Android Latest News!
published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:16:00 EDT
Malaysia may not be on the tip of anyone's tongue when wireless comes to mind, but that's not stopping local outfit DMD Mobile from attempting to make its mark. Set for an official unveiling at next week's Mobile World Congress, the M3 Android NFC Communicator is the outfit's clumsily titled stab at the
prepaid market in South Asia and the Middle East. The touchscreen handset, to be available in both 2.6-inch portrait QWERTY and 3.2-inch candybar form factors, comes loaded up with a surprising mix of last- and current-gen specs: 650Mhz single-core CPU running a skinned version of
Gingerbread 2.3.5, support for dual-band HSPA+ (850 / 2100MHz) and quadband GSM, VGA front-facing / 3MP rear cameras, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi and NFC. Sure, it's not the most thrilling of forward-looking devices to surface this year, but priced at RM500 (that's about US$165), it's certainly more of a great deal than it is bargain bin entry. Hit up the source below for additional info on this low-hanging mobile fruit.
M3 Android NFC Communicator mixes something old, something new for prepaid subs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:37:00 EDT
SanDisk has developed a chip that earns it membership in the exclusive
128-gigabit club. Not content with simply matching the Micron / Intel effort, SanDisk and its partner Toshiba claim their new memory uses 19- rather than 20-nanometer cells in the production process. Shrinking the size is one thing, but SanDisk's new chips also use its X3 / three-bit technology. Most memory stores just two bits per cell; cramming in another means fewer cells, less silicon, more savings, cheaper memory, happier geeks. Analyst Jim Handy estimates that the price per gigabyte for the tri-bit breed of flash could be as low as 28 cents, compared to 35 for the Micron / Intel equivalent. Full details in the not-so-compact press release after the break.
Continue reading SanDisk makes 128-gigabit flash chip, crams three bits per cell, takes afternoon off
SanDisk makes 128-gigabit flash chip, crams three bits per cell, takes afternoon off originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:01:00 EDT
Love staying connected and using excess paper?
Adafruit's got your back with its latest project. The Internet of Things (IoT) printer goes online via an Ethernet jack, printing up data on 2.5 inch wide receipt paper. You can print things like Twitter feeds, news briefs or sports scores using its open source software. Putting the box together requires some soldering and an Arduino, but once you're done, you'll finally be able to live out your fantasies of becoming an old timey stock broker. Video of the printer with a slightly grating Twitter song soundtrack after the break.
Continue reading Adafruit's Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts
Adafruit's Internet of Things Printer combines your love of information, receipts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:42:00 EDT
OnLive has
already given Microsoft loving iPad owners a hefty, gratis
helping of Windows 7, but that doesn't mean they haven't been building a paywall. What's behind the freshly dried brick and mortar? OnLive Desktop Plus, an optional, subscription based upgrade that touts new features for users who are willing to pay a fee. Five dollars a month buys you a cloud-accelerated web browser (that would be Internet Explorer 9, complete with fully functioning Adobe Flash and Acrobat plug-ins) and priority access to the OnLive Desktop service -- freeloading "standard" subscribers can only access the service on an as-available basis. OnLive says that the cloud powered browser's full Windows experience finally gives the iPad full Flash compatibility, giving you the chance to feed your nostalgic need to watch cartoons
check their email. We got an early look at the app, read on for a quick hands-on and OnLive's official press release.
Continue reading OnLive Desktop launches 'Plus' subscriptions, puts IE in your iPad
OnLive Desktop launches 'Plus' subscriptions, puts IE in your iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:36:00 EDT
Chinese manufacturer Malata is relatively unknown in the tablet universe, as it hasn't been in the spotlight since showing off
its SMB-A1011 back in 2010. Now, the outfit's quietly unveiled a roadmap that's got more than a handful of noteworthy slabs in sight. The company plans on launching a variety of Tegra 3-packing slates dubbed SMB-B1023, including a 7, 9.7 and 10.1-inch version, all of which are said to be sporting ICS. Furthermore,
Malata plans to rollout port-heavy variants of the aforementioned that'll be rocking USB, mini-USB and card reader ports, though these won't be tasting any
Ice Cream Sandwich. While tabs are obviously the main focus, the company's also planning to bring along a 5-inch handset blessed with Gingerbread to compete with the likes of the
Galaxy Note or that shiny new
LG Optimus Vu. Let's hope Malata makes a MWC appearance so we can give some of these our full hands-on treatment.
