (Google Play) | Email this | Comments

Poll: Is Mountain Lion devouring your Mac's battery life?

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:21 PM PDT

Poll: Is Mountain Lion devouring your Mac's battery life?


Poll: Is Mountain Lion devouring your Mac's battery life?
We've seen plenty of users report that Apple's latest OS, Mountain Lion, has caused a massive drop in battery life. While we haven't been able to confirm any decrease in longevity with our own OS 10.8 machines, which include previous generation MacBook Pros and the company's latest Retina model, it's clear that some of you who were able to get the operating system downloaded and installed have experienced some not-so-favorable side effects with your Pros and MacBook Airs. While there are plenty of theories, there has yet to be a fix, though Apple is reportedly investigating the issue. This isn't the first time users have reported decreased battery life after an OS update, with a lengthy support thread popping up after Lion's release last year. So, how has the upgrade affected you? Sound off in the poll below to let us know.View PollFiled under: SoftwarePoll: Is Mountain Lion devouring your Mac's battery life? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Forbes, ArsTechnica | Apple Discussions (Mountain Lion) | Email this | Comments

Toyota Is Again Shooting for No. 1

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:21 PM PDT

Toyota Is Again Shooting for No. 1


Toyota Is Again Shooting for No. 1
The Japanese automaker ups its sales forecast to nearly 9 million cars.

Samsung sends invites for August 15th event, Galaxy Note 10.1 unveiling?

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:21 PM PDT

Samsung sends invites for August 15th event, Galaxy Note 10.1 unveiling?


Samsung sends invites for August 15th event, Galaxy Note 10.1 unveiling?
Well, well, look what we have here -- an invite to a Samsung event on August 15th. Naturally, Samsung's not telling exactly what it'll be showing off, but given the drawing above, it seems certain we'll see something stylus-related. All will be revealed in a couple weeks, and rest assured we'll be on hand to tell you all about it.Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCsSamsung sends invites for August 15th event, Galaxy Note 10.1 unveiling? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

How car-sharers think about their cars: less ownership, more rules

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:41 AM PDT

How car-sharers think about their cars: less ownership, more rules


How car-sharers think about their cars: less ownership, more rules
Filed under: Green Culture, Transportation Alternatives Will carsharing become a viable solution for American consumers concerned about traffic congestion, air pollution and making hefty car payments? Will it ever be an appealing transportation alternative, as it is in Europe? It depends on who you ask. German carmaker Daimler is promoting car sharing through its Car2go subsidiary, where users access Smart Fortwo minicars (in ICE and electric versions) in cities like San Diego, Portland, and Miami. Major car rental companies Hertz and Enterprise entered the short-term rental market a while ago to compete with the largest carsharing vehicle provider, Zipcar. As for Zipcar, carsharing is seeing growing interest on college campuses, however, a recent academic study has shown consumers have concerns that need to be addressed The study, conducted by Fleura Bardhi (Northeastern University) and Giana Eckhardt (Suffolk University) doesn't dismiss car sharing for U.S. consumers, but suggests taking a more realistic and less ideological approach to making it work. The Zipcar users surveyed said they're not in love with the experience - the car isn't their own, they don't need to take care of it and they don't have connection with the brand. That being said, they do expect the carsharing company to enforce compliance to their rules. Users expect Zipcar to keep the car on schedule with a filled gas tank, and other amenities. No big surprises here - American consumers do tend to demand a lot these days. Carsharing providers need to be very mindful about how they deliver the message and the service.How car-sharers think about their cars: less ownership, more rules originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

TouchPad gets an early taste of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean courtesy of CyanogenMod 1...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:41 AM PDT

TouchPad gets an early taste of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean courtesy of CyanogenMod 10 (video)


TouchPad gets an early taste of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean courtesy of CyanogenMod 10 (video)
Want the latest version of Android on your device? Sure, we all do, and despite HP having put the TouchPad out to pasture long ago, the modder community isn't giving up hope. One brave soul over at Xda Developers who goes by the handle Jscullins can (and should) be thanked for bringing bargain tablet lovers a dose of CyanogenMod 10. It's still a preview build lacking, among other things, sound and video acceleration, but if you absolutely have to get a buttery smooth UI on your tablet right now hit up the source link for the download. Or, you could just check out the video of it in action after the break courtesy of Liliputing. It's probably safer.Continue reading TouchPad gets an early taste of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean courtesy of CyanogenMod 10 (video)Filed under: Tablet PCs, SoftwareTouchPad gets an early taste of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean courtesy of CyanogenMod 10 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Lilputing, Slashgear | Xda Developers | Email this | Comments

Zimride Brings Ride Sharing To New York And Washington D.C.

