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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

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It'll be a challenge to reach 54.5 MPG as Americans get heavier

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:58 PM PDT

It'll be a challenge to reach 54.5 MPG as Americans get heavier


It'll be a challenge to reach 54.5 MPG as Americans get heavier
Filed under: Green Culture, MPG, USA Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in recent decades in the US, and with our bulging bellies has come an increase in serious health issues like diabetes and heart disease. Add to that excess gasoline consumption and additional risks in accidents, and the fat forecast gets even more depressing. Starting with the statistic that Americans' weight gain is burning more than one billion gallons of excess fuel each year, Allstate and Cars.com have created an infographic explaining the complex struggle between fuel efficiency and passenger weight (check it out below). The short version: as automakers explore their options to meet ambitious federal corporate average fuel economy standards of 54.5 mpg by 2025, obese passengers make the efforts more complex. The infographic, called "The Seesaw Battle of Fuel Efficiency," looks at what automakers are doing to meet the 54.5 mpg mandate during a time when more than one third of American adults are obese. For the automakers, cutting down weight is important because every 100 extra pounds can cut fuel efficiency by up to two percent. To improve efficiency, automakers are reducing vehicle weight by using more lightweight, high-strength steel and lightweight aluminum. They are also changing accessories inside the car, such as using MP3 players instead of CD players, flash drives instead of owner's manuals and air pumps instead of spare tires. To paraphrase Jay Leno, take out all you want, we'll eat more.Continue reading It'll be a challenge to reach 54.5 MPG as Americans get heavierIt'll be a challenge to reach 54.5 MPG as Americans get heavier originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Android 4.2 shows up in our server logs, shocks no one

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:58 PM PDT

Android 4.2 shows up in our server logs, shocks no one


Android 4.2 shows up in our server logs, shocks no one
Reports have been circulating that devices running Android 4.2, rumored to be code-named Key Lime Pie (though it's seeming more likely that it will retain the Jelly Bean moniker), have been popping up in server logs and benchmarks across the web. Well, after doing some digging through our own records, we're seeing quite a few instances of hardware running the unannounced Google platform visiting Engadget. Now, we do feel it necessary to add the caveat that there are some strange reports in our logs as well, coming from hardware allegedly running Android 5.0 and 6.0, but we're not convinced of their authenticity. We are, however, fairly certain that the numerous Galaxy Nexii hitting our site sporting Android 4.2, build JOO90B, are legit. We're also seeing a number of occams, potentially an obtuse reference to the RAZR (a Moto Nexus perhaps?) pinging our servers running the same build. Like others, we're seeing reports of the Arc S running 4.2 as well, but upon further investigation it seems more likely that this is a beta of Jelly Bean 4.1 currently being tested by Sony. Obviously, none of this is official, but it only makes the impending release of a new Nexus or Nexii seem all the more likely.Filed under: MobileAndroid 4.2 shows up in our server logs, shocks no one originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Ferrari Building a 900-HP Hybrid

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:58 PM PDT

Ferrari Building a 900-HP Hybrid


Ferrari Building a 900-HP Hybrid
Italian automaker to debut the supercar at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show.

Brabus Tunes Mercedes Wagon to 619 HP

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:58 PM PDT

Brabus Tunes Mercedes Wagon to 619 HP


Brabus Tunes Mercedes Wagon to 619 HP
Brabus' take on Benz's "Shooting Brake" comes with 737 lb-ft of torque.

Canal Plus chief: Amazon, Netflix will bring video-on-demand to France early nex...

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:58 PM PDT

Canal Plus chief: Amazon, Netflix will bring video-on-demand to France early next year


Canal Plus chief: Amazon, Netflix will bring video-on-demand to France early next year
Amazon might be continuing its European HD streaming video invasion by arriving in France next March, according to Canal Plus' president, Bertrand Meheu. The executive is well-placed to have that info, as he says his company will be supplying Amazon with content for the service's launch on the Kindle Fire. If true, it's not known yet if it would be in the form of Lovefilm, which launched in Germany and the UK recently, or if it would be available on PCs, Macs, Xbox 360 consoles or Smart TVs as it is elsewhere. Canal Plus has been fighting to keep such competitors out of the notoriously protectionist country, but it was recently blocked by a state watchdog from hoarding VOD rights exclusively for its own networks. The company also said that Netflix would arrive in France by "early 2013" -- another credible claim, considering the huge amount of content it produces that the US streaming service would surely need.Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, AmazonCanal Plus chief: Amazon, Netflix will bring video-on-demand to France early next year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Hollywood Reporter | BFMTV France (translated) | Email this | Comments

Swarm, A Mobile Tool For Retailers, Raises $1M From Nas, ShoeDazzle Founder Bria...

