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Thursday, October 25, 2012

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2013 Green Car of the Year finalists announced [w/poll]

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:57 PM PDT

2013 Green Car of the Year finalists announced [w/poll]


2013 Green Car of the Year finalists announced [w/poll]
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Hybrid, MPG, Dodge, Ford, Mazda, Toyota Ladies and Gentlemen, your finalists for the 2013 Green Car of the Year: the Dodge Dart Aero, Ford C-Max and Fusion, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota Prius C. The list runs the gamut of fuel-efficient powertrains, from hybrids and plug-ins to high-mileage gas burners. The Fords, for example, make the list in part because they come in both hybrids and plug-in hybrid flavors. The GCOTY is sponsored by Green Car Journal every year, and the publication looks for vehicles a lot of people will want to buy. Specifically, GCJ's press release says, "All are affordable mass-market products that provide drivers full functionality and mainstream appeal, paving the way for making a difference in fuel use and overall emissions in daily driving." These five vehicles are also the cars that Green Car Journal is calling the "Top 5 Green Cars for 2013." From here, GCJ's jury of "top environmental leaders" along with celeb car buff Jay Leno and the GCJ staff will pick a winner. Past Green Car of the Year winners have been the Honda Civic Natural Gas (2012), the Chevrolet Volt (2011), the Audi A3 TDI (2010), the Volkswagen Jetta TDI (2009) and the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (2008). The 2013 winner will be announced at the LA Auto Show on November 29. What do you think it should be?View PollContinue reading 2013 Green Car of the Year finalists announced [w/poll]2013 Green Car of the Year finalists announced [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple's Tim Cook sees Microsoft Surface as a 'fairly compromised, confusing prod...

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:57 PM PDT

Apple's Tim Cook sees Microsoft Surface as a 'fairly compromised, confusing product'


Apple's Tim Cook sees Microsoft Surface as a 'fairly compromised, confusing product'
Anyone wondering what Apple CEO Tim Cook thinks of Microsoft's new Surface tablet didn't have to wait long to get an answer. Cook offered a fairly blunt assessment of the device on the company's quarterly earnings call today, saying that while he hasn't personally played with one, "we're reading that it's a fairly compromised, confusing product." He went on to say that "I think one of the things you do with a product is make hard trade-offs. The user experience on the iPad is absolutely incredible," adding that, "I suppose you could design a car that flies and floats, but I don't think it would do all of those things very well. When people look at the iPad versus competitive offerings, I think they'll continue to want an iPad." As for Apple's own new tablet, the iPad mini, Cook dismissed the notion that it would cannibalize other iPad sales. "The way that we look at this," Cook said, "is that we provide a fantastic iPod touch, an iPad, and an iPad mini. Customers will decide which one, two, three or four they want, and they'll buy those." He went on to add that "we've learned over the years not to worry about cannibalization of our products. The far bigger opportunity is the 80 to 90 million PCs shipped each quarter. I think a great number of those people would be better off buying an iPad, or a Mac. That's a bigger opportunity for Apple. Instead of looking at cannibalization, I see an incremental opportunity."Filed under: TabletsApple's Tim Cook sees Microsoft Surface as a 'fairly compromised, confusing product' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

New York Times for Windows 8 hands-on (video)

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:57 PM PDT

New York Times for Windows 8 hands-on (video)


New York Times for Windows 8 hands-on (video)
While today's Windows 8 launch event in NYC didn't open our eyes and ears to anything we haven't known Microsoft's latest OS and the Surface RT tablet, we did take a few moments to spend some time with the New York Times' new app for the OS. The layout is frankly dead simple, and should be familiar to anyone who's unfolded a traditional daily edition made from that stuff they call paper and ink. Swiping from side to side lets you transition between verticals -- it becomes long-winded quickly, unfortunately -- while swiping down from the top edge gives you even more sub-sections to choose from, like photos and video. We're pleased to note that we didn't notice a hint of lag on the VAIO T13 Ultrabook and Asus tablet we tried it out on, either. Your main changeable setting is the interval between auto-refreshes and, naturally, a subscription is required for enhanced access to the NYT's content. Overall, it seems like a simple, clean and fresh reading experience. It's available now from the Windows store, and you can catch our video overview past the break to see for yourself! Gallery: New York Times for Windows 8 (hands-on)Continue reading New York Times for Windows 8 hands-on (video)Filed under: SoftwareNew York Times for Windows 8 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Warner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Re...