Malata's 2012 / 2013 roadmap reveals a very tablet-friendly future originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:13:00 EDT
By now, we're sure you have that shiny new PlayStation Vita all unboxed and have logged several hours on the thing playing games, Tweeting and watching vids on Netflix. But, if those apps
we told you about earlier weren't enough to fulfill your entertainment needs, you'll be happy to know there could be more in stock for you.
SCEA Senior VP Guy Longworth may have spilled the beans when he told
The Hollywood Reporter "we have a partnership with Netflix and Hulu; this is a new way for them to distribute content." An interesting statement given the fact there's no Hulu app available now that Vita has launched. Good news is, the previously unknown hook-up indicates we may be be able to catch some episodes of
Gossip Girl at some point in the future on our monstrous
quad-core handheld.
SCEA Senior VP hints Hulu may be headed to PS Vita originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:11:00 EDT
Remember the
Board of Awesomeness we took for a spin back at CES? Well, the folks from Chaotic Moon went back to the lab to make it even better with a new control system, swapping out the Kinect sensor bar for an
Emotiv EPOC headset and re-christened it the Board of Imagination. So, instead of using your hand to control the throttle, you simply visualize and focus on where you want to go, and the headset tells the board how fast to go to get there. The brains of the thing are still housed in a Samsung slate running Windows 8, and it can still shred asphalt at speeds up to 32mph, but now it's a truly
mind-blowing experience. Don't believe us? Check out the Board of Imagination in action after the break.
Continue reading Chaotic Moon's Board of Awesomeness gains mind controls, becomes Board of Imagination
Chaotic Moon's Board of Awesomeness gains mind controls, becomes Board of Imagination originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EDT
The California Attorney General has struck a deal with the world's major app store opperators that will see new
privacy policy standards put in place. Apple, Google, Microsoft, HP, RIM and Amazon have all agreed to require any software that uses personal information to provide a privacy policy that can be viewed in the store before an app is downloaded. The agreement will bring the various markets in line with the California Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires developers provide such a policy. In addition to providing links to the relevant documents in an obvious and consistent location, the companies will have to offer a simple way for users to report devs that violate the rules. For more details about the deal check out the PR after the break.
Continue reading New privacy policy standards agreed to by world's major app store owners
New privacy policy standards agreed to by world's major app store owners originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:52:00 EDT
HTC and Huawei are both expected to bring their A-game to
MWC. What exactly that entails remains a mystery, thanks to both companies keeping their lips sealed. And while we're still not completely sure as to what secrets these devices still hold -- or even their official names, for that matter --
TmoNews picked up a leaked screenshot that shows off a list of upcoming accessories on
T-Mobile, some of which are for the
HTC Ville and
Huawei Prism in April. Does this guarantee that we'll see both devices featured on the GSM carrier? Not at all, but stay tuned over the next few days because we have a feeling more answers will come pouring in soon.
Huawei Prism, HTC Ville may be heading to T-Mobile in April? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:36:00 EDT
Many people with debilitating conditions rely on
sip and puff technology to get around, which is relatively lo-fi by
some standards. Now, a special retainer with magnetic sensors could bring mobility into the smartphone age. Developed at Georgia Tech, the Tongue Drive System uses a magnetic piercing to track lingual gestures. The sensors then transmit data to an iOS app that translates it to
on-screen or a joystick movement. Earlier versions used a headset, but the prototype revealed at the International Solid State Circuits Conference in San Francisco, is hoped to be more comfortable and discreet. The system is currently being trialled by 11 participants with high-level spinal-cord injuries, with larger trials planned.
Continue reading Magnetic retainer lets you operate machinery with your tongue, gives linguistics new meaning
Magnetic retainer lets you operate machinery with your tongue, gives linguistics new meaning originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:21:00 EDT
The end is nigh! For about 59 different Google ToS documents at least. After today, the new
consolidated privacy policy will go into effect, which will also consolidate much of your data across Google's properties. That means this is your
last chance to clear out El Goog's "you archives" before the
great convergence of 2012. If you're not keen on Google sharing your information between its various products (though, you seemed to be okay with it being collected in the first place) today is the day to go and delete it all. Of particular concern for some is Web History, which collects your searches and sites visited and has, until now, been walled off from the rest of the Google empire. For complete instructions for how to clear out your Google Web History hit up the source link.