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:40 AM PDT

Zimride Brings Ride Sharing To New York And Washington D.C.


Zimride Brings Ride Sharing To New York And Washington D.C.
Zimride, a San Francisco-based startup that helps commuters share rides, is bringing itself to the East Coast with a new route between New York and Washington D.C. With an already popular route between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this will add another one on the other side of the country. The average passenger from New York to Washington D.C. should pay about $25 for a seat, and the average Zimride driver should make $150 if they sell three seats. The geographic expansion caps off a pretty hectic spring for the company. The company just added a third leg of its business in on-demand, mobile ride-sharing. Called Lyft, the product resembles Uber's model except that it uses regular people who bring their own cars. Zimride, of course, vets drivers for their driving history, criminal records, auto safety and so on. They add some personal touches too with a fist-bump for every passenger and pink moustaches on the cars.

French hackers connect a shock collar to a Sega Genesis, let obscenities fly (vi...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:40 AM PDT

French hackers connect a shock collar to a Sega Genesis, let obscenities fly (video)


French hackers connect a shock collar to a Sega Genesis, let obscenities fly (video)
There are masochists, and then there are masochists. We'd have to put French hackers Dyak and Furrtek in the latter category. The two ingenious and self destructive modders tweaked the beloved Sega Genesis to send signals to a pair of controllers any time the player takes damage. That signal doesn't produce rumbles or blinking lights, however, it's passed through a port to a shock collar meant for dogs. That's right, every time you get hit, you get zapped. The jolt of electricity you receive is hardly deadly, but it's certainly not pleasant, as you can tell from the barrage of obscenities bleeped out of the above video. The hack isn't exactly easy but, if you're bold, and don't mind a bit of pain, you'll find full details of the mod at the source link.Filed under: GamingFrench hackers connect a shock collar to a Sega Genesis, let obscenities fly (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink NoWhereElse | Furrtek | Email this | Comments

Samsung demos its take on LTE Broadcast, edges closer to TV over 4G

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:05 AM PDT

Samsung demos its take on LTE Broadcast, edges closer to TV over 4G


Samsung demos its take on LTE Broadcast, edges closer to TV over 4G
There must be a resurgence of mobile TV in the works at Samsung. Just hours after it brought out the TV-equipped Galaxy S Lightray 4G, the company has confirmed (through partner Anritsu) that it's successfully testing LTE Broadcast technology. As the name implies, the standard and its evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (eMBMS) pipe software-independent services like TV over a 4G network's ample bandwidth rather than requiring dedicated networks and the costs that come with them -- we all know how that last strategy panned out in the US. Unsurprisingly, Samsung isn't saying what its long-term plans might be at this early stage, although we'd note that it isn't alone. Qualcomm was showing LTE Broadcast back at Mobile World Congress, for example. While it's far too soon to tell if there will be any American revival, Samsung's help puts the writing on the wall for conventional mobile TV formats like T-DMB.Continue reading Samsung demos its take on LTE Broadcast, edges closer to TV over 4GFiled under: Cellphones, Home EntertainmentSamsung demos its take on LTE Broadcast, edges closer to TV over 4G originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

How well can the MacBook Pro with Retina display handle Windows games?

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 10:30 AM PDT

How well can the MacBook Pro with Retina display handle Windows games?


How well can the MacBook Pro with Retina display handle Windows games?
After jumping the hurdles of our review gauntlet, the MacBook Pro with Retina display proved itself as a top-notch machine for the creative professionals it's geared towards, and anyone willing to pay a premium. Save for a brief bout with Diablo III, our time spent gaming on the hardware was limited. Ever since, we've wondered how the Kepler-toting, Ivy Bridge-packing laptop would handle one of our favorite graphics-intensive pastimes. Sure, Apple machines aren't exactly en vogue when it comes to playing video games, but Cupertino's ultra-high-resolution Mac simply begs to be put to the test. We loaded up Windows 7 on a MacBook Pro carrying an NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1 GB of VRAM, the stock 2.3GHz processor and 16GB of RAM (upgraded from the vanilla 8GB configuration) and put it through its paces to see how it performs.Continue reading How well can the MacBook Pro with Retina display handle Windows games?Filed under: GamingHow well can the MacBook Pro with Retina display handle Windows games? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

5 Easy ways to get a greener home

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:54 AM PDT

5 Easy ways to get a greener home


5 Easy ways to get a greener home
Forget a fleet of solar panels (for now). These ideas can make your home a whole lot greener when money or time is in short supply.