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:03 PM PDT

Swarm, A Mobile Tool For Retailers, Raises $1M From Nas, ShoeDazzle Founder Brian Lee, And VICE Co-Founder Gavin McInnes


Swarm, A Mobile Tool For Retailers, Raises $1M From Nas, ShoeDazzle Founder Brian Lee, And VICE Co-Founder Gavin McInnes
Swarm, a startup that helps retailers connect with in-store shoppers through their smartphones, has raised $1 million in seed funding from an ... eclectic list of investors (more on that in a second). Co-founder and CEO Rudd Davis says brick-and-mortar retailers don't have a clear idea about who's in their store, and they don't have an efficient way to engage with each customer personally — giving them another disadvantage against e-commerce sites like Amazon. So Swarm provides those retailers with data about their customers and what they're actually doing, so the store can then reach out with personalized deals and rewards.

Leap finally gets LTE, rollout starts next week

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:03 PM PDT

Leap finally gets LTE, rollout starts next week


Leap finally gets LTE, rollout starts next week
Leap customers, go ahead and jump for joy. The CDMA-based carrier is finally rolling out its first LTE market next week after about a year of testing it in Tucson, Arizona. (The first official market has yet to be named, however.) With its spectrum swaps finally complete, Leap hopes to spread LTE to around 21 million POPs by the end of this year and to around two-thirds of its current network by the end of 2015. Its only LTE offering is a Huawei Boltz mobile hotspot, but it promises LTE-capable smartphones soon. Curiously, the carrier does offer the LTE-capable iPhone 5, but there's no word if Leap's LTE network will support it. The only nationwide carrier without LTE at this point is T-Mobile, though it has promised rollouts starting next year; here's hoping that merger with MetroPCS (which already has LTE) will hurry that along.Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, MobileLeap finally gets LTE, rollout starts next week originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink PhoneScoop | Fierce Wireless | Email this | Comments

Three years of free gas?

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:02 PM PDT

Three years of free gas?


Three years of free gas?
Natural gas, that is.

Could pepperoni spoil presidential debate?

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 02:02 PM PDT

Could pepperoni spoil presidential debate?


Could pepperoni spoil presidential debate?
During the next presidential debate, the candidates will be pondering the important questions of our time. But the most controversial may be "Sausage or pepperoni?"

GM closes NY fuel cell facility, consolidates hydrogen research in MI

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 01:06 PM PDT

GM closes NY fuel cell facility, consolidates hydrogen research in MI


GM closes NY fuel cell facility, consolidates hydrogen research in MI
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, Manufacturing/Plants, GM The town of Honeoye Falls, NY, got a jolt on October 5, when General Motors announced it would be closing down its fuel-cell research facility there. The 220 GM employees were given the opportunity to move to Pontiac, MI, where GM will be consolidating its fuel cell program to capitalize on "synergies" with the automaker's Global Powertrain Engineering headquarters. It's a real loss for Honeoye Falls, near Rochester, NY, which was counting on having skilled, high-paid employees living in the area. It had been cited by local officials and business leaders as an example of how well things were going for the area's high-tech business. From GM's perspective, it makes sense to consolidate operations to continue its focus on electric vehicles and fuel cells. Fuel cell vehicles are lagging behind electric vehicles in product planning, but GM has been fascinated with this technology for years. Its first efforts began in 1969, and more attention was given to the technology staring in the late 1990s. GM's fuel cell chief, Charlie Freese, thinks fuel cell vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell version, could be viable commercially by 2015 or 2016. Like other alternative vehicle technologies, though, fuel cell vehicles needs a lot more work first, mostly in improved infrastructure and becoming more cost competitive. GM knows its competitors will be releasing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, too, but Freese says the automaker has not announced any new programs. It's going to take a few years for commercial fuel cell vehicles to be a reality for GM. "The first generation of these cars won't be profitable," Freese said.GM closes NY fuel cell facility, consolidates hydrogen research in MI originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sony Alpha NEX-6 sample shots and video