Last chance to clear out Google Web History before the great data convergence originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:13:00 EDT
With the retail launch of the
Vita hardware comes the arrival of three augmented reality games, using a set of six cards that look an awful lot like the ESP test cards Dr. Venkman used in Ghostbusters. I downloaded them all from the PlayStation Store today, carefully set up a camera between my face and Vita (keeping the table in view) and demonstrated all three.
Of the three,
Fireworks is the definite standout. And by "standout" I mean "one I could foresee playing a second time."
[Music:
"Shanghai Moon" by USK]
Video: PlayStation Vita's AR game trio originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:56:00 EDT
This is the epilogue to a story that started as far back as 2008, when the Indian government first
demanded access to encrypted BBM traffic. In 2010, RIM made "
certain proposals" that satisfied politicos and averted a ban, and now it's gone one step further -- placing 5,000 BES Enterprise servers directly beneath officials' noses in Mumbai. It's not yet clear if messages will be subject to any more scrutiny than they were before, but
N4BB reports that a "team of officers" has already inspected the installation and that "permission for direct monitoring" is "expected to be issued." Looks like those snoops will soon be working
double shifts.
RIM builds BlackBerry server center in Mumbai, right where Indian government wants it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:38:00 EDT
Being unceremoniously dumped online isn't the only indignation made easier by social networks. For the first time, lawyers in the UK have been granted permission to serve a legal suit via
Facebook. Traditionally, documents must be delivered physically, be it in person, by post or even fax. But, in a pretrial for a commercial dispute, these old-fashioned methods proved fruitless. The prosecuting team then decided to check online, and noticed recent updates on defendant Fabio De Biase's profile. Satisfied it was currently active, they sought permission to send documents via the website, with Justice Nigel Teare duly obliging. Wondering what that noise is? That's the sound of millions of mice clicking on "privacy settings" all at once.
Man gets served on Facebook, literally originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:22:00 EDT
HP reported results for its first fiscal quarter of 2012 this afternoon, including $30 billion in net revenue (down seven percent from the previous year), and net earnings of $1.5 billion (down a full 44 percent). Partly contributing to that drop is a slump from its Personal Systems Group, which saw revenue slip 15 percent year-over-year, and total desktop and notebook units decline a rather drastic 19 and 18 percent, respectively. The company's Imaging and Printing Group also saw a seven percent decline in revenue, with the total number of printer units slipping 15 percent. HP's services business managed to eke out a one percent growth with revenue of $8.6 billion, though, while its software business saw the biggest growth in any one area at 30 percent (that includes results from the recently-acquired
Autonomy). The company's full rundown can be found in the press release after the break, with additional numbers available at the source link below.
Update: On the company's earnings call, CEO Meg Whitman laid some of the blame for PSG's decline on hard drive shortages, but also said that HP has "under-invested in innovation for the last several years" and "been late to market too often," adding that "we have to lead again." A transcript of Whitman's prepared remarks can be found
here.
Continue reading HP reports Q1 2012 financials: $30 billion net revenue, $1.5 billion net earnings, big drop in PC sales
HP reports Q1 2012 financials: $30 billion net revenue, $1.5 billion net earnings, big drop in PC sales originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EDT
Typically, when a company wants to meet, you expect more of the same -- not a change in strategy, nor a decision to enter an entirely new product category. So when Razer wanted to meet us one bright, oddly cold San Franciscan morning last August, we certainly weren't expecting to meet its CEO, Min-Liang Tan, and we definitely weren't prepared to find a 17-inch prototype laptop, henceforth known as the
Blade.
Shaving puns aside, we listened to Tan proudly wax on about the results of nearly three years of development, much of which involved recruiting a bevy of talent from the now-defunct
OQO. What they'd accomplished, according to Tan, was the "world's first true gaming portable." An audacious statement, sure, especially considering the Blade was to be Razer's foray into the PC market. No matter. Tan's impetus was clear: the outfit would cater to gamers who'd been left in a vacuum after formerly gaming-obsessed companies sold out, leaving the segment to languish. His angle, however, would be different. The Blade wasn't going to be a gaudy, gargantuan, no-holds barred device with outright performance in mind. No, instead the 0.8-inch thick aluminum beaut would attempt to straddle the worlds of portability with performance, seeking to hit a perfectly balanced middle ground.
That sounded reasonable, but judging by reactions from most of you, the decision to stuff this $2,799 rig with a mid-range GeForce GT 555M card wasn't. Nor was the call to kit it with a paltry 320GB of rotational storage. Razer would rectify the latter in
December, promising 256GB SSDs for all -- a concession that would push shipments back, well, until now. Still, even after toying with it
briefly at CES, our impressions were ultimately shallow, as we couldn't get much of a feel for it in that controlled environment. Which brings us to the present day, and with Razer graciously airdropping a Blade onto our doorstep, does this experimental laptop stand up to its maker's gutsy claims? Or will those who've shelled just shy of three grand be sorely disappointed with its execution? Well, there's only one way to find out, and that's to join us past the break.
Continue reading Razer Blade review
Razer Blade review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:43:00 EDT
You have to love the last days leading up to a major event like
Mobile World Congress, because the rumor mill just doesn't
stop. The focus of this particular whisper is Nokia's
Lumia series, which according to
Reuters should have at least two new members before the show is over. Its sources indicate that the
oft-rumored global version of the
Lumia 900 is go (AT&T's model shown above), as well as a lower-end Lumia 610. All of us who crave the deeper details are still left in the dark about what we can expect on these devices, but it does give us a heckuva lot more to look forward to next week.
Nokia bringing two Lumia devices to MWC next week? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:32:00 EDT
The slide-making masses have spoken and
Google's dutifully listened. After launching
presentations for Docs as a preview last October, the search giant's making that editor ready for prime time with a few user-suggested tweaks in tow. In addition to the recently introduced slew of transitions, themes, tables and collaborative options, Mountain View's now tossing in the ability to make, edit and resolve comments, send email notifications, as well as control read / write privileges for outside users. And don't worry about your old documents getting lost in the shuffle; a new import setting will enable those visual gems to benefit from this new facelift. Check out the source below for a fuller walk-through or catch the instructional vid after the break.
Continue reading Google Docs presentations slides out of preview, adds import and comment options (video)
Google Docs presentations slides out of preview, adds import and comment options (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EDT
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
Desperate times call for desperate measures -- namely, new gadgets. Disappointed with his Droid Charge's ever-depleting battery capacity, Tim took a $100 portable charger for a spin to see if he could eke out a little extra runtime before racing for an outlet. Meanwhile, Dan agreed to wear his first E-Ink watch after his analog Fossil timepiece outlived all compatible wristbands. Rounding things out, we have a more traditional account of gadget nostalgia from Don Melanson, who explains why he won't be replacing his aging D90 anytime soon.
Continue reading IRL: Nikon D90, myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000 and Phosphor's World Time Sport
IRL: Nikon D90, myCharge Portable Power Bank 6000 and Phosphor's World Time Sport originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:56:00 EDT
Here we thought the citizens of Kansas City couldn't get any more fortunate after being
chosen by Google to get a fiber optic gigabit network. Turns out, Google Fiber may be bringing more than just web access, as the company has asked the state of Missouri to allow it to deliver video services as well. We first heard about Big G's possible
foray into pay-TV late last year, as the company was in talks with various content providers to see if it could make it happen. Given this official move towards becoming a video provider in America's heartland, we'd say those conversations must have gone fairly well. Either that, or the folks in Kansas City will be watching a whole lot of YouTube's new
niche content.
Google Fiber just got better? Big G asks for permission to provide video service to Kansas City originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:53:00 EDT
It's been barely a month since
Google Docs on Android got
offline support, but here comes Mountain View with another equally impressive update. Those upgrading today are treated to collaborative editing, much in the vein of their desktop counterparts. That means you can now watch edits happen in real time from your Android tablet or smartphone. In addition, there's a bevy of interface tweaks too, including a new pinch-to-zoom gesture and rich text formatting. Feel good video demoing all awaits after the break.
Continue reading Google Docs for Android update brings collaborative editing for all
Google Docs for Android update brings collaborative editing for all originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:39:00 EDT
With the
assimilation of Ericsson's wireless stake now neatly a footnote in its corporate history,
Sony's moving on and making its newfound freedom known -- albeit quietly. According to a rep for the company, its first
rebranding baby steps began just last night, with the former SonyEricsson portal now redirecting to SonyMobile.com. Other related properties, like its social networking extensions and various related digital properties, are also slated to make the transition throughout March, with further announcements planned for Mobile World Congress next week. We'll be there live in just a few days, so stay tuned. In the meanwhile, hit up the source below to see synergy at its finest.
[Thanks, Kevin]
Sony Mobile rebranding quietly begins, changes to roll out over the next month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:19:00 EDT
Been keeping up with
Mozilla Labs' Apps project? Today the company's focused on developers, with pleasing news if you've been looking to get your app's feet wet in it. In the coming weeks at
Mobile World Congress, the
Firefox maker will finally open its self-titled Marketplace's doors for app submissions. If you're unfamiliar, Mozilla's been working to create an "operating system- and device-independent market," based on its own APIs,
HTML5 and other open source materials. The end result will be the ability to use said apps without being locked down by your devices and their respective app stores. The store is set to open up for consumer consumption later in the year, so now's your chance to reserve your software's spot and name on the list. More details await in press release after the break and at source link below, while you get your code ready.
Continue reading Mozilla Labs Apps set to allow developer submissions for Mozilla Marketplace at MWC
Mozilla Labs Apps set to allow developer submissions for Mozilla Marketplace at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Mobile Burn |
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:59:00 EDT
Pro tip: when suing the pants off another company for patent infringement, it's a good idea to make sure you're not violating any of that same company's intellectual property. That's the lesson we imagine Sprint is learning at this very moment. Just two months after it
filed a lawsuit against Comcast for getting all up in its VoIP business, the digital services company is now ready to go Comcastic on the Now Network's derriere, as it has filed a lawsuit of its own in a Pennsylvania court. While it's not directly tied into December's case, it seems oddly coincidental that this new suit came into existence so soon after Sprint fired the first shot.
Comcast and subsidiary TVWorks, LLC allege that Sprint is guilty of violating four wireless patents: its wireless broadband cards, Vision Pack and other SMS services, MMS transfers and voice and data using IP / MPLS backhaul. That's a pretty hefty portion of the carrier's basic operations, it seems, and we're assuming that a settlement or licensing agreement will be the end result here. Regardless, as the adage says, what goes around comes around.
Comcast sues Sprint with patent infringement, says two can play that game originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:38:00 EDT
Back in the fall, Apple gave developers
an ultimatum: sandbox your applications, or see yourself out of the Mac App Store and sell your apps elsewhere. Originally, devs had until March 1st to make the change, which limits the resources apps can access, thereby making a malware infection less likely. Still, sandboxing inherently means less control for developers: the fewer resources an app can use, the less it can actually do. Well, code monkeys, you've now got a few more months to decide which camp you'd rather be in: Apple has extended that deadline to June 1st. As
MacRumors notes, the move comes amid mounting concerns from developers, who have been complaining of bugs and other issues associated with the sandboxing process. In a statement on its developer site, Apple gave a pithier explanation, saying it wants to give devs more time to make use of new sandboxing entitlements available in OS X 10.7.3, along with new APIs in Xcode 4.3.
Apple: developers now have until June 1 to sandbox apps for the Mac App Store originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:06:00 EDT
There's a new adventure video capture company in town, and both
Zeyez and
GoPro would have good reason to be afraid. You may not have heard of Pivothead -- the company has had a remarkably quiet push to market over the last few months -- but the video recording eyewear startup could very well become a household name after its first products hit the market this April for $349. Aurora, Durango, Moab and Recon may offer distinct exterior designs, but they're virtually identical under the hood. Each model includes an eight-megapixel Sony sensor (that reportedly captures higher quality images than the iPhone 4S cam), a four-element glass lens, 8GB of built-in storage, a 440mAh battery (with about an hour of shooting time) and three video modes: 1080/30p, 720/60p and 720/30p. We had a chance to go hands-on with Pivothead earlier today, and took the glasses for a spin on the streets of New York City. You'll find that sample video, along with our impressions, just past the break.