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:57 PM PDT

Warner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Redbox Instant


Warner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Redbox Instant
Redbox and Warner Bros. were at odds in January when Warner wanted to extend the window before discs hit kiosks to 56 days, but now the two have come to an agreement that keeps it at a 28 day delay. When their previous deal expired Redbox said it would find other ways to obtain discs and offer them day and date to its customers, although actually finding them in kiosks could be tough. The new two-year deal covers movies that debut after January 1st, 2013, and claims to improve economics for both Warner (which has apparently seen fit to eliminate the delay entirely for brick & mortar renters) and Redbox. Additionally, Redbox has joined with the DECE team and will support UltraViolet with its upcoming Redbox Instant service. With the new deal, it can offer UltraViolet digital access to Warner movies, and distribute movies through its subscription service. We'll have to wait for Redbox Instant to launch to know more information about that, for now check out the details in the press release after the break.Continue reading Warner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Redbox InstantFiled under: Home Entertainment, HDWarner, Redbox agree to 28 day delay on disc rentals, UltraViolet support for Redbox Instant originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Apple Q4 2012 earnings: $36 billion in revenue, $8.2 billion net profit

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:57 PM PDT

Apple Q4 2012 earnings: $36 billion in revenue, $8.2 billion net profit


Apple Q4 2012 earnings: $36 billion in revenue, $8.2 billion net profit
Just a day after introducing the iPad mini, a revised iMac, a 4th-generation iPad and a retooled Mac mini, the company is outing its Q4 2012 earnings -- and it looks as if it has narrowly fell short of Wall Street estimates. Revenue was pegged at $36 billion (compared to estimates of $35.08 billion), with net profit at $8.2 billion. For the sake of comparison, the outfit's fourth quarter of 2011 saw $28.27 billion in revenue alongside $6.62 billion net profit -- at the time, those comically large numbers were actually not up to Wall Street's comical expectations. If you're looking for a quarter-over-quarter comparison, the company's Q3 2012 report showed $35 billion in total revenue, with $8.8 billion in net profits. The company is guiding for $52 billion in revenues for Q1 2013, while announcing that it sold 26.9 million iPhones (up from 17.01 million a year ago), 14 million iPads (up from 11.12 million) and 5 million Macs (up from 4.89 million) in this quarter. As for the waning iPod business? Predictably, it sold just 5.3 million of those, representing a 19 percent drop from the year-ago quarter. Naturally, the company is expecting its next earnings report to be the one that blows everyone away, with holiday sales -- combined with a slew of new kit -- to propel things leading into 2013. Apple also announced that shareholders that hold stock as of November 12th will pick up a $2.65 / share dividend. As for other specifics, we're told that gross margin was 40.0 percent compared to 40.3 percent in the year-ago quarter, while international sales accounted for 60 percent of the quarter's revenue. Peter Oppenheimer, Apple's CFO, proudly boasted: "We're pleased to have generated over $41 billion in net income and over $50 billion in operating cash flow in fiscal 2012. Looking ahead to the first fiscal quarter of 2013, we expect revenue of about $52 billion and diluted earnings per share of about $11.75." As for the outfit's current stash of on-hand cash? $121.3 billion. Yeah. The financial results call will get going at 5PM ET, and we'll be liveblogging it right here!Continue reading Apple Q4 2012 earnings: $36 billion in revenue, $8.2 billion net profitFiled under: Desktops, Laptops, AppleApple Q4 2012 earnings: $36 billion in revenue, $8.2 billion net profit originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Apple | Email this | Comments

Apple Hardware Sales In FY 2012: 125.04M iPhones, 58.23M iPads, 18.1M Macs And 3...