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 01:06 PM PDT

Sony Alpha NEX-6 sample shots and video


Sony Alpha NEX-6 sample shots and video
Sony's fourth member of the acclaimed NEX family of cameras, the NEX-6, predictably slots in between the 5N and 7 in its mirrorless product lineup. We've seen the 6 hardware a few times, and now we've gotten to take some pictures with the thing. Want to know how its 16.1-megapixel APS-C sensor performed? Check out our gallery below and head on past the break for a video sample and our impressions.Gallery: Sony Alpha NEX-6 sample photosContinue reading Sony Alpha NEX-6 sample shots and videoFiled under: Cameras, SonySony Alpha NEX-6 sample shots and video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Department Of Defense To Private Sector: We Need Your Help With Mobile Innovation

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 01:05 PM PDT

Department Of Defense To Private Sector: We Need Your Help With Mobile Innovation


Department Of Defense To Private Sector: We Need Your Help With Mobile Innovation
On stage at the second-day keynote, Major General Robert Wheeler talked about the changing role of industry and enterprise as it relates to technological innovation, and how where once the military led in that department, now the vast majority of advances are being driven by advances made in the private sector. And that means the DoD is in a position of asking for help from a variety of sources.

eBay unveils redesign, deals site and launches same-day delivery

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 01:05 PM PDT

eBay unveils redesign, deals site and launches same-day delivery


eBay unveils redesign, deals site and launches same-day delivery
After eBay finally straightened out its logo and became ebay (it'll always be camel-cased in our hearts) it seemed only logical that the site itself would get a long overdue facelift too. At a press event today in NYC the tenacious dot-com holdover unveiled the most dramatic redesign of its long and storied existence. The look has been compared, repeatedly in the media, to Pinterest with its endless, uneven grid of product boxes and curated feed of auctions. The design is cleaner, with less text and better suited to scale for mobile and the upcoming onslaught of touchscreens. You can also like auctions on Facebook, which it hopes will drive more traffic to the site. The company quietly launched eBay Lifestyle Deals as well, a local coupon service in the vein of Groupon and Google Offers. Right now the deals are only available in a few major cities, including Washington DC, San Francisco and LA. SF is also the beneficiary of eBay Now, the same-day delivery service that entered beta testing in early August. There isn't an immediate expansion to accompany the end of the trial, but more cities should be added soon. If you're not seeing the new design yet, look for the "Feeds" option on the home page to switch over now.Filed under: InterneteBay unveils redesign, deals site and launches same-day delivery originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechCrunch, Reuters | eBay 1, 2, 3 | Email this | Comments

TweetDeck gets a makeover, new update brings themes and improved fonts

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 12:10 PM PDT

TweetDeck gets a makeover, new update brings themes and improved fonts


TweetDeck gets a makeover, new update brings themes and improved fonts
If you're a social media junkie and TweetDeck is your pusherman, you may or may not be happy to know that the Twitter-owned application has received a cosmetic update -- one which inches the platform further away from the post-buyout product that power users once knew and loved. While subtle, the latest software bump brings enhanced, adjustable fonts and a brand new "lighter theme" that features dark text against a light background. The update is now available for Windows, Chrome and Mac web users. As for you app fans, Chrome and Windows requires a restart, while Mac users will need to visit the App Store. Those looking to keep it retro can always get their download on at OldApps.Filed under: SoftwareTweetDeck gets a makeover, new update brings themes and improved fonts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink CNET | TweetDeck blog | Email this | Comments

At Long Last, RIM Starts Taking BlackBerry 10 App Submissions

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 12:10 PM PDT

At Long Last, RIM Starts Taking BlackBerry 10 App Submissions


At Long Last, RIM Starts Taking BlackBerry 10 App Submissions
BlackBerry 10 is still a ways away (exactly how long is a topic of hot debate) but RIM has been busy laying the groundwork for it for months now. Aspiring BB10 developers have seen that work firsthand, and now it's apparently their turn to contribute. RIM announced earlier today that developers can up submit their BlackBerry 10 apps for inclusion in the company's App World when the new platform launches in Q1 2013. Even though the company plans to out both full-touch and QWERTY keyboard-packing BB10 devices, these first submissions are strictly for touch-only apps.