Alt-fuel vehicle sales slowed in July as EV demand stalls

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:54 AM PDT

Alt-fuel vehicle sales slowed in July as EV demand stalls


Alt-fuel vehicle sales slowed in July as EV demand stalls
Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, USA U.S. sales of advanced-powertrain vehicles in July had their slowest year-over-year growth rate in three months, and below-peak gas prices may be putting domestic consumers in a little less of a frenzy when it comes to lowering their refueling bills. Additionally, electric-vehicle sales stalled, another small indication that the American public remains somewhat hesitant to plug in full time. Automakers sold more than 39,000 hybrids and plug-in vehicles last month. That marked an impressive 66-percent growth rate from July 2011's total of more than 23,000 units, but which represented the slowest growth rate since April's 54 percent. Alt-fuel sales in June doubled figures from 2011. The slowdown may reflect how the lack of a summer spike in gas prices is coaxing more people back into their old buying habits of less fuel-efficient vehicles. U.S. regular gas, while rising by roughly eight cents a gallon to about $3.53 a gallon last month, stayed well below their early April peak of about $3.90 a gallon, according to AAA. Toyota maintained its lengthy lead as the biggest U.S. hybrid maker, more than doubling its alt-fuel sales from 2011. Toyota maintained its lengthy lead as the biggest U.S. hybrid maker, more than doubling its alt-fuel sales from a year earlier to 23,044 units. Prius sales more than doubled to 16,643 vehicles, with the Prius C compact and Prius V wagon each accounting for about 3,000 units and the Prius Plug-in moving 688 vehicles. Toyota's other hybrid models boosted sales more than sixfold, likely on the popularity of the redesigned Camry Hybrid (Toyota didn't break out sales), while Lexus hybrid sales were up marginally. General Motors also continued to see big year-over-year gains on both the popularity of its Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in and this year's introduction of its mild-hybrid Chevrolet Malibu, Buick Regal and Buick LaCrosse e-assist models. The Volt moved 1,849 units, marking the model's second-best monthly total (after March's 2,289) and representing more than a tenfold jump from a year earlier. The Volt also surpassed the 10,000-unit threshold for the year. Overall, GM's alt-fuel sales surged to 5,067 units from just 277 a year-earlier.Ford also entered the world of year-over-year alt-fuel sales gains for a change, boosting its July sales by 13 percent to 1,791 units, primarily because Fusion Hybrid sales more than doubled from July 2011. Lincoln MKZ sales jumped 24 percent to 594 units, partially offsetting the effect of a 92 percent plunge in Escape Hybrid vehicles sold. German automakers Volkswagen and Audi stayed just ahead of last year's diesel-sales pace, with each boosting year-over-year sales by 2.5 percent to 7,993 units and 643 units, respectively. Most notably, Nissan continued to experience lagging sales of its Leaf, whose sales of 395 units marked a 58 percent plunge from a year earlier. On the flip side, automakers looking to boost electric-vehicle sales were likely disappointed by July's results. Most notably, Nissan continued to experience lagging sales of its Leaf, whose sales of 395 units marked a 58 percent plunge from a year earlier. Year-to-date sales were down 26 percent to 3,543 units. Additionally, Ford sold just 38 Focus Electric vehicles, down from 89 in June, while Mitsubishi's sales of its i EV matched its June total of 33 units after hitting a monthly high of 85 vehicles in May. Honda also recorded the first sales of its leasable-only Fit EV, with seven units moved last month. Honda also continued to disappoint with hybrid demand - its July sales of 1,227 units marked a 44 percent plunge from a year earlier. While Civic Hybrid sales jumped 51 percent from a year earlier to 471 units, CR-Z and Insight sales dropped 62 percent and 58 percent, respectively. Honda also recorded the first sales of its leasable-only Fit EV, with seven units moved last month.Porsche also had lower sales of its hybrids, falling by 27 percent from a year earlier to just 95 units sold. Through the first seven months of the year, U.S. alt-fuel sales were up 56 percent to more than 304,000 vehicles. Toyota has accounted for almost 193,000 of those, while Volkswagen has moved more than 50,000 diesels. GM sold almost 30,000 alt-fuel vehicles year-to-date, marking more than a fivefold jump from a year earlier.Alt-fuel vehicle sales slowed in July as EV demand stalls originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intel, Acer, Qualcomm join Futuremark's 3DMark for Android development program