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:13 PM PDT

Apple Hardware Sales In FY 2012: 125.04M iPhones, 58.23M iPads, 18.1M Macs And 35.2M iPods


Apple Hardware Sales In FY 2012: 125.04M iPhones, 58.23M iPads, 18.1M Macs And 35.2M iPods
Apple's Q4 results mean we also now have the total hardware sales the company managed for the 2012 financial year. The company sold an amazing 125.04 million iPhones, 58.23 million iPads, 18.1 million Macs and 35.2 million iPods. To put that in perspective, it sold only 72 million iPhones across all of FY 2011.

Apple’s Hardware Q4 2012: 26.9M iPhones, 14M iPads, 4.9M Macs And 5.3M iPods

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:12 PM PDT

Apple's Hardware Q4 2012: 26.9M iPhones, 14M iPads, 4.9M Macs And 5.3M iPods


Apple's Hardware Q4 2012: 26.9M iPhones, 14M iPads, 4.9M Macs And 5.3M iPods
Apple had another solid quarter for hardware sales, with iOS device sales leading the charge. iPhone sales were up from last quarter, and increased 58% year over year thanks to the iPhone 5, which was on sale for a little while ahead of the end of the quarter on September 30, but in the end sales disappointed analyst expectations across the board.

The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM!

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:11 PM PDT

The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM!


The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM!
Tim's off flying planes on the other side of the world. Thankfully, however, nothing really happened this week in tech news, right? Right?Continue reading The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM!The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Chevy unveils new Corvette V8 engine

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 02:11 PM PDT

Chevy unveils new Corvette V8 engine


Chevy unveils new Corvette V8 engine
The 2014 'Vette V8 uses direct fuel injection, cylinder deactivation.

Report: Audi R8 E-Tron program on hold, facing cancellation? [UPDATE]

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT

Report: Audi R8 E-Tron program on hold, facing cancellation? [UPDATE]


Report: Audi R8 E-Tron program on hold, facing cancellation? [UPDATE]
Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Audi, Electric Throughout its brief history - from concept car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, to production-bound prototype - the Audi R8 E-Tron has promised supercar levels of entertainment in a sexy German wrapper. A prospective range of 150 miles with acceleration on the order of 0-60 in under five seconds suggested a more luxurious rival for the Tesla Roadster, and a challenger for the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive at the E-Tron's expected launch in early 2013. Now it seems like Audi may have slammed on the regenerative brakes, as it were.Car and Driver reports that the R8 E-Tron plan is on hold, pending a project review ordered by new research and development head, Wolfgang Dürheimer. Concerns about the project include a lack of sufficiently advanced and reasonably inexpensive batteries with which to power the car, as well as a buyer pool sufficiently rich and reasonably motivated to drop big sums on the R8 EV. The Car and Driver report indicates that the expected launch in the first part of next year is now off the table, and that the entire project faces existential jeopardy.UPDATE: We were able to speak with a member of Audi's team regarding the fate of the R8 E-Tron, who basically corroborated the earlier Car and Driver report, with a few clarifications. Audi claims that the "initial" run of R8 E-Trons was always meant to be very limited (ten cars), and that those cars were essentially meant to serve as evaluation models for the project as a whole. The discrepancy seems to be in what eventually happens to this first run; first plans indicated that they would end up in public hands, while now Audi states that they are "primarily intended for internal purposes." On a positive note: While the future of the R8 E-Tron looks pretty cloudy (at least in the pure-EV form), we're told that the A3 E-Tron is still on track for arrival in 2014. Audi R8 E-Tron program on hold, facing cancellation? [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple nearing deal with labels for internet radio service, says Bloomberg