RIM Zeroes In On Separation Of Work And Play In BlackBerry OS 10: Will That Fly...

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 12:09 PM PDT

RIM Zeroes In On Separation Of Work And Play In BlackBerry OS 10: Will That Fly With The BYOD Generation?


RIM Zeroes In On Separation Of Work And Play In BlackBerry OS 10: Will That Fly With The BYOD Generation?
On stage at CTIA's MobileCon keynote today, RIM's Jeff Gadway gave on on-stage demo of the upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system. It emphasized that RIM's goal with BB10 is to provide something for everyone: a social, entertainment platform for consumers and a secure environment to make IT managers happy. But can a mobile OS these days have its cake and eat it, too, in the way RIM envisions?

2013 Evoque Gets a Price Drop

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 12:09 PM PDT

2013 Evoque Gets a Price Drop


2013 Evoque Gets a Price Drop
Land Rover hopes to further boost sales of its hot-selling SUV.

GM-Volt.com founder trades in Chevy Volt for Ford C-Max Energi

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 11:12 AM PDT

GM-Volt.com founder trades in Chevy Volt for Ford C-Max Energi


GM-Volt.com founder trades in Chevy Volt for Ford C-Max Energi
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, MPG Dr. Lyle Dennis, who founded the influential GM-Volt enthusiast website long before the Chevrolet Volt came to market, is trading in his 2011 Volt for a Ford C-Max Energi. Why? Seating - he needs space for five to transport his wife and three kids and the Volt only holds four people. GM-Volt was able to accumulate a buyer list of 54,000 names that helped convince General Motors to hurry up and build the Volt. Dennis was eventually invited to sit on GM's Volt Consumer Advisory Board. He still enthusiastically supports the Volt and is proud to have owned the eighth unit off the production line in December 2010. "So far I have driven the car 14,000 miles with a lifetime 190 mpg. It has been a fun high tech and dependable car," he said. GM is sticking with the advanced technology in the Volt, but the only announced plan for the Voltec technology right now is to make a more expensive Volt, basically, in the Cadillac ELR. GM-Volt reaches an audience that could be interested in such a vehicle - engineers, scientists, IT professionals and others wowed by its paradigm-shifting power system - but there's a case to be made that when GM decided not to build the five-passenger Volt MPV5 concept we saw back in 2010, it was a missed opportunity. When he first saw the Volt, Dennis was disappointed to discover the large T-shaped battery pack in the back seat, taking away the rear middle seating space. His wife used to drive a three-row row SUV but opted to swap it out for a Nissan Leaf. Between the two plug-in vehicles, Dennis had nothing that could fit the whole family. Enter the competition.Ford, finally offering something in the plug-in hybrid segment, has the fifth seat advantage in the C-Max Energy and that car starts off with a lower price that the car's direct competition: the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid. For now, the Prius Plug-in is outselling the C-Max Energi, but add up all these practical benefits - seating for five, high fuel economy and more affordable monthly payments - and you can see how Ford could build a niche for the C-Max Energi within the budget sensitive, family focused car shopper audience. It worked on Dennis.GM-Volt.com founder trades in Chevy Volt for Ford C-Max Energi originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

MIT pencils in carbon nanotube gas sensor that's cheaper, less hazardous (video)

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 11:12 AM PDT

MIT pencils in carbon nanotube gas sensor that's cheaper, less hazardous (video)