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:54 AM PDT

Intel, Acer, Qualcomm join Futuremark's 3DMark for Android development program


Intel, Acer, Qualcomm join Futuremark's 3DMark for Android development program
Benchmarking outfit Futuremark has announced that Intel, Qualcomm, Acer and SingTel-Optus are joining the development program for the company's 3DMark for Android. The quartet is in good company, joining a list of industry heavyweights that includes AMD, Microsoft and NVIDIA, amongst others. While the Helsinki-based outfit hasn't mentioned a specific release date for its latest analysis application, it's on course to arrive "later this year." For us, that simply isn't soon enough -- but then again we don't get out much.Continue reading Intel, Acer, Qualcomm join Futuremark's 3DMark for Android development programFiled under: SoftwareIntel, Acer, Qualcomm join Futuremark's 3DMark for Android development program originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

RIM chief: we looked 'seriously' at Android, didn't want to join the herd

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:54 AM PDT

RIM chief: we looked 'seriously' at Android, didn't want to join the herd


RIM chief: we looked 'seriously' at Android, didn't want to join the herd
RIM's current CEO Thorsten Heins has been very candid about his company's plans and past, but he has usually given the impression that the company wouldn't even consider deviating from its one true vision of a BlackBerry OS future. Although BlackBerry 10 is very much the center of RIM's universe today, Heins has revealed to The Telegraph that his firm's eyes did stray briefly -- at one point, it "seriously" investigated Android as a platform. The company ended up backing away after deciding a "me-too" strategy didn't fit the productivity-obsessed BlackBerry crowd, the executive says. RIM decided, like Nokia, that it couldn't differentiate enough in Google's ecosystem. There's still some time to go before we learn whether or not the gamble on the in-house OS pays off. If Heins' comments still leave you dreaming of what might have been, though, don't worry: at least a few companies are providing their own visions in a slightly more tangible form.Filed under: CellphonesRIM chief: we looked 'seriously' at Android, didn't want to join the herd originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink BGR | The Telegraph | Email this | Comments

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean proven carrying rough but working code for multi-user sup...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:54 AM PDT

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean proven carrying rough but working code for multi-user support (video)


Android 4.1 Jelly Bean proven carrying rough but working code for multi-user support (video)
If there's ever been a persistent gripe among families sharing mobile devices, it's been the absence of multiple user profiles -- hand that iPad or Nexus 7 to Junior and you may have to play a spot-the-differences game when it comes back. Some long overdue testing of previously found code references in Jelly Bean shows that Google, at least, has explored ending that anxiety over who uses the family gadgets. Command-line code in AOSP-based versions of Android 4.1 will let you create a separate guest profile, complete with its own lock screen security, home screen layout and limited settings. To say that the code is unpolished would be an understatement, however. Apps and even some notifications cross over from the main account, which could prove more than a little embarrassing if the hardware is left in the wrong hands. At least it's easy to revert back, as the instructions (and video after the break) show. The real challenge will be waiting to see when -- or really, if -- Google gets to finishing multi-user code and turns that Nexus 7 into the communal tablet we want it to be.Continue reading Android 4.1 Jelly Bean proven carrying rough but working code for multi-user support (video)Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, SoftwareAndroid 4.1 Jelly Bean proven carrying rough but working code for multi-user support (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink SlashGear | XDA-Developers | Email this | Comments

Rare 911 GT1 Surfaces

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:54 AM PDT

Rare 911 GT1 Surfaces


Rare 911 GT1 Surfaces
The late-'90s Porsche homologation special could be yours – for a price.

Do high temps = high mpg?

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:54 AM PDT

Do high temps = high mpg?


Do high temps = high mpg?
Enjoy it while it lasts.

Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 review: an Ultrabook with discrete graphics (and a...