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT

Apple nearing deal with labels for internet radio service, says Bloomberg


Apple nearing deal with labels for internet radio service, says Bloomberg
Rumors of a music streaming service from Apple have been circulating since the dawn of the iPod age. Bloomberg is reporting that an internet radio platform from Cupertino is nearing reality, as talks between Apple and the major music labels have "intensified." The negotiations center around how to share revenues from an ad-supported service that, according to reports, would pose more of a threat to sites like Pandora than it would Spotify. In fact, after Bloomberg reported that the new Apple service could launch during the first quarter of 2013, Pandora stocks plummeted over 17 percent and trading of the company was briefly halted. According to sources Cook and co. are seeking much more flexibility than its potential competitors enjoy and earlier access to new releases. The shift towards ad revenue and a new platform for helping listeners discover music is considered by most involved to be an essential evolution of the iTunes ecosystem as sales of digital downloads have slowed. For more, hit up the source links.Filed under: Internet, AppleApple nearing deal with labels for internet radio service, says Bloomberg originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Bloomberg, Forbes | Email this | Comments

Visualized: A sea of Surfaces

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT

Visualized: A sea of Surfaces


Visualized: A sea of Surfaces
A wall of 100 of iPads at WWDC 2012? How about a sea of hundreds of Microsoft's Surface RT tablets and accessory keyboard covers standing under the hot lights?Filed under: Misc, Tablets, MicrosoftVisualized: A sea of Surfaces originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Amazon Q3 2012 earnings: $13.18 billion revenue, net loss of $274 million

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT

Amazon Q3 2012 earnings: $13.18 billion revenue, net loss of $274 million


Amazon Q3 2012 earnings: $13.18 billion revenue, net loss of $274 million
Amazon has just released its earnings for the third quarter of the year and it looks like it's slightly off analysts' expectations. The company reported $13.18 billion in revenue (a growth of 27 percent) and an operating loss of $28 million, with net income standing at a loss of $274 million. As Amazon notes, though, a chunk of that, some $169 million, comes from losses reported by LivingSocial, a figure that it says is "primarily attributable to its impairment charge of certain assets, including goodwill." Expectedly, the company still isn't offering any specific numbers for device sales, noting only that the Kindle Fire HD is the number one selling product across Amazon worldwide, and that the next two bestselling products worldwide are the Kindle Paperwhite and $69 Kindle. As for its outlook for the next quarter, the company is expecting net sales of between $20.25 billion and $22.75 billion, and operating income ranging from a loss of $490 million to a profit of $310 million. Continue reading Amazon Q3 2012 earnings: $13.18 billion revenue, net loss of $274 millionFiled under: Tablets, Internet, AmazonAmazon Q3 2012 earnings: $13.18 billion revenue, net loss of $274 million originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Amazon | Email this | Comments

MoPub Drops Its Price For Ad Network Mediation To Zero

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT

MoPub Drops Its Price For Ad Network Mediation To Zero


MoPub Drops Its Price For Ad Network Mediation To Zero
It's the one-year anniversary of MoPub's marketplace for real-time bidding on mobile ads, and the company is celebrating by eliminating the cost for publishers to participate. CEO Jim Payne told me that the company wants to encourage as many publishers to use the MoPub Marketplace as possible. After all, he said real-time bidding is "a better way of doing things," and bringing more ad inventory into the system means MoPub can make more money from advertisers. And yes, some publishers have declined to participate in the marketplace because the current costs are too high. For example, Payne estimated that under MoPub's current pricing structure, a mid-sized publisher seeing 500 million ad impressions a month could end up paying $25,000.