MIT pencils in carbon nanotube gas sensor that's cheaper, less hazardous (video)
Carbon nanotube-based sensors are good at sniffing out all kinds of things, but applying the cylindrical molecules to a substrate has traditionally been a dangerous and unreliable process. Now, researchers at MIT have found a way to avoid the hazardous solvents that are currently used, by compressing commercially available nanotube powders into a pencil lead-shaped material. That allowed them to sketch the material directly onto paper imprinted with gold electrodes (as shown above), then measure the current flowing through the resisting carbon nanotubes -- allowing detection of any gases that stick to the material. It works even if the marks aren't uniform, according to the team, and the tech would open up new avenues to cheaper sensors that would be particularly adroit at detecting rotten fruit or natural gas leaks. For more info, sniff out the video after the break.Continue reading MIT pencils in carbon nanotube gas sensor that's cheaper, less hazardous (video)Filed under: Science, AltMIT pencils in carbon nanotube gas sensor that's cheaper, less hazardous (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Inhabitat | MIT | Email this | Comments

RIM opens BlackBerry 10 app submissions

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 11:12 AM PDT

RIM opens BlackBerry 10 app submissions


RIM opens BlackBerry 10 app submissions
Any BlackBerry 10 developers sufficiently entranced by their Dev Alpha units can now make good on the work they've accomplished so far. As promised, RIM is accepting app submissions for the platform ahead of its launch early next year. Fast-acting teams who jump in today should see their titles at the front of the queue when BlackBerry App World starts supporting the modern platform. They'll have to focus on full-touch hardware rather than mixed QWERTY and touch devices, however. There's no guarantee that RIM will see a flood of apps after opening its doors, but the company reminds us that there's incentives to move quickly -- 10,000 incentives, in fact.Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, RIMRIM opens BlackBerry 10 app submissions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Inside BlackBerry Developer Blog | Email this | Comments

Acura updates, then kills odd ZDX crossover

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 11:12 AM PDT

Acura updates, then kills odd ZDX crossover


Acura updates, then kills odd ZDX crossover
Pulls the plug on slow-seller.

Slickdeals' best in tech for October 10th: SSDs, Sennheiser in-ear headphones an...

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:17 AM PDT

Slickdeals' best in tech for October 10th: SSDs, Sennheiser in-ear headphones and more


Slickdeals' best in tech for October 10th: SSDs, Sennheiser in-ear headphones and more
Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. If the mid-week blues have you down, perhaps a new batch of discounted tech will be just the thing to cheer you up. This time around, solid state drives from both Samsung and Intel make the cut alongside a pair of in-ears from Sennheiser that will allow you to use that Yacht Rock playlist to drown out your coworkers. Jump past the break to view the whole group, but remember to be mindful of those coupon codes and rebate forms.Continue reading Slickdeals' best in tech for October 10th: SSDs, Sennheiser in-ear headphones and moreFiled under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio/Video, Storage, Software, Samsung, IntelSlickdeals' best in tech for October 10th: SSDs, Sennheiser in-ear headphones and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Canada vaguely hints it'll block Huawei from government projects, citing securit...

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:17 AM PDT

Canada vaguely hints it'll block Huawei from government projects, citing security concerns


Canada vaguely hints it'll block Huawei from government projects, citing security concerns
After the hammering Huawei received from the US Congress, it was probably hoping to catch a break north of the border. Unfortunately for Huawei, Canada's government has obtusely hinted that it, too, would block the company from bidding to build its new secure network. Andrew MacDougall said that it would use national security provisions to avoid international trade laws, and when asked directly about the Chinese company, was quoted as saying "I'll leave it to you if you think... Huawei should be a part of a Canadian government security system." However, the telecoms business thinks it can get around the rule, because it has a locally incorporated subsidiary -- but given that even the house committee chairman is lobbying against it, we wouldn't be getting our hopes up. [Original image credit: The Canadian Press / Sean Kilpatrick]Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, NetworkingCanada vaguely hints it'll block Huawei from government projects, citing security concerns originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Tech-Eye | Reuters | Email this | Comments

BlackBerry 10: RIM Demos Key Features Of Next-Gen Mobile OS Ahead Of Q1 2013 Rel...