Continue reading Pivothead video glasses offer impressive quality, we go hands-on (sample video)
Pivothead video glasses offer impressive quality, we go hands-on (sample video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:57:00 EDT
Samsung's R&D department has been working overtime as it strives to break the idea it copies wholesale ideas from its competition. Yesterday we heard word about its planned new
cloud service and today it's announced that it'll be unveiling a
unique education-focused app for
Galaxy Tabs 8.9 and
10.1. Learning Hub will provide free materials from 30 major educational establishments from elementary schools through to universities, although there's no word on what certificates you'll be able to earn at the end of your course. The program will expand to other devices in the Galaxy family later on, once the company's done showing off the software at
MWC.
Samsung's Learning Hub demonstrates a commitment to education, profits originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:37:00 EDT
The
conflicts and
behind-the-scenes drama surrounding India's
Aakash project once again threaten its existence. Despite a record-breaking
1.4 million pre-orders gained in under a fortnight, maker
DataWind has only shipped 10,000 units to nearly universal derision. Early adopters have found the processor too slow, battery life too short and the resistive touchscreen difficult to use.
Kapil Sibal's Human Resource Development ministry now plans to re-open tendering for a replacement contractor and withdraw DataWind's deal for a further 90,000 units. An anonymous ministry official has said that they've seen "sufficient interest [...] to get better specifications at the same or lower price."
In response, DataWind has claimed that its development-partner, the Indian Institute of Technology, pulled a bait-and-switch, demanding at the eleventh hour that the tablet meet US military criteria for durability -- including being able to withstand four inches per hour of "sustained rain." Work has been on hold since then but neither party can afford another delay. DataWind promised it would sell the commercial version of the slate this month, while Kapil Sibal has promised that a second edition of the Aakash would be announced in April.
Aakash lurches toward another crisis as India loses patience with DataWind originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:19:00 EDT
Linux may no longer be getting any more fresh Air, but it's going to get a heaping helping of Flash thanks to a partnership between Adobe and Google. You see, Adobe the pair has been developing a new browser API to work with Flash, code-named "Pepper," to provide Flash Player 11.2 in Chrome on any x86/64 platform -- including Linux. From now on, Linux users will get new versions of Flash Player directly through the Pepper API in Chrome (as opposed to a download from Adobe), but Adobe promises to provide security updates for five years after its release. Don't believe us? Get the good news direct from Adobe at the source below.
Update: To be clear, while this will keep Flash updated in Chrome, it's uncertain what this means for other browsers like Firefox, Konqueror and Midori.
Google and Adobe team up to make Flash Player for Linux (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:15:00 EDT
Last night we were sent an interesting report about
Tesla Roadsters falling into an unfortunate state -- a very terminal, very expensive state. According to
theunderstatement a Tesla Roadster that is left to discharge completely, a process that could take many weeks, will need to have its entire battery pack replaced (pictured above) -- at a cost of approximately $40,000. There are said to be no countermeasures that can prevent this short of keeping your car topped up, and while that may sound simple enough, it becomes tricky if you need to put the thing in storage for a few months.
While we haven't been able to confirm all the "several" supposed cases of this happening, we did hear back from Tesla issuing a statement (after the break) that more or less affirms this
could happen. Tesla uses a number of so-called "countermeasures" to prevent this, up to and including a representative from the company calling the owner should a battery pack trail dangerously low. Worryingly, though, this situation is said to be possible in both the upcoming
Model S sedan and
Model X SUV. Here's to hoping for a little more clarity on this issue -- and maybe a solution -- before those two come to market.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Continue reading Tesla Roadster EVs accused of 'bricking,' Tesla responds
Tesla Roadster EVs accused of 'bricking,' Tesla responds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:52:00 EDT
Nike just keep building on its
Nike+ brand, turning what started life as a glorified pedometer, into a full-fledged workout-tracking platform. Hot on the heels of the
FuelBand comes Nike+ Basketball and Nike+ Training, two new experiences with their own dedicated footwear. For ballers, the Hyperdunk+ features a pressure sensor that measures speed, jump height and even abstract concepts like "hustle." It also features a
ego Showcase mode that lets you superimpose workout data over video of you dunking and post it to the web. Nike+ Training, like almost every other workout app or digital accessory, turns getting in shape into a game. The app features a series of drills and challenges meant to improve speed, agility and strength, and your performance can be uploaded to a global leaderboard. The new apps and shoes, including the Hyper Workout+ for Women and the TR 1+ for men, will be available on June 29th in the US, UK, Germany, France and China. Head on after the break for one more image and PR.