YC-Backed Parse Bets On Windows 8, Supports Back-End Development For Its Apps

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT

YC-Backed Parse Bets On Windows 8, Supports Back-End Development For Its Apps


YC-Backed Parse Bets On Windows 8, Supports Back-End Development For Its Apps
Even though Microsoft has had a hell of time catching up with Google and Apple as tablet sales have eaten into PC marketshare, there is some hope. There are startups betting that the new Windows 8 OS will keep help Microsoft's developer ecosystem relevant, if not make it stronger. Parse, a YC-backed startup that eases back-end mobile app development, is releasing an SDK for Windows 8. "We think Windows 8 will be an important contender and we want our existing clients to be able to build apps on Day One," said co-founder Ilya Sukhar. "People in the Valley don't quite realize how big the Microsoft developer ecosystem and how entrenched it is in many big enterprises."

The VW Microbus is not dead, but will be soon

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT

The VW Microbus is not dead, but will be soon


The VW Microbus is not dead, but will be soon
Dude, aren't you, like, dead?

The Television Is No Longer The “Babysitter”, Kids Are Getting More Interactive...

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT

The Television Is No Longer The "Babysitter", Kids Are Getting More Interactive Thanks To The iPad


The Television Is No Longer The "Babysitter", Kids Are Getting More Interactive Thanks To The iPad
You might be familiar with the concept of the television being used to "babysit" kids. Back in my childhood days, my parents plopped me down in front of "Dukes Of Hazzard" and thanks to them, I really love the color orange. Go figure. The days of this television management style are over and I'm seeing trends towards more interactive entertainment thanks to the iPad and other mobile devices. The fact that a smaller one was shown off this week certainly helps Apple's case to put a device in everyone's hands.

Moog's LEV-96 sensoriactuator prototype wields touch control of 96 simultaneous...

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 12:40 PM PDT

Moog's LEV-96 sensoriactuator prototype wields touch control of 96 simultaneous harmonics, we go eyes-on (video)


Moog's LEV-96 sensoriactuator prototype wields touch control of 96 simultaneous harmonics, we go eyes-on (video)
Late last week, Moog outed its LEV-96 sensoriactuator prototype and offered a glimpse at its latest R&D unit. Even though it's still in the early phases of beta-testing, we were able to stop by the Moog Music factory for a closer look and a brief glimpse of the gear in action ahead of its appearance at Moogfest. While the unit is installed on acoustic guitars for the time being, the company says that similar tech can be used on other acoustic instruments and eventually to other surfaces -- this is just the current manifestation. Since the tech modifies the guitar's natural harmonics and string vibrations, the LEV-96 is getting cozy on both traditional acoustic guitars and those outfitted with pickups in its present state. As far as controls go, the entire unit is capacitive touch-enabled from the moment a finger swipe powers it on. Sliders allow for adjusting the intensity, harmonics and note duration while the other buttons enable arpeggio presets and modulation that includes tremolo and random harmonic tweaks. Those sliders remain in play when a preset is activated, serving to enable further adjustments on selected There is a lock button, too, so that you don't accidentally make a switch mid-strum. All of these finger-friendly surfaces work alongside two pairs of electromagnetic pickup channels per string to wrangle the 96 simultaneous harmonics. Magnets work to either increase of decrease the string's motion, bringing out vibrational modes that have always been in-play on acoustic instruments, but have never been offered the power needed to make 'em sing. The folks at Moog are quick to remind us that the LEV-96 is still in its infancy, but you can rest assured we'll be keeping an eye our for what develops. For a peek at the tech in action, head on past the break for a really quick demo.Gallery: Moog LEV-96 prototype eyes-onContinue reading Moog's LEV-96 sensoriactuator prototype wields touch control of 96 simultaneous harmonics, we go eyes-on (video)Filed under: MiscMoog's LEV-96 sensoriactuator prototype wields touch control of 96 simultaneous harmonics, we go eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