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:18 AM PDT

Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 review: an Ultrabook with discrete graphics (and an optical drive)


Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 review: an Ultrabook with discrete graphics (and an optical drive)
More Info Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 review Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 hands-on Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 Ultrabooks with Kepler graphics coming to the US for $680-plus The PC industry might have 100-some-odd Ultrabooks up its sleeve, but fortunately for restless tech reviewers like yours truly, they're not all cast from the same mold. As the year wears on, we'll see prices dip as low as $700, and a few will be offered with discrete graphics -- a nice respite from games handicapped at 30 fps. And, in some rare cases, you'll find machines that manage to achieve both. Enter the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 series, a pair of 14- and 15-inch laptops that start at $680, and, for an added premium, can be had with NVIDIA Kepler graphics. What's more, the 14-inch model we tested has a DVD burner, making it as much a full-fledged laptop as an Intel-approved Ultrabook. Accordingly, then, we'll be comparing it not just to other low-priced ultraportables, but to some budget mainstream notebooks on offer this back-to-school season. So how does it stack up? Let's see.Gallery: Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 review (14-inch)Continue reading Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 review: an Ultrabook with discrete graphics (and an optical drive)Filed under: LaptopsAcer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 review: an Ultrabook with discrete graphics (and an optical drive) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

The 273 mph car from Washington State

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:18 AM PDT

The 273 mph car from Washington State


The 273 mph car from Washington State
Going out with a bang.

Mini MINI Chips in at the Olympics

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:18 AM PDT

Mini MINI Chips in at the Olympics


Mini MINI Chips in at the Olympics
MINI Cooper's 1/4-scale R/C car fetches javelins, shots and hammers.

What's the beef about eating vegan?

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:18 AM PDT

What's the beef about eating vegan?


What's the beef about eating vegan?
As more Americans switch to veganism, determining its benefits can be confusing. These four experts weigh-in on the pros and cons.

More arrests in biodiesel RIN fraud cases

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 07:35 AM PDT

More arrests in biodiesel RIN fraud cases


More arrests in biodiesel RIN fraud cases
Filed under: Biodiesel, Legislation and Policy Alternative energy and cleantech have been a platform for political jabs and Congressional hearings in Washington over the past year - the Solyndra scandal, Chevrolet Volt post-crash-test battery fires, and Fisker Automotive's Department of Energy grant quickly come to mind. The latest one deals with companies committing fraud tied into the federal renewable fuel standard, and it's not pretty. Oil companies like Sunoco buy renewable identification numbers (or RINs) from biodiesel suppliers to earn credits to meet the renewable fuel rules, but things aren't turning out so well. Last month, for example, Jeffrey David Gunselman, former CEO of Absolute Fuels, got busted by the feds for pilfering more than $50 million in fake RIN credits without producing the biodiesel needed to meet federal standards. This isn't the first time it's happened. In June, Rodney Hailey of Maryland, who headed Clean Green Fuel LLC, made $9.1 million for selling renewable fuel credits that were not delivered, and is now facing legal consequences. Similar fraud cases have been reported in Texas and Alabama, and Congress is being pressured to address the problem. The Environmental Protection Agency is revising the program to reduce fraud, and has been sued by people that were rooked by Rodney Hailey. For those doing business in alternative energy and cleantech, it's wise to do some background checking. More arrests in biodiesel RIN fraud cases originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Engadget Podcast 304 - 08.03.2012

Posted: 03 Aug 2012 07:35 AM PDT

Engadget Podcast 304 - 08.03.2012


Engadget Podcast 304 - 08.03.2012
Another week sails by on the good ship The Engadget Podcast -- come aboard. We can print you a margarita. Hosts: Tim Stevens, Brian HeaterGuest: Terrence O'BrienProducer: Trent WolbeMusic: Orbital - Never 01:15 - Google postponing Nexus Q launch to 'make it better,' sending a free device to those who pre-ordered 02:30 - Google begins shipping free Nexus Q pre-orders 15:05 - MacBook Pro review (13-inch, mid-2012) 22:00 - Samsung Galaxy Note for T-Mobile review 24:54 - MakerBot Replicator impressions: the dawning of 3D printers in every home? 43:00 - RIM tips August 9th BlackBerry PlayBook 4G LTE Canadian release (update: faster, too) 46:13 - Apple reports 3 million Mountain Lion downloads in four days, 'most successful OS X release' 49:53 - Apple designer takes the witness stand in Samsung case, brings more iPhone / iPad prototypes alongHear 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 comFiled under: PodcastsEngadget Podcast 304 - 08.03.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments