Wednesday 31 October 2012
Apple’s Cook fields his A-team before a wary Street
News Summary: Icahn sees potential in Netflix
BMC 2Q earns beat Street; OKs $1B share buyback
Disney unlikely to change ‘Star Wars’ brand
Facebook Wants to Take Down Craigslist, Again
Thursday 18 October 2012
Acer unveils space-saving ME mini tower and XC desktops for (low) power users
The arrival of Windows 8 is a good excuse for the PC industry to flood the market with so much hardware, consumers will be blinded by so much choice. Acer's jabbing its digits into your eyes with its new lineup of low-end desktops for the casual user. The ME micro towers will take an Intel Core i5 or I7, 2TB HDDs and up to 16GB of RAM. If you don't have anywhere else to stash your smartphone, the chassis comes with a recess desk on top with a USB port for easy charging. Those looking for something a little less demanding can pick up an XC desktop, a space-saving unit that will take an Intel Core i3, a 1TB HDD and up to 6GB of RAM. Prices for the ME begin at $700, while the cheaper XCs will set you back a much more modest $400.
Continue reading Acer unveils space-saving ME mini tower and XC desktops for (low) power users
Acer unveils space-saving ME mini tower and XC desktops for (low) power users originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Acer Iconia Tab A110 reaches North America on October 30th for $230, faces a tough fight
Acer hasn't had an easy mid-year: it trotted out the Iconia Tab A110 at Computex as a budget Android tablet that could still claim Tegra 3 speeds, only to watch the Nexus 7 arrive and leave virtually every other comparable tablet in a tight spot. It's North America's turn at the A110 this month, and the side-by-side looks aren't getting much easier. When the 7-inch Jelly Bean slate ships to the continent on October 30th, it will cost $230 in both the US and Canada for the lone 8GB version -- a better value than we see in Europe, but still a slightly awkward middle ground between an 8GB Nexus 7 at $199 and its $249, 16GB edition. We're guessing that Acer is counting on the microSD and micro-HDMI expansion to tempt would-be North American buyers away from a less flexible (if Google-blessed) rival.
Acer Iconia Tab A110 reaches North America on October 30th for $230, faces a tough fight originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sunday 7 October 2012
Saturday 6 October 2012
Tuesday 2 October 2012
You can have the perfect cup of coffee for only $11,000
Former Apple CEO describes how the failure of Apple’s MessagePad led to future mobile triumphs [video]
At the recent South Florida Technology Alliance (SFTA) event. former Apple (AAPL) CEO John Sculley discussed the early days of what would become the world’s most valuable company. The Newton MessagePad was one of Apple’s first forays into mobile, an industry the company would change many years later. The return of Steve Jobs to Apple saw the death of the Newton platform, which he considered a failure that he terminated upon his arrival. Sculley also talked about how Apple needed a more power-efficient CPU for its portable devices and it found just that with the ARM architecture. “No microprocessor existed that would allow you to do graphics-based software,” Sculley said while discussing the origins of the ARM project. Larry Tesler,
TV Anchor Gets Called Fat, Has an Awesome Response [VIDEO]
Tokyo University of Science shows off robotic suit powered by pneumatic artificial muscles (video)
What can one do with a robot suit? Well, it's certainly not limited to just lifting sacks of rice, but that was exactly what we got to do at CEATEC courtesy of Koba Lab from Tokyo University of Science. First seen in 2009, the magic behind this 9kg kit are the pair of pneumatic artificial muscles (aka McKibben artificial muscles) on the back, which are made by industrial equipment manufacturer Kanda Tsushin. When pressurized with air using electrical components from KOA Corporation, the lightweight, loosely-woven PET tubes contract and consequently provide support to the user's back, shoulders and elbows. As such, our arms were able to easily hold two more sacks of rice (making it a total of 50kg) until the demonstrator deflated the muscles. Check out our jolly hands-on video after the break.
Filed under: Robots
Tokyo University of Science shows off robotic suit powered by pneumatic artificial muscles (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | CommentsListen to Steve Jobs Describe the iPad in 1983
Everybody knows that Steve Jobs was a hell of a visionary, but every once in a while, we're reminded that the Apple co-founder wasn't years ahead of his time. He was decades ahead.
CDMA-compatible iPhone 5 may be headed for Virgin Mobile
Remember when the iPhone used to be on just one U.S. carrier? What a difference five years makes. The iPhone 5 is now on 16 U.S. carriers including prepaid companies such as Cricket. And there’s more good news on the way: It seems that prepaid customers holding out for the iPhone 5 on Virgin Mobile might not have to wait very long, as MacRumors has learned that Apple has “Virgin-specific CDMA iPhone 5 units lined up and ready to go.” Neither Apple (AAPL) or Virgin Mobile have announced any plans to sell the a prepaid iPhone 5 at this time. The model numbers discovered by MacRumors reveal the carrier will sell the iPhone 5 in all three capacities: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Virgin Mobile currently sells the 8GB
Nokia Ad Takes Colorful Jab At The iPhone 5 [VIDEO]
Oracle's Ellison focused on Cloud, not deals
BOSTON/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Oracle Corp CEO Larry Ellison said he intends to drive growth at the world's No. 3 software maker by promoting its current suite of cloud computing products and not through an acquisition. The billionaire, who boosted Oracle revenue dramatically over the past decade through a series of purchases, said, however, he would not rule out a big deal "down the road". "We're not focused on any large acquisitions. ...
Zero Motorcycles reveals its 2013 models: Zero X dropped, FX drafted in
The failing weather reminds us we're fast approaching the end of another year, but Zero Motorcycles wants to brighten our day with the announcement of its 2013 all-electric line-up. Immediately noticeable are the harder lines and healthy dose of matt black on the frames of the Zero S, DS, XU and MX refreshes. New to the team is the FX "Stealth Fighter" (pictured above), touting the fastest acceleration of any Zero moto to date and taking design cues from the late Zero X, which has been removed from the roster. As well as aesthetic improvements to the bikes, each Z-Force motor should produce up to 125% more power than previous iterations, and an optional CHAdeMO charging accessory will juice you up in around an hour. Companion iPhone and Android apps will also be available, allowing you to customize your ride's performance and review other info. The class of 2013 will be hitting retailers throughout January and February, with MSRPs of the basic spec models running from $7,995 to $13,995, depending on your wants and needs. Head over to the source link to review your hardware options and, more importantly, choose your color scheme.
Filed under: Transportation
Zero Motorcycles reveals its 2013 models: Zero X dropped, FX drafted in originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung, battling Apple verdict, cites foreman's Seagate lawsuit
Nest refreshes its Learning Thermostat, makes it slimmer and smarter
Nest Labs on Tuesday announced the next generation of its Learning Thermostat, a new device that is 20% slimmer than its predecessor and now compatible with 95% of low-voltage residential heating and cooling systems. The company also announced new software for the device that will be available to both new and existing customers. Software version 3.0 includes a variety of new features such as enhanced auto-away and auto-scheduling, broader mobile support and support for additional languages. The original Nest Learning Thermostat will have its price dropped to $229 until supplies run dry, while the second-generation Nest will be available online and from select retailers later this month for $249. Nest software version 3.0 will be available to existing customers by
Two enterprising teenagers create a startup for crowdsourcing product reviews
Toyota's Smart Insect concept EV packs Kinect motion sensor, voice recognition (video)
Toyota is showing off its new Smart Insect prototype at the company's CEATEC booth. The fully electric car charges via a standard 100-volt AC outlet, and it's decked out with gull-wing doors and motion detection courtesy of Microsoft's Kinect. The on-board motion sensors allow the car to recognize its owner based on face and body shape, and it predicts the owner's behavior by analyzing movement and determining when to open the door, for example. (It also allows for the front and rear displays to show a welcome message when the owner approaches the car.) There's also voice recognition for opening the car door and other functions, with a speaker on the hood of the car and dashboard-mounted "dialogue monitors" on the front and back.
The tech carries through to the Insect's interior, which sports a wireless charging pad, a dash-mounted monitor that connects to the driver's handset and a button for dialing up Toyota's virtual agent. As a connected car, the Insect naturally ties in with entertainment and navigation services (in this case, via Toyota's Smart Center). There's also integration with a home energy management system, which allows the owner to adjust air conditioning and lock the front door via a smartphone app. As this is a proof of concept -- and one we couldn't test out, at that -- it's unclear how well these features work, and it's unlikely that we'll ever see the prototype make it to market. Still, it's fun to dream, and you can do that by tuning into our hands-on video just past the break.
Filed under: Transportation
Toyota's Smart Insect concept EV packs Kinect motion sensor, voice recognition (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | CommentsVisualized: 808 PureView display at Nokia's flagship store
While in Helsinki, do as the Finns do -- shop at Nokia's flagship store, right? Just as we were contemplating the purchase of an unlocked Asha (or three) as stocking stuffers, we stumbled upon this delightfully futuristic 808 PureView display -- complete with quirky dioramas. Sadly, we weren't packing Nokia's imaging handset, nor the phenomenal Lumia 920 camera, so we used our trusty HTC One X to capture the moment. Check out the gallery below -- where you'll find the 808 PureView serving as a swimming pool and being assembled by tiny workers -- then hit the break for a short video.
Continue reading Visualized: 808 PureView display at Nokia's flagship store
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Visualized: 808 PureView display at Nokia's flagship store originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 07:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | CommentsNew Android apps worth downloading: Amtrak, Sierra Trading Post, Project Downforce
Samsung’s revenge plan takes form: iPhone 5 added to patent lawsuit
Samsung (005930) isn’t going to take losing a $1 billion patent verdict lying down. Reuters reports that Samsung has filed a lawsuit against Apple (AAPL) that specifically targets the iPhone 5 for alleged patent infringement. Samsung told Reuters that it filed the suit because it has “little choice but to take the steps necessary to protect our innovations and intellectual property rights.” According to AppleInsider, Samsung says it obtained an iPhone 5 last month and alleges that the device infringes upon “two UMTS wireless patents and six ‘feature patents’ already leveled against previous iPhones” in an existing lawsuit against Apple. The move to target the iPhone 5 is entirely predictable since Samsung has said for weeks that it planned to sue Apple for allegedly
Japan's Murata faces price pressure, smartphone demand steady
Earn 'NBA 2K13' Loot With Companion Apps and Facebook Game
2K Sports is extending the gaming experience of the upcoming NBA 2K13 into both the mobile and social worlds, giving players ways to interact with the game even when they're away from their console.
App.net edges closer to 20,000 users, drops subscription prices to $36 to fuel the social fire
When App.net kicked off its Twitter rivalry, the $50 yearly subscription fee was based on the assumption that the ad-free social service would maintain 10,000 customers. Founder Dalton Caldwell may have underestimated year-one adoption by just a tad: he now has nearly 20,000 customers on his hands in less than two months, which throws the previous economies of scale out the window. The pain for Caldwell's business model is a pleasure for fans, however. App.net's price of entry has dropped to $36 per year, with existing memberships' durations extended to match the new yearly rate. Anyone on the fence also has a chance to try the service for a short stint through a $5 monthly plan. While it's hard to know if the price drop will sustain the early runaway pace, it reflects a determination to play for keeps in the social media game -- an important trait when the chief opponent isn't sitting still.
Filed under: Internet
App.net edges closer to 20,000 users, drops subscription prices to $36 to fuel the social fire originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple on Purple Haze in iPhone 5 Photos: 'It's Normal'
HTC shows off One X+ in the UK, we go hands-on (video)
The One X+. You have to reach for the Shift key just to type it out, but as names go it's neither unexpected nor inaccurate. In fact, it paints just the right picture, because this is still the same global (i.e. non-US) One X we've come to know and respect, but its matte black shell also contains important additions that secure its rightful place at the top of HTC's Android range. In fact, it's even better news than that earlier XDA leak suggested.
More info
On the hardware front, the One X+ has a faster Tegra 3 variant that clocks in at max of 1.7GHz (versus 1.5GHz on the original), an enlarged 2,100mAh to keep the engine turning over, a capacity boost to 64GB (versus 32GB on the global One X and just 16GB on AT&T's handset), and -- self-portrait artists rejoice -- an upgraded front-facing camera that promises 1.6 megapixels and better image processing. Most other specs stay the same, including the 8-megapixel rear camera, 1GB of RAM and the lovely 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 Super LCD 2 display. The UK handset we played with was also stuck on 3G, leaving it unable to party on the emerging British LTE scene, but there's an LTE global variant too that could potentially touch down on these shores in the future (although HTC wouldn't confirm that outright).
