Posts from Engadget for 05/05/2010

Samsung and Panasonic 3DTVs use same active shutter glasses tech, but are (mostly) incompatible

May 05, 2010 04:43 am | Vladislav Savov

At a recent London shindig to promote its 3D television sets, Samsung revealed that the active shutter glasses used to view its glorious, mighty, breathtaking 3D content are based on the same technology as Panasonic's, only they're reversed. That is to say, using your Sammy 3D specs to view Panasonic's 3DTVs won't work -- unless you flip them upside down. You read that right, the two companies have opted for different implementations of the same technology, resulting in the farcical outcome that glasses will be interchangeable between their sets only if you're happy to wear them upside down. How that's gonna help the 3D takeup effort, we don't know, but Samsung R&D chief Simon Lee does see a light at the end of this dim, poorly focused tunnel, stating that manufacturers are likely to agree a common active shutter glasses standard "as early as next year." You might wanna look XpanD's way if you want universal compatibility before then, or away in disgust if you're already tired of all the absurdity surrounding 3D.

Samsung and Panasonic 3DTVs use same active shutter glasses tech, but are (mostly) incompatible originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 03:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel reaches for the 'smartphone zone' with Moorestown-based Atom Z6, comes up shorthanded

May 05, 2010 03:44 am | Sean Hollister

We've seen the future of Intel's mobile platform, and it isn't all roses and sunshine. Three years after the chipmaker told us Moorestown would reduce Atom's energy consumption by a factor of 20, company execs told us earlier today that they've more than reached that goal with the new Z6xx series. Problem is, in the smartphone realm Intel's competitors haven't been sitting idle; according to one of Chipzilla's cantaloupe-and-magenta bar charts, it seems the company has merely caught up in terms of battery life. That's not to say the chips aren't worlds better than previous Atoms -- Intel sees 1.5GHz smartphone processors that slay Snapdragons and up to 1.9GHz in a tablet PC variety -- but 5 hours of web browsing is most decidedly not the 24 hours of productivity Intel previously promised. Besides, who knows: Qualcomm also has a 1.5GHz SoC in the works, though it may not be available by the time Intel's chips ship in the second half of the year.

None of this is to say that Intel won't continue to dominate in the netbook marketplace -- we shudder to think at the potential when combining a nice, chunky battery with Intel's nearly leakproof new chips, and perhaps a small serving of switchable graphics while we're at it. But without a single new MID or smartphone to show us this morning -- Aava Mobile and OpenPeak's offerings seemed unchanged from our previous encounters -- we're not sure if the company's other mobile ambitions have any sway. Not technical enough of a discussion for you? Peruse our gallery for the nitty-gritty.

Gallery: Highlights from Intel's Atom Z6xx briefing

Intel reaches for the 'smartphone zone' with Moorestown-based Atom Z6, comes up shorthanded originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 02:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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4G shocker! T-Mobile USA boss talked to LTE wholesaler earlier this year

May 05, 2010 02:19 am | Chris Ziegler

Clearwire isn't the only American company building a carrier-independent (if you can call majority ownership by Sprint "carrier-independent") 4G network, you see -- and it would certainly behoove T-Mobile to investigate options that let it stay on a more GSM-aligned path for its next-gen network than WiMAX would, right? That might be where Harbinger Capital Partners comes into play, a group that recently bought up a bunch of satellite and terrestrial spectrum with the intention of creating a wholesale LTE network into which companies -- companies like T-Mobile, for instance -- could buy. Indeed, Financial Times is saying that T-Mobile USA chief Robert Dotson chatted with Harbinger recently about partnership opportunities, seemingly right around the same time that he talked to Clearwire. Clearly, it'd seem that T-Mobile's US division needs to decide very, very quickly how it's going to handle the 4G transition, lest it get caught behind the very same 8-ball it found itself battling in the 3G race; then again, pushing 21Mbps HSPA+ as aggressively as it has been the last few months might just keep it going for another few years. Fast data is fast data, after all.

4G shocker! T-Mobile USA boss talked to LTE wholesaler earlier this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 01:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Kin One and Two review

May 05, 2010 01:02 am | Joshua Topolsky

Make no mistake: the Kin One and Two are coming into the world as the black sheep of the phone industry, and Microsoft would have it no other way. Straddling the fence somewhere between a dedicated smartphone and high-spec featurephone, they've been tricky to understand since the day they were first leaked (even Microsoft seemed unsure of what the devices meant until very recently). Billed as a Gen-Y (the "upload generation") social networking tool -- and sold in advertisements as the gateway to the time of your young, freewheeling life -- the Kin phones have admittedly been something of head-scratcher to those of us in the gadget world. Built atop a core similar (but not identical) to the Windows Phone 7 devices coming later this year, manufactured by Sharp, and tied into partnerships with Verizon and Vodafone, the phones dangerously preempt Microsoft's reemergence into the smartphone market. Hell, they're even called Windows Phones. But the One and Two aren't like any Windows Phones you've ever seen. With stripped-down interfaces, deep social networking integration, and a focus on very particular type of user, Microsoft is aiming for something altogether different with Kin. So do these devices deliver on that unique, social experience that Redmond has been selling, or does this experiment fall flat? We've taken both handsets for a spin, and we've got all the answers in our full review... so read on to find out!

Gallery: Kin One and Two review

Continue reading Microsoft Kin One and Two review

Microsoft Kin One and Two review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Envy 14 and 17 officially official, Envy 13 slowly waves goodbye

May 05, 2010 01:01 am | Joanna Stern

The existence of the 14- and 17-inch Envys may not be a shocker, but HP has surely been able to keep some of the more juicy details to themselves -- well, until today that is. Let's start with the external updates that have been made to the all-aluminum machines: both versions now have backlit keyboards, slot-loading optical drives, and on-board DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA jacks. That's pretty much everything we asked for in our review of the Envy 15, but here's where we politely tell you that the beautiful systems still have the same touchpad, or ClickPad as HP calls it, though it has apparently been significantly retooled on the software end. In our few minutes playing around with the systems it did seem less finicky when we kept one thumb on the left button and used our index finger to navigate the desktop.

Oh, and we're not done with the meaty updates. Taking the place of the Envy 13 is the $999 14.5-inch Envy 14 -- oh yes, we just said it starts at under a grand -- which packs a Core i5 processor, ATI Mobility Radeon discrete graphics and 7,200rpm hard drive options. Unfortunately, we don't get any of that Optimus graphics technology here, but HP's still claiming up to eight hours of battery life with the discrete GPU turned off. Obviously, the Envy 17 steps it up a notch in the performance arena -- come May 19 the 17-incher will be available with Core i5 and i7 options, ATI graphics that support Eyefinity technology, and up to 2TB of storage. Told ya there were still some good nuggets! We promise we'll eventually have a full review, but in the meantime check out the hands-on pics and official PR below.

Gallery: HP Envy 14 and Envy 17 press shots

Gallery: HP Envy 14 and Envy 17 hands-on

Continue reading HP Envy 14 and 17 officially official, Envy 13 slowly waves goodbye

HP Envy 14 and 17 officially official, Envy 13 slowly waves goodbye originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Pavilion line made over with metal casing, new AMD and Intel processors

May 05, 2010 01:01 am | Joanna Stern

See that up there? That's the new HP dm4, and you better believe that this aluminum housed 14-inch laptop not only packs a Core i5 processor and plenty of sex appeal, but starts at $729. In a nutshell, that's basically the whole story of the four new HP Pavilions -- gone are the glossy lids and LED touch shortcuts, though remaining in tact are the affordable prices and mainstream power. The inch-thick dm4 happens to be our favorite of the bunch -- it's got a soft etched pattern along the lid, chiclet-style keyboard, on-board optical drive, and is available with different Core i5 CPU and ATI discrete graphics options. And if that 14-incher isn't for you, there's also the 14.5-inch dv5, which instead of the brushed aluminum lid, has a matte imprinted cover that's available in black, red and champagne. Starting at $649, the dv5 is available with Core i3, i5 and AMD's upcoming Turion II processors, and while it doesn't have discrete graphics options, the Intel versions will support Intel's WiDi technology.

Going on up in size, the 15.6-inch Pavilion dv6 is all about choices -- you can configure it with either a brushed aluminum or HP Imprint finish, a mulitouch screen, and AMD or Intel Core 2010 processors. The AMD variant will start at $530 and the Intel Core i5 version at $649. Last but not least is the dv7 powerhouse, which now has a Beats Audio option. No surprises here, the 17-incher can be pimped with quad-core AMD or Intel CPUs and ATI discrete graphics. We're planning to review at least a few of these models before back to school laptop shopping season gets fully underway, but for now, feel free to head on past the break for the full press release and feast your eyes on some of these far-from-budget-looking lappies down in the galleries below.

Gallery: HP Pavilion dm4, dv5, dv6, dv7 press shots

Gallery: HP Pavilion dm4, dv5, dv6, dv7 hands-on

Continue reading HP Pavilion line made over with metal casing, new AMD and Intel processors

HP Pavilion line made over with metal casing, new AMD and Intel processors originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP unleashes seven new ProBooks, cuddles up with AMD

May 05, 2010 01:01 am | Joanna Stern

No, we wouldn't say we've been looking at AMD lately, HP -- but we've got a strong feeling that we're about to with the slew of not-yet-announced processors that are powering these new affordable business laptops. The HP ProBook 4325s, 4425s, and 4525 may look like their brushed-aluminum business laptop brethren, but instead of Intel inside, they can be configured with AMD's new Phenom II quad-core, Phenom II triple-core, Turion II or Athlon II processors -- all which are apparently 69 percent faster than previous generation HP AMD laptops. Add in an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 530v discrete graphics option and an $619 starting price, and the S-series may just be our new favorite HP sub-brand -- though we'll reserve final judgment until we test these puppies and check out the battery life. In addition to those three, the 14-inch 6445b and 15-inch 6555b pack the same new processor options, but for $799 they have a more durable case with a spill-resistant keyboard. Oh don't worry Intel, the ProBook line hasn't forgotten about you: there's still some Core i3, i5 and i7 love in the new HP ProBook 6450b and 6550b, which now also have vPro remote management technology.

And just when you thought HP couldn't go any lower in price with its business line up, the 14-inch HP 425 and 15.6-inch 625 emerge at $550. While these guys aren't exactly the thinnest or lightest of the bunch, they should still provide an ample amount of performance with AMD's new 2.3GHz Turion II dual-core, 2.1GHz Athlon II dual-core and V Series processors and ATI Radeon HD 4200 integrated graphics. Not a bad time to be in the boardroom, huh? Head down below for some glossy press shots and the full releases.

Gallery: HP ProBook S-Series and B-Series press shots

Continue reading HP unleashes seven new ProBooks, cuddles up with AMD

HP unleashes seven new ProBooks, cuddles up with AMD originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TI-Nspire graphing calculator gets a new touchpad, nerds swoon world o'er

May 04, 2010 11:39 pm | Joseph L. Flatley

Texas Instruments has been making graphing calculators for twenty years now, and things look pretty much the same as they were in that bygone era of Amy Grant and C&C Music Factory. The company's latest, TI-Nspire with Touchpad, features -- you guessed it! -- a touchpad above the keypad for scrollin' around, as well as a letterpad (apparently they had to forgo QWERTY to make this compliant with tests like SAT and ACT). And, like its precursors, it comes with a snap-in TI-84 Plus keypad so your old dog won't have to learn any keystrokes. Available now from your fave e-tailer, look to pay around $140.

Continue reading TI-Nspire graphing calculator gets a new touchpad, nerds swoon world o'er

TI-Nspire graphing calculator gets a new touchpad, nerds swoon world o'er originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 22:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 finally coming on May 7?

May 04, 2010 10:33 pm | Chris Ziegler

This is turning into a serious boy-who-cried-wolf kind of situation, but evidence is growing today that HTC and Sprint are finally -- yes, finally -- ready to drop a hot batch of Sense-laden Android 2.1 on eager Hero owners. A screen shot of a Best Buy employee news page reads that the update was "delayed until this week" and will be "in all stores" by this Friday, May 7; what that means isn't exactly clear, but it could suggest that all Heros being sold in Best Buy Mobile locations will have the update applied by then. As for current customers, Best Buy is sending out instructions on how staff can help owners upgrade if they happen to wander into the store, but otherwise, it should be available from HTC's site (yeah, no over-the-air action here). Stay tuned, folks.

[Thanks, John]

Sprint's HTC Hero update to Android 2.1 finally coming on May 7? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe shows off prototype Android tablet running Air and Flash 'flawlessly' (video)

May 04, 2010 09:44 pm | Donald Melanson

Well, here's something of a surprise. In addition to demonstrating Flash running on phones like the Nexus One and Palm Pre at the now-happening Web 2.0 Expo, Adobe also has a prototype Android tablet of some sort on hand that, according to Zedomax, runs Flash and Air apps "flawlessly." Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be any details at all on the tablet itself, and judging from the looks of things, it is a prototype in the truest sense of the word (check out the other shot after the break). It does seem to deliver the goods when it comes to Air and Flash, however, with it able to run Wired's Air-based magazine app and play YouTube videos without so much as a hiccup, although we'd definitely like to see it in a few more taxing situations. See for yourself in a pair of all too brief videos after the break.

Continue reading Adobe shows off prototype Android tablet running Air and Flash 'flawlessly' (video)

Adobe shows off prototype Android tablet running Air and Flash 'flawlessly' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 20:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seagate introduces new GoFlex range: multi-port HDDs, media players, etc.

May 04, 2010 09:00 pm | Darren Murph

We all knew Seagate's FreeAgent line couldn't hang around forever, and tonight the storage mainstay has revealed the next logical step for the line. The GoFlex family is one of the more varied ranges out there from any hard drive maker, with the primary intent on the HDD side being to create drives (ranging from 320GB to 2TB) that are friendly with both Macs and PCs (simultaneously) while also giving users the ability to upgrade their connection or switch it out depending on what workstation they interface with. The new crew supports USB 2.0 out of the box, though upgrading to USB 3.0, FireWire 800 or eSATA can be accomplished via the new GoFlex cable system. Also launched today is the GoFlex TV HD media player, which essentially acts as a liaison between your tele and your media, regardless of whether it's stored locally, on the LAN or on the internet. Moving on, there's the GoFlex Net media sharing device, which transforms any USB mass storage device into one that's happy to pump out content via the 'net -- think Pogoplug, and you've pretty much got the idea. It looks as if the whole crew will be available for purchase starting this week, with the full list of details and prices just beyond the break.

Gallery: Seagate GoFlex hard drives

Continue reading Seagate introduces new GoFlex range: multi-port HDDs, media players, etc.

Seagate introduces new GoFlex range: multi-port HDDs, media players, etc. originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Aspire 5551G, 5553G and 7551G keep the Phenom II X3 and X4 leaks flowing

May 04, 2010 08:23 pm | Darren Murph

Ah, now we get it. Clearly AMD has a few mobile chips in the backroom that it has yet to inform us about, and unfortunately for the fine folks in Sunnyvale, it seems as if their partner firms aren't being quite so hush-hush. Just hours after discovering a quad-core Phenom II X4 within Dell's new Inspiron M501R, along comes a spate of Acer Aspire machines with -- you guessed it -- Phenom II X4 and X3 chips within. The 15.6-inch 5551G / 5553G and 17.3-inch 7551G are all listed now at Amazon's German portal, with the X3 N830 clocked at 2.1GHz and the X4 N930 chip humming along at an even 2GHz. The cheapest of the bunch is listed at right around €668 ($870), though you'll have to dig into that source link for specifics. Fret not -- we get the impression that each of these will be headed stateside just as soon as AMD sees fit to officially unveil its not-so-secret stash of new silicon.

[Thanks, TheLostSwede]

Acer Aspire 5551G, 5553G and 7551G keep the Phenom II X3 and X4 leaks flowing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ellen pokes fun at Apple... and then apologizes

May 04, 2010 07:28 pm | Joshua Topolsky

After watching this video, we've come to one conclusion: Apple needs to learn how to take a joke.

Continue reading Ellen pokes fun at Apple... and then apologizes

Ellen pokes fun at Apple... and then apologizes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone OS 4 beta 3 brings iPod widgets to the dock

May 04, 2010 07:14 pm | Nilay Patel

Apple may have pulled iPhone OS 4 beta 3 soon after it went live, but we're living recklessly -- and hey, is that a set of iPod controls and a screen orientation lock hiding out in the app switcher? The control is accessed by swiping to the far left, and it all does pretty much what you'd expect. That's good news, since we were missing the old pop-up iPod controls pretty badly. We're hunting around for more new stuff, we'll let you know if we find anything.

iPhone OS 4 beta 3 brings iPod widgets to the dock originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Inspiron M501R seen packing quad-core AMD Phenom II X4 CPU, ATI 550v GPU

May 04, 2010 06:44 pm | Darren Murph

Well, would you look at this? Dell's not-at-all-boisterous launch of numerous R-rated Inspirons left us with far more questions than answers (you know what we mean, J.J. Abrams?), but now things are starting to come together somewhat. We're guessing some of the mystique surrounding the M501R has to do with the power plant within, because so far as we can tell, AMD has never shipped a Phenom II X4 within a laptop. Sure enough, this here machine can be ordered up with a quad-core X4, and while prices and the like aren't yet available (the order process seems to be borked for now), we do know that this particular model will ship with a 720p 15.6-inch display, Windows 7, an optional 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 550v (another new one to us), WiFi, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, four color options and a total weight of 5.83 pounds. C'mon Dell / AMD -- why not just spill the beans already? Our trigger finger can only itch for so long.

Dell Inspiron M501R seen packing quad-core AMD Phenom II X4 CPU, ATI 550v GPU originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 7 based on a hybrid Windows CE 6 / Compact 7 kernel?

May 04, 2010 06:12 pm | Chris Ziegler

Up until now, we'd heard and believed that Windows Phone 7 would be based on Microsoft's time-tested Windows CE 6 kernel -- aging, yes, but still considerably newer and more technically modern than the CE 5 upon which Windows Mobile 6.x operates. Thing is, Windows Embedded evangelist Olivier Bloch just dropped the knowledge this week that the company's all-new phone platform will actually be "based on the Windows Embedded Compact 7 core," which sounds a lot to us like Redmond skipped right over CE 6 and went straight for the latest and greatest (and still unavailable to the general public) stuff.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 based on a hybrid Windows CE 6 / Compact 7 kernel?

Windows Phone 7 based on a hybrid Windows CE 6 / Compact 7 kernel? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Know Your Rights: H.264, patent licensing, and you

May 04, 2010 05:33 pm | Nilay Patel

Know Your Rights is Engadget's technology law series, written by our own totally punk ex-copyright attorney Nilay Patel. In it we'll try to answer some fundamental tech-law questions to help you stay out of trouble in this brave new world. This isn't legal advice or analysis, so don't get all donked in the head.

What on earth is going on with H.264, patents, and video encoding on the web? It seems like ever since Steve Jobs published his Thoughts on Flash the world has gone crazy.

We know what you mean! It's getting pretty silly out there. OSNews just declared that H.264 would be the death of video art and culture because professional video cameras are only licensed by AT&T for personal and non-commercial usage. Terrifying, although most of the creative people we know have continued working free of devastating laser attacks from space.

Continue reading Know Your Rights: H.264, patent licensing, and you

Know Your Rights: H.264, patent licensing, and you originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget wins the People's Voice Webby in Consumer Electronics, and you can win a Droid Incredible!

May 04, 2010 05:15 pm | Nilay Patel

Hey, would you look at that -- we done won ourselves an award! And not just any award, but the People's Choice Webby Award in Consumer Electronics, which is doubly special to us since it was voted on by the general public. Obviously we're pretty happy about the win, but we're even happier to have such great readers like all of you -- Engadget editors work pretty hard, but you're the ones who make our site what it is. So by way of celebration, we're giving away a Droid Incredible, courtesy of Verizon Wireless, and 10 lucky runner-ups will get spiffy new Engadget T-shirts! All you have to do is leave a comment to tell us how happy you are, and you'll be entered to win. The full instructions and typical rules can be found after the break. Good luck!

Continue reading Engadget wins the People's Voice Webby in Consumer Electronics, and you can win a Droid Incredible!

Engadget wins the People's Voice Webby in Consumer Electronics, and you can win a Droid Incredible! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: BlackBerry two-way sync for Gmail is now live

May 04, 2010 04:49 pm | Chris Ziegler

We've just heard from the boys and girls at RIM that the company did, in fact, deploy the long-awaited two-way Gmail synchronization capability to North American BIS users this week. What does that mean, exactly? Well, it means that if you've got a BlackBerry on any North American carrier that isn't going through BES, Gmail should behave more like it should -- deleted items will disappear from your phone, emails read elsewhere will show up as read on the device, and you'll have access to all of your sent items. Oh, and you can create and delete labels from the comfort of your QWERTY thumb board, too, which is a sweet deal. Sure, the feature might be literally years late as far as we're concerned -- but hey, better late than never.

Confirmed: BlackBerry two-way sync for Gmail is now live originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrity Nerds: Oprah has an EVO 4G and you don't

May 04, 2010 04:23 pm | Donald Melanson

Celebrity Nerds confirms what you always knew, deep in your heart of hearts: that stars are nerds like us. Send in your own confirmations of this fact right here.

We wish we could tell you that Oprah caused a small riot in Chicago by handing out HTC EVO 4Gs to everyone in her audience but, alas, she seems to have just kept this one for herself. More specifically, she used the "fancy new" phone to show "those of you who actually know how to text" how easy it is to sign her "No Phone Zone" pledge. No discounts, no Bono, just a fleeting glimpse of one of the most anticipated phones of the year. Head on past the break for the video evidence of this momentous event.

[Thanks, Luis]

Continue reading Celebrity Nerds: Oprah has an EVO 4G and you don't

Celebrity Nerds: Oprah has an EVO 4G and you don't originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel demonstrates Light Peak on a laptop, says 10Gbps speeds are only the beginning

May 04, 2010 03:56 pm | Joseph L. Flatley

Folks in Brussels for Intel's European research showcase got to get their hands on the company's Light Peak this week, with the first demonstration of the optical cable technology running on a laptop. Outfitted with a 12mm square chip that converts the optical signal into data the machine can read, two separate HD video streams were piped to a nearby TV, which displayed them with the help of a converter box -- a necessary evil until the Light Peak chips are developed for the display side of things. According to Justin Rattner, Intel's CTO, the current 10Gb / second speeds are just the beginning. "We expect to increase that speed dramatically. You'll see multiple displays being served by a single Light Peak connection. There's almost no limit to the bandwidth -- fibers can carry trillions of bits per second."

Intel demonstrates Light Peak on a laptop, says 10Gbps speeds are only the beginning originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone OS 4.0 beta 3 is ready for your scrutiny (update: it's back!)

May 04, 2010 03:24 pm | Chris Ziegler

The last time Apple dropped a release of iPhone OS 4.0, it left more than a few downloaders in crumpled heaps on the floor, sobbing quietly to themselves as they tried desperately to come to terms with the fact that their beloved iPhones were far less usable than they had been just a few minutes prior. Well, we don't know yet if beta 3 is any better, but it's here -- and if you're a member of Apple's iPhone dev program, it's ready for you to install. So yeah -- take care, good luck, godspeed, be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best. Let us know how it goes in comments, yeah?

Update: And... it's been pulled. Good thing we just restored our phone. We'll let you know if and when it comes back.

Update 2: Turns out you can still access the firmware with a little creative URL hackery -- but you've still got to be an iPhone dev program member, naturally. Thanks, Brian!

Update 3: Reports are coming in that it's back and available without any trickery!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPhone OS 4.0 beta 3 is ready for your scrutiny (update: it's back!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Eee PC 1218 said to be Ion-based, more laptops coming May 13th

May 04, 2010 03:09 pm | Donald Melanson

We'd already gotten a good look at ASUS' forthcoming Eee PC 1218 courtesy of the Red Dot design awards, and DigiTimes is now reporting one of its key details: that it will indeed be Ion-based (we'd presume Ion 2, but that still remains unclear). What's more, the site has also offered some more confirmation of ASUS' Eee PC 1015 / 1215, and says that ASUS will also be launching some new laptops on May 13th, including some bamboo-covered models and some "multimedia-enhanced models." In other ASUS news, the site also has a few choice quotes from the always talkative ASUS CEO Jerry Shen, who repeated his assertion that netbooks will continue to outsell tablets, and further went on to get specific and say that ASUS expects to sell between seven and eight million Eee PCs in 2010, which would bring its global netbook market share to 20%.

[Thanks, Sal]

ASUS Eee PC 1218 said to be Ion-based, more laptops coming May 13th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Editions e-book service launching this summer

May 04, 2010 02:43 pm | Donald Melanson

Think Google is content to simply make public domain books freely available for e-book readers? Not quite -- the company has just confirmed that its previously announced Google Editions e-book service will finally be launching in late June or July. That service will apparently let folks buy digital copies of books they find through Google's existing book search service, and let book retailers sell Google Editions on their own site and retain the "bulk of the revenue." Details are otherwise still pretty light, including any word of pricing or publishers involved, but Google has previously said that it planned to make between 400,000 and 600,000 books available with prices set by the publishers.

Google Editions e-book service launching this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad merges with kitchen cabinet, sacrificing portability for utility

May 04, 2010 02:14 pm | Sean Hollister

From the moment we saw the so-called "magical device," we knew the lucrative digital cookbook market would never be quite the same, but it's one thing to imagine an iPad as the centerpiece of one's kitchen, and something else entirely to see to see it in the flesh. TUAW reader Alan Daly built his directly into the side of a kitchen cabinet, and set it to work doling out Epicurious recipes, streaming Jamie Oliver, and surfing some of the world's best websites (in our oh-so-humble opinion) well out of the way of troublesome meat splatter. In lieu of flying toasters, his screen displays a virtual aquarium when it's not in use, and the whole assembly seems to be a simple matter of cutting a hole and affixing a pair of wooden strips for support. It's not clear, however, how he keeps it charged. Maybe that's the magic Steve keeps talking about. Video after the break.

Continue reading iPad merges with kitchen cabinet, sacrificing portability for utility

iPad merges with kitchen cabinet, sacrificing portability for utility originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS ships Eee Top ET2010 all-in-one in the UK

May 04, 2010 01:47 pm | Darren Murph

And just like that, ASUS' 20-inch Eee Top ET2010 is leaving the docks in the UK. This here machine made its official debut back in late March, but at the time, the company dished no details surrounding price or release. Fast forward to now, and we're told that the sleek all-in-one -- complete with an AMD Athlon II CPU, 1GB or 2GB of RAM, a DVD drive and a total depth of just one inch -- is now shipping across the pond. The multitouch version gets going at £619.99, which means it should start to land on American shores shortly for around $600 to $700. Here's hoping, right?

Gallery: ASUS Eee Top ET2010

ASUS ships Eee Top ET2010 all-in-one in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World's first remote heart surgery completed in Leicester, UK

May 04, 2010 01:18 pm | Joseph L. Flatley

In the past, we've seen robots remove brain tumors and even transplant a kidney or two, and now a cardiologist has completed the world's first remote heart operation at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, UK. Using the Remote Catheter Manipulation System built by New Jersey's Catheter Robotics, Dr. Andre Ng was able to insert electrodes attached to catheters into the heart through blood vessels in the groin. One of the challenges surgeons traditionally face with this kind of procedure is prolonged exposure to the X-Rays used to monitor the patient. By operating remotely, doctors can avoid fatigue and cumulative radiation exposure -- not to mention those bulky lead aprons. "As long as the connection is reliable," Ng told the Financial Times, the operation could be performed over the Internet from anywhere in the world. Just the same, we'd prefer it if our doctor was at least in the same building as he shoved electrodes into out hearts. Don't we at least deserve that much? PR after the break.

Continue reading World's first remote heart surgery completed in Leicester, UK

World's first remote heart surgery completed in Leicester, UK originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple under preliminary antitrust investigation over iPhone, triggered by complaint from Adobe

May 04, 2010 12:53 pm | Nilay Patel

We'd heard a somewhat sketchy report from the New York Post yesterday that the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission were considering launching an antitrust inquiry into Apple and its various iPhone-related practices, and now it's being confirmed by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal, who say the inquiry was triggered by complaints from Apple's competitors and app developers -- specifically Adobe, according to Bloomberg. The DOJ and FTC are currently deciding which agency will take the lead in any inquiry, but if and when it gets underway there are a few issues at play: the first is obviously Apple's decision to block Flash and other middleware from app development, and the second is Apple's new iAd platform, which comes with its own changes to the iPhone developer agreement that could potentially lock out third-party ad and analytics services like AdMob -- itself under regulatory scrutiny due to the Google acquisition -- and Flurry.

We'd also imagine regulators will take a close look at Apple's App Store policies in general, but from a distance looks like the focus is on mobile advertising: both Apple and Google have made aggressive moves into the space in recent months, and both have come under regulatory scrutiny. We'll just have to wait and see how this one plays out -- there's still no official word from either agency on what's happening, and the timeline of any potential investigation and lawsuit will be measured in months and years.

Apple under preliminary antitrust investigation over iPhone, triggered by complaint from Adobe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Legend coming to AT&T, according to FCC

May 04, 2010 12:25 pm | Chris Ziegler

That ugly, pixelated label doesn't really look like much, does it? Ah, but there's so much going on here! A closer examination reveals that the label is a dead ringer for the label found underneath the endcap of HTC's lovely unibody aluminum Legend -- but this isn't exactly the Legend with which we're already well acquainted. Instead, this FCC filing is for a phone that operates on the 850 and 1900MHz WCDMA bands, a pretty strong sign that it'll be coming to AT&T (and / or Rogers, Bell, and Telus) at some point. Further evidence lies in the FCC ID itself: the original Legend bears an ID of PB76100, while this puppy is the awfully similar PB76110. Sure, it's no gigahertz-class, WVGA ultraphone, but we've got to admit -- the Legend's sexy enough to have us a little excited.

HTC Legend coming to AT&T, according to FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 tiptoes into the wild, should ship soon

May 04, 2010 12:19 pm | Darren Murph

When you've got a footprint of just 7.4- x 7.4- x 1.73-inches, it's hard to make too big of an impression. That said, Zotac's new ZBOX looks to be just the thing for those scouting a diminutive HTPC or bedroom machine that can handle the best Glee re-runs and all of that YouTube HD footage that your long-lost siblings continue to email you from the wilds of Wisconsin. Originally launched back in March, this pint-sized PC is just now starting to make its way out to reviewers, which hopefully means that it's ever closer to shipping to end users, too. The benchmarking lords over at Hot Hardware took the time to unbox and preview the device, giving you the opportunity to wade through a gallery of images while it undergoes all sorts of torture. Head on down and have a look if an Ion-based machine that can fit inside your shoebox sounds even marginally appealing.

Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 tiptoes into the wild, should ship soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake: Nokia's N8 beaten to release by lackluster knockoff

May 04, 2010 11:48 am | Darren Murph

All together now: "Already?" KIRFers overseas are getting quicker and quicker with their knockoffs, and at this point, it's safe to say that you'll have an easier time wrapping your hands around a commendable Nokia N8 impostor than the real-deal. The outside looks an awful lot like Nokia's first major Symbian^3-based handset, but the specifications are decidedly lackluster: you'll get a 400 x 240 resolution display (3.2-inches), an MP4 player, FM radio, Bluetooth, webcam and a battery that'll last three to five hours. Glaringly absent is a 12 megapixel camera, WiFi module and built-in 3G support, but it's not like that stuff really matters -- after all, what else would you expect for an unsubsidized price of just $105? Head on past the break for a video, rockstar.

[Thanks, Alain]

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake: Nokia's N8 beaten to release by lackluster knockoff

Keepin' it real fake: Nokia's N8 beaten to release by lackluster knockoff originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS ships $400 Eee PC Seashell 1005PR, complete with Broadcom Crystal HD chip

May 04, 2010 11:19 am | Darren Murph

You've waited long enough, and now it's finally time for you to treat yourself to the HD-savvy netbook you've been craving. You deserve it. You really do. Motivational speeches aside, ASUS would sure love for you to feel that way, as the company's Eee PC Seashell 1005PR has finally departed the "coming soon" stage -- according to ASUS, anyway. Amazon's product page still indicates that stock is incoming, but it seems as if the 10.1-inch machine should be filtering out to various sales channels as we speak. In case you've forgotten, $399.99 nets you an Intel Atom N450 processor, 250GB hard drive, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, a battery good for "11 hours" of life, a 1,366 x 768 resolution panel and Broadcom's Crystal HD accelerator. Kind of sells itself, no?

ASUS ships $400 Eee PC Seashell 1005PR, complete with Broadcom Crystal HD chip originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Energy Star 4.0 goes into effect for HDTVs, puts 'em on a diet

May 04, 2010 10:56 am | Tim Stevens

Your next Energy Star-approved HDTV? Chances are it'll be a little greener than your last one, thanks to the new 4.0 ratings going into effect. These drastically reduce allowable consumption for displays, offering on average a 40 percent improvement in efficiency compared to 3.0 models, meaning a 50-inch set can consume, at most, 153 watts (compared to 318 in the 3.0 world). Beyond that, a display that has been turned "off" can consume no more than one solitary watt whilst waiting for your next command. All sets produced as of May 1 must meet these new regulations to earn that prestigious blue badge, and then in 2012 the 5.0 rules come into effect, dropping maximum consumption by roughly another 40 percent -- good news for those who love the planet as much as they love watching Nature on peripheral vision-filling display.

Energy Star 4.0 goes into effect for HDTVs, puts 'em on a diet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flying Finn Juha Kankkunen demonstrates Nokia's Car Kit CK-200 (video)

May 04, 2010 10:33 am | Tim Stevens

More and more cars offer integrated Bluetooth from the factory, but absolutely none offer an integrated Juha Kankkunen. The four-time World Rally Champion isn't even an option at any manufacturer that we know of, but regardless of make and model you can add a little Bluetooth integration with Nokia's CarKit CK-200. It's a display that sits on your dashboard and connects to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, and through the wireless controller that clips onto your steering wheel (at right above) you can navigate contacts, make calls, and even scroll through text messages. We're not so sure about the texting part, but it should be a great way to enable hands-free calling from one device and Bluetooth music streaming from another at the same time, if that's your thing. Not sold? The video after the break of Kankkunen doing his thing in a rally-prepped VW while taking calls will make you a convert. You know what they say: if it's good enough for Juha, it's good enough for you-a.

Continue reading Flying Finn Juha Kankkunen demonstrates Nokia's Car Kit CK-200 (video)

Flying Finn Juha Kankkunen demonstrates Nokia's Car Kit CK-200 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fraunhofer's 3D posters make your fish-based advertising really pop

May 04, 2010 10:04 am | Tim Stevens

The pinnacle of 3D-based content? Glasses-free, of course, and Fraunhofer has reached that level for static images -- and it plans to use it for advertising, of course. The company is talking up its new 3D posters that rely on 250,000 lenses embedded in a grooved sheet, each lens with a 2mm diameter. The effect is said to be similar to those simple "3D" lenticular postcards and cereal boxes we've all seen, but Fraunhofer promises that improved accuracy used in manufacturing here will make the resulting images far clearer, enabling the effect to be clearly seen on these five meter posters even from across the street. That's good, because when was the last time you walked up to a billboard to get a closer look?

Fraunhofer's 3D posters make your fish-based advertising really pop originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia Ovi Maps let you do navigation instructions with your Own Voice

May 04, 2010 09:31 am | Vladislav Savov

Yo TomTom, wake up and smell the competition. While the original gangster of navigation devices is still mulling over an app store, Nokia has raised the smartphone pathfinding bar a little higher by letting people record (and share) their own voice instructions. It's not the most complex process in the world, you just get the extra Own Voice app to go with the latest version of Ovi Maps and set your vocal talents free. At the end you'll get a neat little voice pack to utilize on your handset or to share with the world, which is surely just dying to hear your Mr. T impressions. Let the silliness commence!

[Thanks, Brent R.]

Nokia Ovi Maps let you do navigation instructions with your Own Voice originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electronic House crowns 2010 Home of the Year award winners

May 04, 2010 08:58 am | Donald Melanson

It's that time of the year again, when the folks from Electronic House recognize the most impressive and downright jaw-dropping homes and home theaters they've seen since the last awards were handed out. While the categories cover everything from more modest home theaters to the best kitchens and outdoor spaces, the standout has to be the award for best home theater over $250,000, which this year went to the theater pictured above put together by First Impressions Theme Theaters. While the exact price doesn't appear to have been disclosed, the home theater was apparently four and half months in the making, and centers around a 174-inch screen (which can be adjusted for scope ratio) and a TITAN 1080p-250 Pro Series projector that itself weighs in at 200 pounds. That, of course, is just the beginning -- the room also includes a Crestron automation system that automatically adjusts the lighting and changes the sky on the ceiling when folks enter, sound-proofing that lets you "hear your heartbeat," a completely concealed Genelec surround sound system, a custom dog bed, and Italian leather CineLounger seats complete with LED-lit glowing cup holders, to name just a few standout features. Hit up the source link below for the complete details, and the rest of the award winners.

Electronic House crowns 2010 Home of the Year award winners originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple granted design patent for iPhone 3G, 3GS

May 04, 2010 08:17 am | Thomas Ricker

Hot on the heels of the "ornamental design" patent covering its original iPhone and iPod touch, we've got a second USPTO patent granted to Apple covering what looks to be the more curvaceous iPhone 3G and 3GS. Jonathan P. Ive and Steve Jobs are among the inventors credited with the usual list of references including the LG KE850 Prada and Meizu M8 look-a-like devices. Don't get too hung up on the missing "home" button -- a US design patent covers any device "substantially similar" to the images above. What that means only a judge can say.

Apple granted design patent for iPhone 3G, 3GS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bell Novatel MiFi 2372 deemed unsafe for human use, recalled

May 04, 2010 08:06 am | Tim Stevens

We knew there had to be a catch with the Novatel MiFi 3G routers -- they were just too convenient. But, little did we know that catch involved danger to our health and wellbeing! Bell Mobility has been sending UPS couriers around (real people holding envelopes, not unicorns) to owners of the Novatel MiFi 2372, delivering dire-sounding letters (a copy can be found after the break) telling them to discontinue use of their routers due to faulty battery packs and, if that wasn't enough, they were all remotely deactivated yesterday morning. Owners are told to send their MiFis back to the company for replacement, a process said to take a whopping six to eight weeks. Novatel is sending U998 Turbo Sticks to those affected for use in the interim, but that doesn't do you much good if your device lacks USB ports, like our unfortunate tipster's iPad. We can understand the frustration of giving up your gadget for two months, the alternative doesn't sound too appealing either.

Update: Kevin from Novatel dropped us a comment with the company's official statement. We have it after the break.

Update 2: A Novatel rep would like us to clarify that the couriers in question are from UPS, and also come equipped with return envelopes for the affected 2372s. So, if anyone from FedEx tries to deliver any documentation about this situation, it's probably a trap.

[Thanks, Justin]

Continue reading Bell Novatel MiFi 2372 deemed unsafe for human use, recalled

Bell Novatel MiFi 2372 deemed unsafe for human use, recalled originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Qlasp earbuds wrap around your lobes, appeal to your sweet tooth

May 04, 2010 07:14 am | Sean Hollister

Sony's candy-colored PIIQ headphone lineup isn't for everyone, but at least the new lollypop-styled Qlasp earbuds have a useful feature: an integrated flexible clip designed to keep them firmly affixed to your head as you skate, swing and slide through your active hipster day. Sure, you could just slap a pair of Lobies on your Klipsch and get the same effect with better sound, but at the cost of uglification; for a mere $25, these low-end Sony units might get the job done without telegraphing your geekiness to the world. Taste all five flavors of Qlasp at the source link.

Sony Qlasp earbuds wrap around your lobes, appeal to your sweet tooth originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 May 2010 06:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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