Continue reading New Nike+ apps and shoes cater to basketball players and training athletes
New Nike+ apps and shoes cater to basketball players and training athletes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:13:00 EDT
We laid our hands on Fujitsu's quad-core prototype at the start of the year, it now looks like the phone's now ready to show itself outside the confines of a perspex box. Wielding a Tegra 3 chipset, there's still no official name for the incoming handset, but we're promised admirable battery life and those increasingly typical (for Japan, at least) water resistant credentials. We've also been told that this will be close to -- if not the -- final model of the handset, so we should get to test out that fingerprint sensor in person. Sure, it's not the only quad-core device we're expecting to see at MWC, but we'll welcome it with open arms -- if it does make the journey outside of Japan.
Fujitsu readies its 'final model' quad-core smartphone for reveal next week originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:54:00 EDT
Call it
sour grapes, posturing... whatever you want. The fact remains that T-Mobile has stuck its nose in the middle of Verizon's quest to bulk up its wireless portfolio. Big Magenta filed a request with the FCC on Tuesday, asking the regulatory agency to step in and block the transfer of
AWS spectrum licenses from
Cox, Time Warner, Comcast and Bright House to Verizon. The deals, which will cost the carrier roughly $3.9 billion, are already drawing interest from the
Justice Department, which is concerned it'll place too much control in the company's hands. T-Mobile, the smallest of the nationwide carriers, is equally worried about the concentration of spectrum in Verizon's big red paws. Presumably, though, that has more to do with its inability to purchase it -- especially in the aftermath of the
collapsed AT&T merger. Metro PCS and some public advocacy groups also voiced their opposition, while Sprint took a more measured approach, saying only that the FCC should look closely at the agreements. See, handset makers aren't the only
mobile companies that can whip up a good legal
drama.
T-Mobile wants FCC to block Verizon's spectrum deals with cable industry originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:38:00 EDT
Rugged phones seem to be the exception more than the rule when it comes to smartphones. However, AT&T apparently has one in the pipeline dubbed the Samsung Rugby Smart. Destined to be the latest addition to the lineup of Sammy's military-spec devices, the Smart will -- as you probably guessed -- be the first member of the
Rugby family to ditch the clamshell form factor and take on Android at the same time.
Pocketnow, which leaked the above press renders, also mentions that the device is slated to offer Android 2.3.5, 512MB of RAM, HSPA+ and a 1,650mAh battery. Nothing impressive, to say the least, unless there are a few other surprises that await us sometime in the (hopefully) near future. We still haven't heard a peep from AT&T, but word has it that when it's finally ready to storm shelves, we should expect to see it available for roughly $100. If we're lucky, maybe we'll even hear more about the Smart in, oh, the
next week or so?
Samsung Rugby Smart gets rendered as it anxiously awaits our drops and kicks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:18:00 EDT
Ah, it was indeed only a matter of time. Much like the way HTC
caved into fan pressure, ASUS has
finally released a bootloader unlock tool for its Transformer Prime
TF201. Understandably, the tablet will no longer be covered under warranty once you set it free, but the other catch is that it needs to be running Ice Cream Sandwich in the first place as well. Not that it concerned modder littlesteve who promptly ported a partially-working
Ubuntu over to his unlocked slate, pictured above. Steve says there's much work to be done yet, especially with enabling touchscreen support, so keep an eye on his tweets if you're itching to get a taste of his Linux pie. Now, about that mysterious
TF300T...
ASUS gives Transformer Prime a bootloader unlock tool, Ubuntu promptly ported originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EDT
Flash for mobile may just be a spectator at its own wake at this point, but the desktop browser plug-in is still alive and (
reasonably) well. In fact, Adobe has a host of plans for its flagship multimedia platform, as outlined in its 2012 roadmap. It all starts with 11.2, which should be landing sooner, rather than later, with support for right and left mouse clicks, multithreaded video decoding and improved
GPU acceleration support. That will be followed by Cyril and Dolores, which will also expand the list of hardware-accelerated video cards, as well as improve overall performance and add a few welcome tweaks, like supporting keyboard input in full screen mode. Finally, in 2013, we'll see the debut of Flash Next -- a completely overhauled platform with major updates to the runtime core and
ActionScript language that are designed to "meet the needs of developers over the next five to 10 years." Check out the source for full details but, be warned -- it's PDF only.