“In the Studio,” Sosh’s Rishi Mandal Wants To Attack Offline Monotony

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 12:40 PM PDT

"In the Studio," Sosh's Rishi Mandal Wants To Attack Offline Monotony


"In the Studio," Sosh's Rishi Mandal Wants To Attack Offline Monotony
"In the Studio" hosts an entrepreneur who, after studying astrophysics, went on to handle various product management roles at a small startup eventually acquired by Google and who know, most recently, helped launch a venture-backed mobile application startup based in San Francisco. Rishi Mandal, co-founder and CEO of Sosh, has brought a team together to bring real web scale technologies to a mobile form factor and, in all the noise of apps today, has managed to get this product on peoples' radars. Members of Sosh in San Francisco are already using the service to find out about new things to do in the city and, as Mandal hopes, to get personalized recommendations about new things to do that breaks the monotony of people patronizing the same places. But beyond the pretty web site and slick iPhone app, there is real web technologies powering Sosh, crawling the web, blogs, and forums to structure disparate data around locations and events and create a timely product in the process. This ability, in turn, makes it easier for a service like Sosh to scale to other cities, so much so that the company recently announced it has raised Series A financing.

ASUS PadFone 2 review: two times is a charm for this phone-in-tablet combo

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 12:40 PM PDT

ASUS PadFone 2 review: two times is a charm for this phone-in-tablet combo


ASUS PadFone 2 review: two times is a charm for this phone-in-tablet combo
It's only been half a year since the peculiar PadFone made its much-delayed entry into select markets, and earlier this week, ASUS' launch of its second-gen phone-in-tablet brings us back to this old question: are we better off with just one mobile screen instead of two? Ask any ordinary manufacturer and the answer is likely the latter, because who doesn't want to sell more products? Similarly, carriers would likely back such manufacturers for the sake of selling more data plans, even if they admire ASUS' efforts (and they could already be selling ASUS tablets in the first place). Some folks also argue that if you have to carry the tablet module with you anyway, you might as well have two separate devices for better multitasking. It seems like there's a huge mountain to climb here, but on the flip side, ASUS' innovative differentiation does have some advantages. You only need one data plan (and no tethering required) for both form factors, you get to keep the same data in one place instead of having to duplicate them and you can pretty much instantly switch between a small screen and a large screen for the same content. Not to mention that there's also the added functionality of charging up the phone while it's sitting inside the tablet. Alas, the original PadFone and PadFone Station didn't quite hit the spot: the combined weight and bulk made it tough to justify the phone-in-tablet idea, which is why we said it's all about the PadFone 2 in our review. Let's see if ASUS has done it right this time 'round.Gallery: ASUS PadFone 2 reviewContinue reading ASUS PadFone 2 review: two times is a charm for this phone-in-tablet comboFiled under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, ASUSASUS PadFone 2 review: two times is a charm for this phone-in-tablet combo originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

New York Times releases Windows 8 app for all the news that's fit to tile

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 12:40 PM PDT

New York Times releases Windows 8 app for all the news that's fit to tile


New York Times releases Windows 8 app for all the news that's fit to tile
The newspaper of record announced today that it will be arriving on Windows 8 tomorrow, offering up full articles, videos, photos and blogs to subscribers. Non-subscribers, on the other hand, will just get access to the Top News section. Also new in the world of New York Times / Microsoft teamups is the arrival of a NYT channel in the Bing News app. More info on both after the break.Continue reading New York Times releases Windows 8 app for all the news that's fit to tileFiled under: SoftwareNew York Times releases Windows 8 app for all the news that's fit to tile originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

NaNoWriMo progress meter uses Arduino to fight writer's block, may be its own di...

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 11:55 AM PDT

NaNoWriMo progress meter uses Arduino to fight writer's block, may be its own distraction (video)


NaNoWriMo progress meter uses Arduino to fight writer's block, may be its own distraction (video)
We've all had that moment where we sit in front of the keyboard and have trouble just getting started. It can be an especially dire problem when the 30-day deadline of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) looms overhead, and that was enough for inventor Steve Hoefer to craft his own USB progress meter. The Arduino-based contraption advances a real-world dial or gauge as the word count reaches the NaNoWriMo servers, giving that extra incentive to meet a daily goal or hit the ultimate 50,000-word mark on time. Hoefer characterizes it as a simple project for those who know their way around an Arduino controller; the toughest part for them may just be constructing the box that keeps the meter presentable. Full instructions are available after the break, although we'd hurry to build the meter before November starts. It could all too easily be the source of the very procrastination we're trying to avoid.Continue reading NaNoWriMo progress meter uses Arduino to fight writer's block, may be its own distraction (video)Filed under: Peripherals, AltNaNoWriMo progress meter uses Arduino to fight writer's block, may be its own distraction (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Make | Grathio Labs | Email this | Comments

Ortustech builds the world's smallest 4K display at 9.6 inches: your tablet has...

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 11:55 AM PDT

Ortustech builds the world's smallest 4K display at 9.6 inches: your tablet has nothing on this


Ortustech builds the world's smallest 4K display at 9.6 inches: your tablet has nothing on this
Think that iPad's Retina display is sharp? Ortustech would argue that it's old hat. The company's new LCD occupies a similar dimension at 9.6 inches, but it also carries an extremely dense 3,840 x 2,160 resolution -- making it the world's smallest 4K display at a time when most everyone else is struggling to produce the giant variety. Like with the Japanese firm's earlier 4.8-inch record-setter, the trick rests in a Hyper Amorphous Silicon TFT (HAST) that lets in more light per pixel and prevents that virtually seamless 458PPI image from becoming unusably dim. Test samples are rolling off the factory lines in November, although we're not expecting to see Ortustech displays in our tablets anytime soon: sheer performance demands aside, the narrower 160-degree viewing angles and lower 72 percent color gamut better suit the 4K screen to pro video cameras and medical monitors that thrive on sharpness over anything else.Continue reading Ortustech builds the world's smallest 4K display at 9.6 inches: your tablet has nothing on thisFiled under: DisplaysOrtustech builds the world's smallest 4K display at 9.6 inches: your tablet has nothing on this originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Tech-On | Email this | Comments

Report: Volkswagen reconsiders, will give the Up a two-cylinder mill

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 11:10 AM PDT

Report: Volkswagen reconsiders, will give the Up a two-cylinder mill


Report: Volkswagen reconsiders, will give the Up a two-cylinder mill
Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen A company has the right to change its mind, right?Volkswagen, which said as recently as late 2010 that it wouldn't consider a two-cylinder engine for its Up city car, is now doing just that. The German automaker will add the option of a two-cylinder diesel engine to the Up as part of an effort to compete against the Fiat Panda TwinAir, UK's Autocar reports. VW's Ulrich Hackenberg added that the two-banger is compatible with larger platforms as well, bringing up all sorts of fuel-saving possibilities for Europe's biggest automaker. Hackenberg, when interviewed by Autocar in late 2010, said the company would prefer getting the most efficiency out of its three-cylinder engines rather than going to a two-cylinder. VW's Michael Hinz said at the time that two-cylinder engines were too expensive and unrefined to consider for the Up.Volkswagen reconsiders, will give the Up a two-cylinder mill originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Warner Bros. to ditch 28-day release delay for rental stores?

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 11:10 AM PDT

Warner Bros. to ditch 28-day release delay for rental stores?


Warner Bros. to ditch 28-day release delay for rental stores?
Warner Bros. may have doubled its 28-day embargo on new releases for kiosk operators (even if they side-step it), but endangered bricks-and-mortar rental stores could be treated to the exact opposite. A rumor coming from Home Media Magazine's unnamed sources suggests the WB is going to ditch the embargo for these locations altogether, starting on October 30th. We have no idea why this break would be offered to the relic stores, although we doubt they care if it gets a few more bodies through the door. Warner Bros. has a recent habit of quiet implementation, but just to be sure, we've reached out for confirmation and will update you if-and-when we hear more.Filed under: Home Entertainment, HDWarner Bros. to ditch 28-day release delay for rental stores? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Home Media Magazine | Email this | Comments

Test Drive: 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 11:10 AM PDT

Test Drive: 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel


Test Drive: 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel
Ready for the long haul.