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:17 AM PDT

BlackBerry 10: RIM Demos Key Features Of Next-Gen Mobile OS Ahead Of Q1 2013 Release


BlackBerry 10: RIM Demos Key Features Of Next-Gen Mobile OS Ahead Of Q1 2013 Release
BlackBerry-maker RIM demoed another pre-release build of BlackBerry 10 in London today – including showing the camera Timeshift software working in real-time, and detailing a feature which allows BB10 users to switch between a personal and work mode. The new UI is a big departure for the company – as indeed it needs to be. The word RIM continually uses to illustrate its ethos with BB10 is 'flow'.

Luxe trailer lets you bring the bar with you

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:17 AM PDT

Luxe trailer lets you bring the bar with you


Luxe trailer lets you bring the bar with you
Now that's a lot of holiday cheer.

KIDO’Z Arrives On Mobile, Making Android Devices Safe For Kids

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:16 AM PDT

KIDO'Z Arrives On Mobile, Making Android Devices Safe For Kids


KIDO'Z Arrives On Mobile, Making Android Devices Safe For Kids
Tel Aviv-based KIDO'Z, which got its start back in 2009 as a kid-friendly media browser for desktop computers is finally making the jump to mobile. The company is today officially announcing an Android version of its software that enables parents to lock down their smartphones and tablets, only allowing kids access to approved mobile applications and websites. The app also provides kids with a directory of pre-approved childsafe apps to choose from when they're in search of new content.

Czech Microsoft manager claims Office 2013 will reach Android and iOS, rest of c...

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:16 AM PDT

Czech Microsoft manager claims Office 2013 will reach Android and iOS, rest of company is less certain


Czech Microsoft manager claims Office 2013 will reach Android and iOS, rest of company is less certain
The story of Office for the iPad has been something of a rollercoaster. Depending on who you've talked to this year, the mobile app has been on, then off, then on again... if it was ever real to start with. Imagine our surprise, then, when IHNED says Microsoft Czech Republic product manager Petr Bobek "confirmed" native Android and iOS ports of Office 2013 during a press conference. The Office division higher-up reportedly outlined a strategy where the productivity suite would reach Windows for large businesses and individuals in December and February respectively, but would reach "other platforms" later on through more than just mobile-optimized web versions. It sounds promising, but we have reason for skepticism -- assuming the testimony is accurate, there's still a history of employees at Microsoft and other companies overstepping their boundaries without direct guidance from the corporate mothership. We reached out to Microsoft ourselves, and a spokesperson gave us a relatively conservative answer. While the company reiterated statements that "Office Mobile will work across Windows Phones, Android phones and iOS," it added that there was "nothing additional to announce" regarding Office's retail availability. As much of a glimmer of hope that might represent for some Android and iOS fans, it doesn't equate to a direct Office 2013 port with a release schedule. [Image credit: The Daily]Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, MicrosoftCzech Microsoft manager claims Office 2013 will reach Android and iOS, rest of company is less certain originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge | IHNED (translated) | Email this | Comments

Sony unveils touch-enabled Vaio T13 Ultrabook running Windows 8, we go hands-on...

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:16 AM PDT

Sony unveils touch-enabled Vaio T13 Ultrabook running Windows 8, we go hands-on (video)


Sony unveils touch-enabled Vaio T13 Ultrabook running Windows 8, we go hands-on (video)
Here's the thing with Windows 8: staring at those live tiles feels kinda weird if you can't reach out and touch them. That's why Sony has upgraded its Vaio T13 Ultrabook with a touch panel (making it technically the T13-2), allowing you to reach out across the keyboard and swipe away to your heart's content. We've just left some fingerprints on a high-spec model with a Core i7 processor, 1366 x 768 resolution, 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM, which will sell in the UK from October 26th priced somewhere north of £1,000 (or $1,600, though Sony doesn't set exact prices). A more modestly equipped i7, with 4GB and a 500GB hybrid drive should be somewhere around £900 ($1,400), while an entry-level i3 will start at £700 ($1,100), give or take. Bear mind that the dollar prices will be much lower than these currency conversions suggest -- for reference, the original T13 starts at just $770. Our first impression was that enabling touch on this traditional form factor was slightly awkward, especially if the purpose of touching the screen was to achieve something that would have been more readily accomplished with a tap on the keyboard -- such as adjusting brightness, scrolling or returning to the home screen. On the other hand, the UI was incredibly responsive on the Core i7 processor and over time the touchscreen may well come to feel more natural than the touchpad within Microsoft's new OS. Just bear in mind that enabling touch comes with a couple of sacrifices, aside from any price premium: it adds 100 grams and 1mm in thickness to an Ultrabook that was already on the chunky side, due to the addition of tougher hinges as well as the extra layer in the display. Check out our hands-on video after the break and make up your own mind.Gallery: Sony Vaio T13 with touchscreen hands-onContinue reading Sony unveils touch-enabled Vaio T13 Ultrabook running Windows 8, we go hands-on (video)Filed under: LaptopsSony unveils touch-enabled Vaio T13 Ultrabook running Windows 8, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Pioneer XDJ-Aero review: a DJ controller that loves music, hates physical formats