In terms of software, HTC's skin (now called Sense 4+) has been modified to work on top of Jelly Bean and brings a host of subtle improvements from both Google and the manufacturer. All in all, we reckon this new contender works hard enough to become desirable rather than merely incremental, and if you check out the video and hands-on impressions after the break then you might just agree.
Continue reading HTC shows off One X+ in the UK, we go hands-on (video)
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
HTC shows off One X+ in the UK, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | CommentsHTC: Jelly Bean rolling out to global One X and One S this month
Tucked away at the bottom of HTC's announcement of the One X+ is a pleasant piece of news that's sure to make One X and One S owners happy. Android 4.1, alongside HTC's Sense 4+ UI, is set to arrive on the devices at some point this month. As a disclaimer, this likely won't apply to AT&T's One X or T-Mobile's One S, since the refresh will likely take additional time to make its way through carrier testing -- HTC reps confirmed to us that the October timeframe is specifically for the global versions. Here's to hoping this doesn't mean we'll have to wait until the 31st to get our hands on Jelly Bean.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, HTC
HTC: Jelly Bean rolling out to global One X and One S this month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | CommentsMitsubishi unveils electric Minicab MiEV at CEATEC
To complement Mitsubishi's existing electric minivan and car, the Minicab MiEV has parked itself here at CEATEC, Chiba, adding a Gasoline-avoiding pick-up truck to the family. Capable of reaching distances up to 110km on a single charge, with the option of a portable battery, the vehicle is set to roll in Japanese stores some time next year.
Filed under: Transportation
Mitsubishi unveils electric Minicab MiEV at CEATEC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 04:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ICS and Jellybean now on a quarter of all Android devices, but over half still stuck on Gingerbread
It seems like only yesterday that Google bundled Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 in its little biscuit layers and sent it off into the world (it was December, 2011, actually). That Android flavor has since climbed the charts rapidly, around four percent each month for the last while, and now occupies the ROM on 23.7 percent of robot-based devices -- up from 20.8 percent last month. That's in part due to new devices (like many in China) still coming out of the box with it, on top of older warhorses like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 finally grabbing some ICS. Meanwhile, its smooth-running younger sibling, Jelly Bean, made a slight gain to 1.8 percent of all Google-run slates and phones -- though that will likely change when the Galaxy Note II hits the market en masse and the Galaxy S III OTA 4.1.1 disseminates to all its owners. Meanwhile, Gingerbread still dominates Google OS installed devices at 55.8 percent, probably thanks to delays or denials of newer flavors to legacy devices.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Google
ICS and Jellybean now on a quarter of all Android devices, but over half still stuck on Gingerbread originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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HTC One X+ official: 1.7GHz quad-core Tegra 3, 64GB, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sense 4+
Remember HTC's early 2012 Android flagship? Well, it's back and plus-sized for the tech-savvy masses. Officially announced today, the One X+ is a minor refresh of the original that debuted at MWC this past spring, albeit with a faster 1.7GHz Tegra 3 CPU, larger 2,100mAh battery, expanded 64GB of storage and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sense 4+ onboard. As part of that upgraded custom skin, the 4.7-inch device can now tap to pair, or "Tap and Go" as the company calls it, with Beats-branded speakers, allowing users to easily connect and disconnect from their audio peripherals. Apart from that, the 8-megapixel rear module with f/2.0 lens and ImageChip-assist has stayed the same, but the camera software's been slightly tweaked with the addition of two new modes: Self Portrait for subtle retouching of front facing shots and Sightseeing which allows for quick launch of the camera app. Also debuting alongside this hardware update is HTC Get Started, a web-based service that lets users manage initial setup from the desktop for one-click installation on the phone itself. The One X+ is slated to launch globally this fall, hitting Europe and Northern Asia this October, with a November rollout in South Asia to follow. As for a US release, well, you'll just have to sit tight and see what news the day brings. Official PR after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, HTC
HTC One X+ official: 1.7GHz quad-core Tegra 3, 64GB, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sense 4+ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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