Flash roadmap reveals new features, improved GPU support, lack of retirement plans originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:41:00 EDT
Experiencing some issues downloading those expense reports via your Verizon LTE device this morning? You're not alone. We've received reports of data outages in Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Pennsylvania and Ohio. We've reached out to VZW to find out what the issue is, and as soon as and we know more we'll post it right here. For now, let us know if your LTE is letting you down in the comments below.
Update: Via Twitter, Verizon states "VZW is investigating customer issues in connecting to the 4GLTE data network. 3G data, voice and text services are operating reliably." However, we're hearing reports that 3G is down for customers as well in some areas.
Update 2: VZW is now reporting that "After a brief issue this morning, 4G LTE service is fully restored" via a follow-up tweet.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Verizon 4G LTE outage hitting parts of the US (Update: it's back) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:38:00 EDT
Are you one of the many infuriated with Barnes & Noble over how it partitioned the storage on the Nook Tablet -- leaving you
just 1GB for you own files? Well, it looks like the company has learned from its mistakes. While only about 5GB is free to load with apps and media on the new
8GB model, just 1GB of that is reserved for Nook Store content. B&N is also offering to retroactively fix the 16GB boondoggle as well. If you visit a brick and mortar shop starting March 12th, a support rep will gladly help you repartition the internal storage, freeing up more than just one of the 13 available gigabytes for personal use. Having to bring it to the store
is a bit of pain, but we suppose it's better that getting stuck with 12GB of
Angry Birds and e-books.
Barnes & Noble offers to repartition Nook Tablet storage, concedes you may need more than 1GB originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EDT
After being
denied twice,
Megaupload co-founder Kim Dotcom has been granted bail by a New Zealand judge, who ruled he isn't in fact a flight risk. To date, the court's rationale for keeping Dotcom behind bars has been that he might flee to his native Germany in a bid to avoid extradition to the US, where he stands accused of generating more than $175 million in criminal proceeds through the exchange of copyrighted material. And though prosecutors had previously argued that Dotcom has multiple passports and bank accounts and a "history of fleeing criminal charges," district court Judge N.R. Dawson concluded the risk of him taking off has been overstated. In particular, he noted, Dotcom has a wife, three children and another on the way, and that "the US government has not shown since [his] arrest that he has access to any money." Though he's returning home, so to speak, he's not permitted to enter the mansion where he's been living before his arrest (he'll instead stay in a small house nearby, according to
Reuters). While there, he must wear an electronic tracking device on his ankle, and access to the internet (and helicopters!) is forbidden. And that, readers, is where he shall remain -- at least until the extradition hearing begins, likely sometime this summer.
Megaupload co-founder granted bail, New Zealand judge rules he's not a flight risk originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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published on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:19:00 EDT
Early last week, the European Commission gave Google its blessing regarding the purchase of Motorola Mobility. But the honeymoon has been anything but relaxing for the search giant and its latest power-play acquisition, after Apple filed an antitrust complaint, claiming a breach of the company's FRAND obligations. Now Microsoft is waiving the antitrust flag as well, claiming that the company is reportedly abusing its standard-essential patents, impeding fair access to patents that are fundamental to regular device function -- this time dealing with video streaming and wireless connectivity. Microsoft Deputy General Counsel Dave Heiner has posted an appeal to the company's TechNet blog, outlining the issue and explaining that "Motorola is attempting to block sales of Windows PCs, our Xbox game console and other products," further claiming that "Motorola is on a path to use standard essential patents to kill video on the Web, and Google as its new owner doesn't seem to be willing to change course." The key issue at hand is patent pricing -- Microsoft claims that Motorola is demanding an impossibly high royalty of $22.50 for a $1,000 laptop, and that only covers fees for H.264 licensing. It's no secret that Motorola's patent portfolio was a key component of Google's acquisition, and so far it doesn't appear that the company is making any suggestion that Motorola ease up on licensing fees. As always, we'll be keeping an eye on the process, but hit up the source link below for the full scoop from MS.
Microsoft files EU antitrust complaint against Motorola Mobility, claims unfair licensing practices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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