Visualized: Nikon's Small World microscope photography contest winners

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 10:24 AM PDT

Visualized: Nikon's Small World microscope photography contest winners


Visualized: Nikon's Small World microscope photography contest winners
3D render? The latest submission to deviantART? No, that's a microscopic photo of the blood-brain barrier in a live zebrafish embryo taken by Dr. Jennifer Peters and Dr. Michael Taylor at 20X magnification, and it's the latest winner of Nikon's annual Small World Photomicrography Competition. Not surprisingly, the runners-up in the contest (drawn from some 2,000 submissions) are just as impressive -- hit the links below for a look at all of them. Those interested in having themselves featured next year (and taking home up to $3,000 in Nikon gear) have until April 30th to get their submissions in for the next competition.Filed under: Cameras, AltVisualized: Nikon's Small World microscope photography contest winners originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Wired Science | Nikon Small World | Email this | Comments

Nexus 7 with North American 3G passes through the FCC, might spoil the surprise

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 10:24 AM PDT

Nexus 7 with North American 3G passes through the FCC, might spoil the surprise


Nexus 7 with North American 3G passes through the FCC, might spoil the surprise
At this rate, there might not be much new to show in Google's playground. ASUS has passed a ME370TG tablet through the FCC's approval process -- which sounds ordinary, until you remember that the current Nexus 7 is the ME370T. The G, from all appearances, refers to 3G: there's an Intel XMM 6260 chipset inside supplying HSPA that would work for all North American GSM carriers, and most likely beyond. We don't know whether any of the rumored capacity changes will carry over, or even if this tablet will necessarily surface at Google's October 29th event, but the filing and recent out-of-stock notices suggest more than ever that the reference Android tablet is near a significant makeover.Filed under: Tablets, ASUS, GoogleNexus 7 with North American 3G passes through the FCC, might spoil the surprise originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Next Web | FCC | Email this | Comments

PSA: Windows 8 available to buy starting tonight

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 10:24 AM PDT

PSA: Windows 8 available to buy starting tonight


PSA: Windows 8 available to buy starting tonight
Microsoft's stunning new operating system is finally ready for public consumption, starting tonight. The new OS is launching globally in more than 140 markets and in over 37 languages and you'll be able grab either Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro (not to mention the Microsoft Surface), from 12.01am local time at participating US retailers including Amazon, Best Buy and Staples. Meanwhile, Microsoft will also be offering up its Windows 8 upgrade online. Anyone looking to upgrade their PC (and you'll be able to from XP to version 7) will need to stump up $40 -- just keep that source link below bookmarked for later. Better still, if you've bought a Windows 7 machine since June 2, you'll be able to download Redmond's latest OS for the discounted rate of $15, so make sure to pay a visit to our second source link below.Continue reading PSA: Windows 8 available to buy starting tonightFiled under: Desktops, Tablets, Software, MicrosoftPSA: Windows 8 available to buy starting tonight originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Microsoft (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

Amazon debuts Kindle Windows 8 app

Posted: 25 Oct 2012 10:24 AM PDT

Amazon debuts Kindle Windows 8 app


Amazon debuts Kindle Windows 8 app
With all the hubbub surrounding today's Microsoft event, who can blame Amazon for wanting to get in on the action? The mega-retailer used the opportunity to announce the Windows 8 version of its popular reading app. Interested parties can download the thing for free from the Windows Store, giving them access to the company's selection of 1.5 million titles. The app is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese and offers up good old Amazon features like Whispersync. Amazon also used the opportunity to announce that Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung will be pre-loading the app on their devices. More information can be found in the source link below.Filed under: StorageAmazon debuts Kindle Windows 8 app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Amazon | Email this | Comments