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:16 AM PDT

Pioneer XDJ-Aero review: a DJ controller that loves music, hates physical formats


Pioneer XDJ-Aero review: a DJ controller that loves music, hates physical formats
Pioneer has enjoyed a fairly tight grip on the upper-end of the DJ market, but if you step out of the professional DJ booth, and into the bars and bedrooms, the competition starts to heat up. So when we heard about the XDJ-Aero and its curious new WiFi functionality, we were interested to see how this $1,399 controller would be received. That's not to say the DJ mainstay doesn't hold its ground in this busier market -- it does -- but as the far more frequent product release schedule will attest, the industry standard crown is still up for grabs. There's the other issue of software to consider, also. Pioneer has remained fairly neutral so far, releasing controllers for the big two platforms already, with the paint barely dry on its latest addition. The XDJ-Aero, however, hints at a new approach. One where you don't need to choose your software gang colors to be involved. This isn't the first bit of kit that lets you play direct from USB drives or skip the laptop, but it's the first from Pioneer that clearly heads out in its own direction. Ditch the Traktor, wean yourself of Serato, even forget CDs and just get on with the mixing. That seems to be what the XDJ-Aero is about, but does it hold its own? We popped a few of our favorite ditties on to find out.Gallery: Pioneer XDJ-Aero reviewContinue reading Pioneer XDJ-Aero review: a DJ controller that loves music, hates physical formatsFiled under: MiscPioneer XDJ-Aero review: a DJ controller that loves music, hates physical formats originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 09:21 AM PDT

2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive


2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive
Filed under: Hatchback, Smart, First Drives, ElectricLittle Daimler Child Finally Nails It With Electrons Since the official launch of the Smart Fortwo in October 1998, the little company within Daimler has never made a profit. Far from it. Not for lack of trying, certainly. Many of us know well the story of myriad attempts to force the world to adopt the Smart way of living in the automotive sense, only to have the various chapters conclude in a disillusioning crash and financial burn. Smart is still trying desperately to find its proper path as a global player that sells rather well - and not just in London and a few Italian and German cities. They insist that China is the great frontier nowadays for the Fortwo in all of its trims, and they still want to figure out North America. Is electricity the only way to force the breakthrough? We drove the previous generation Smart Fortwo Electric Drive a couple of years ago and had an amazingly good time at it. The punch for traffic holeshots was addictive, and the size of the trinket-on-wheels is ideal for big-shouldered cities - this cannot be debated no matter your personal feelings about the car. But whereas the Germans and Roger Penske firmly believed that crisis-stricken Americans would come in droves to the Smart dealer, begging for a Fortwo of any type given the model's efficiencies, Americans never made the transition of seeing the Fortwo as anything but a purchase for when you have spare change lying around and want a third toy in the garage. And young buyers who can only afford a single vehicle generally want that car to have luggage space and four seats. A more reasonable bang for buck doesn't hurt either. Seeing as electric vehicles are slowly convincing us (very slowly) that there's some sense in their costing more than traditional-engine cars, Smart sees this as a big opportunity to offer something that still has an inflated price and more premium early adopter lifestyle aura. We have our significant doubts about all of this working, but let's get on with the drive.Continue reading 2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments