Microsoft's new 'dual display device' patent re-opens old Courier wounds We were just starting to get over the Courier, moving on after the tantalizing first reveal, the delish conceptual walkthrough, the heartbreaking cancellation, and the inevitable fallout. Now, Microsoft is dragging us back down memory lane with the receipt of a new patent covering the design of the thing. It was filed back on January 19, right after the CES that we'd (futilely) hoped would give us a glimpse of Courier in the flesh, and that patent has just now been approved. So, Microsoft officially owns the design of the thing, and the question now is whether they'll ever actually do anything with it other than sprinkle mementos like this about from time to time and remind us what might have been. You're a cruel mistress, Steve Ballmer. [Thanks, Basil]Microsoft's new 'dual display device' patent re-opens old Courier wounds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TechFlash | USPTO | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
iFixit and Chipworks teardown the iPhone 4's gyroscope You didn't think the folks at iFixit would simply teardown the iPhone 4 and call it a day, did you? They've now gone the extra mile and done a detailed teardown of the iPhone 4's gyroscope with a little help from Chipworks. That's of course a MEMS (or microelectromechanical system) gyroscope and, according to Chipworks, nearly identical to an off-the-shelf STMicroelectronics L3G4200D gyroscope, which is actually what they used for the teardown. What's more, they also went even further and put another gyroscope (not used in the iPhone 4) under an electron microscope just to illustrate how incredibly complex and minute the structure of MEMS gyroscopes are. Head on past the break for a glimpse of that, and hit up the link below for the complete teardown.Continue reading iFixit and Chipworks teardown the iPhone 4's gyroscope iFixit and Chipworks teardown the iPhone 4's gyroscope originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | iFixit | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Latest EVO 4G update is back online, presumably won't brick your phone this time That didn't take too long, did it? That pulled EVO 4G update promising a handful of fixes for WiFi, Exchange, and battery life (no Froyo yet, sorry) is back online according to our contacts at Sprint -- and indeed, we're getting prompted on our own unit, so that's that. Go forth, readers; get your update on, now with less brick than ever before. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: To be clear, you don't need to apply this update if you already have done so successfully -- the only change that we're aware of here is that attempting to apply the update multiple times won't kill the phone.Latest EVO 4G update is back online, presumably won't brick your phone this time originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
HD 101: IR blasters, HDMI-CEC, RS-232 and IP control You'd be hard pressed to find a TV without some sort of extra box attached to it these days -- and with each box comes another remote. The sad part is it doesn't have to be this way, nope, the necessary interaction between devices really isn't that complicated. The problem is the devices just aren't designed to work together, but that isn't because the industry hasn't tried. All the political reasons aside the technology to let your cable box carry on a two way conversation with your TV and other equipment does exist. So we're going to explain what's out there. If you've ever wondered how you can gain more control over your gear using everything from an IR blaster to sending TCP commands via IP, then read on. Just getting into HD? Check out these other HD 101 features: HD 101: Overscan and why all TVs do it What is ATSC, PSIP, QAM, and 8-VSB? How to use Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD with your PS3 Why there are black bars on HDTVsContinue reading HD 101: IR blasters, HDMI-CEC, RS-232 and IP control HD 101: IR blasters, HDMI-CEC, RS-232 and IP control originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
'Dippin' In My Tesla' is the best rap song ever about a Tesla Don't bother reading this text, just listen to the intensely awful hip-hop ode to an electric car. Elon Musk, where you at!?Continue reading 'Dippin' In My Tesla' is the best rap song ever about a Tesla 'Dippin' In My Tesla' is the best rap song ever about a Tesla originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Autoblog | YouTube | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Gresso gussies up iPhone 4 with rare wooden veneer From the front it looks like any other iPhone 4, but flip it around and a glint might catch your eye -- that's the doing of Russian technology tailor Gresso, who's embedded Swarovski crystals and an 18-karat golden Apple logo in a sheet of African Blackwood attached to the device. As usual, one wonders why anyone would bother, but honestly we can't complain -- the design is worlds more tasteful than the solid gold and diamond-encrusted contraptions we're used to seeing. Expect the dainty dillantante to arrive in December at a surprisingly reasonable $3,500, or $3,000 for the male-targeted version at right. Of course, if you've got that kind of money to spend, you want one now, right? Good news: the iPhone 3GS gets the same luxurious treatment -- and price -- in July. [Thanks, Bob]Gresso gussies up iPhone 4 with rare wooden veneer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Mobiledia | Gresso | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Kinect detailed in newly precise tech specs Sure, you know Kinect, but do you know Kinect? While retailers have backed off publishing $150 pricetags for Kinect in bizarre displays of solidarity, UK shop Play.com has up some new specifics on the technology in its listing for the device. Here are a few of the standouts that were news to us: Field of view is relatively limited, something we could sense when spending time with Kinect at E3. The unit sees 57 degrees of horizontal and 43 degrees of vertical, with a 27 degree physical tilt to keep you in the action. Depth of view is similarly strict, ranging from 4 feet to 11.5 feet. Skeletal tracking is limited to two active players at a time, as we knew, but the system can at least keep its eye on up to six people at once -- like that totally optional pair of backup dancers in Dance Central. Resolution, because we know you were wondering, is detailed as well: 320 x 240, 16-bit at 30 fps (we're guessing this is the depth camera), 640 x 480, 32-bit color at 30 fps (yeah, this is the color one), and 16-bit audio at 16 kHz. No huge surprises, and we're sure a few more details will leak out before launch -- can't you just wait to get "off the couch, on your feet and in the fun"?Kinect detailed in newly precise tech specs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Engadget Spanish | Play.com | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Sony to recall half a million 'too hot to handle' VAIO laptops Well, this isn't good. Sony's issued a warning that about half a million of its VAIO laptops are at risk of seriously overheating, and could even cause burns. The company says that the heat-monitoring chips of its VAIO F and C series laptops (which were launched in January) could be defective, causing them to overheat and physically warp. Sony says it's received about 40 total complaints about the issue, and that affected customers will be able to download a software fix or contact the company directly to have the laptop picked up for a repair.Sony to recall half a million 'too hot to handle' VAIO laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Terrafugia Transition flying car gets a little closer to reality with FAA approval If you're a little heavier than your spouse would like, you have two choices: get a new diet, or get a new spouse. However, if you're the Terrafugia Transition flying car and you're a little heavier than the FAA would like, you have a third option: get an exemption. The, uh, car is 120lbs too heavy to fit into the FAA's "light sport" designation, defining craft that can be flown by pilots with only 20 hours of logged seat time. However, the 1,560lb craft was given special exemption, enabling it to continue onward to production. If you haven't been following along, the thing can manage 115mph in the air then land, fold up its wings, and get 30mpg on the highway. If all goes according to plan we should be seeing this car get its big, beautiful self up for sale sometime next year -- all $194,000 worth of it.Terrafugia Transition flying car gets a little closer to reality with FAA approval originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Autoblog | Daily News | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Palm Foleo lands on eBay, can be yours for a relative song (update: sold!) It's probably not the first Foleo to ever splash down on eBay, but this one might just be the most comprehensive of them all. Palm's companion laptop-that-never-was will almost definitely remain a tech mystery for eons to come, but today, the chance is yours to own the flop of the last decade for just $750. Better still, that Buy It Now price includes a smorgasbord of applications, so you won't have to go hunting in order to find programs that actually take advantage of the thing. The only downside is the lack of a VGA dongle and the original packaging, but there's only so much griping you can do about a Foleo that costs less than an Adamo. Update: And she's gone! But strangely, it looks as if the entire auction has been removed. We're guessing someone paid this fellow a couple million to end it early and take an under the table lump sum, Just a guess, though.Palm Foleo lands on eBay, can be yours for a relative song (update: sold!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Slashgear | eBay | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Onkyo's top of the line receivers get a HDMI 1.4a makeover this fall Say hello to the high end of Onkyo's receiver line, now refreshed with the newest tech already featured in its lower end and midrange receivers earlier this year. Beyond the eight 3D-capable HDMI 1.4a inputs, DLNA 1.5 (Windows 7 Compatible) and streaming support that we've come to expect from any 2010 home theater equipment, the TX-NR3008 and TX-NR5008 receivers include THX Certification, 9.2 channel audio, two HDMI outputs, HQV Reon VX video processing and powered audio output for up to three different rooms. Still, the best information from the press release (after the break) is that the upgraded components haven't increased prices from last year -- the TX-NR3008 has an MSRP of $2,099 while the TX-NR5008 will add on upgraded transformers, capacitors and extra USB for $2,699 when both ship this August. Gallery: Onkyo TX-NR3008 & TX-NR5008 networked receivers Continue reading Onkyo's top of the line receivers get a HDMI 1.4a makeover this fall Onkyo's top of the line receivers get a HDMI 1.4a makeover this fall originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Documents show that Dell knowingly sold defective computers, misled those needing sup What happens when capacitors go bad, spewing out their tangerine innards like the ones in the photo above? Components die. In the early to mid naughties there was a rash of failures, the so-called "capacitor plague" that affected many manufacturers thanks to millions of bogus units filled with an electrolyte mixture that was a bit off. However, nobody was quite affected like Dell. The company took a $300 million charge in 2005 to cover costs related to the faulty machines that went out with these components, and now we're getting a better picture of just how bad it was -- and continues to be. According to recently released documents stemming from a three year-old lawsuit, Dell not only knew about the bogus components but some of its employees were actively told to play dumb, one memo sent to customer service reps telling them to "avoid all language indicating the boards were bad or had issues." Meanwhile, sales teams were still selling funky OptiPlex machines, which during that period had a 97 percent failure rate according to Dell's own study. (And you thought the Xbox 360 had problems.) With that on the minds of shoppers, plus Throttlegate and some other recent laptop quality issues, we have to think consumer confidence for Dell must be at an all-time low at the moment. [Image courtesy of Bushtails]Documents show that Dell knowingly sold defective computers, misled those needing support originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | The New York Times | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
TeliaSonera gears up to ship first dual-mode LTE / 3G USB WWAN modem Care about Samsung's GT-B3730? Probably not... but what if we told you that that very device is the planet's first commercially available dual-mode LTE / 3G WWAN modem? Now that we've got your attention, you may be interested in knowing that overseas operator TeliaSonera -- hailed as the first carrier on the planet to fire up an LTE network and make it available to Joe and Jane last year -- is just about ready to start shipping the aforesaid Samsung. As of now, the only way to hop onto their LTE superhighway is with a 4G-only modem, and while it had promised a two-faced stick in the second quarter of 2010, we're elated to finally put a face to a promise. The primary downside is that there's no current way for the USB modem to switch from LTE to 3G (or vice-versa) on the fly; instead, you'll need to kill the connection and start a new one when you leave / enter a 4G zone. Purportedly, the stick will play nice with both Windows and OS X, and it can hit real-world download rates as high as 80Mbps and upload rates of 16Mbps. Suddenly, a relocation to Sweden seems altogether more inviting, no?TeliaSonera gears up to ship first dual-mode LTE / 3G USB WWAN modem originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | PC World | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Jaybird's SB2 Sportsband Bluetooth headset ain't afraid of no rainbow Not wasting any time on trumping the original, are we Jaybird? Just a scant five months and change after introducing the eye-pleasing SB1 Sportsband Bluetooth headphones, along comes the SB2 for those who just like to live life on the vivacious side. In fact, the SB2 isn't all that different than the SB1 in terms of features, but if you're scouting a set with a little lot more flair, you'll find these available in nine fresh colors: Limonade Green, Sonic Blue, Orange Crush, Runner's Red, Toffee Apple Red, Midnight Black, Polar Blue, PowderPuff Pink and -- drum roll, please -- Snow White. You should know, however, that these also ship with apt-X onboard, which is said to "clean up" your jams while adding depth, bass and treble, and if your BT device has apt-X (or if you use an apt-X enabling BT adapter), these guys can kick it up a notch further with "CD quality output." Best of all, these are still priced at $99, making the toughest decision of all which hue to pick.Jaybird's SB2 Sportsband Bluetooth headset ain't afraid of no rainbow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Engadget Spanish | Jaybird | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Apple hiring iPhone antenna engineers for some reason Three Apple job postings for iPhone / iPad antenna engineers to "Define and implement antenna system architecture to optimize the radiation performance for wireless portable devices." All three were posted on June 23rd, the same day that we started seeing widespread reporting of the left-handed reception issues. Coincidence? [Thanks, Abe]Apple hiring iPhone antenna engineers for some reason originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Apple (1), (2), (3) | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
ASUS Eee PC 1215N with NVIDIA Ion and dual-core Atom D525 is a netbook powerhouse The phrase "netbook powerhouse" would typically be considered an oxymoron. That was before ASUS announced its Eee PC 1215N bumpin' a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Atom D525 processor with NVIDIA Optimus to intelligently switch between its NVIDIA Ion discrete and integrated graphics. That means it'll cut through 1080p video without any problem when displayed on the 12-inch 1,366 x 768 pixel display or out to an HDTV via the included HDMI jack. Other specs include Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WiFi, integrated webcam with lens cover, choice of 250GB or 320GB hard disk drives augmented by 500GB of ASUS WebStorage, and pass-through USB to charge connected devices like cellphones when the Eee is powered off. Sorry, no mention of battery performance, price, or availability on this so-called netbook.Continue reading ASUS Eee PC 1215N with NVIDIA Ion and dual-core Atom D525 is a netbook powerhouse ASUS Eee PC 1215N with NVIDIA Ion and dual-core Atom D525 is a netbook powerhouse originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink EeePC.IT | ASUS (Facebook) | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
RIP: Emblaze kills First Else Hate to say it but we were right: Emblaze just announced that it's shutting down the First Else handset. $40 million and the hopes of many (ok, a few) gone in an instant. In a regulatory announcement issued today, Emblaze states the following: Due to critical delays in deliveries and the current status of the project, the board has now decided to cease any further investment towards manufacturing of the First ELSE mobile device and to concentrate efforts only on licensing the ELSE Intuition platform and technology in order to realize its potential upside. So there's still hope that we'll see the First Else user experience applied elsewhere if Emblaze can find a buyer. See the full release after the break. [Thanks, Yair M.]Continue reading RIP: Emblaze kills First Else RIP: Emblaze kills First Else originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Screen Grabs: Pretty Little Liars is TV's newest home to egregious product placement Scene: Impossibly mature high school "girls" mingling in front of a locker. Action! Bitter Barbie: "What are you doing? Is that a new phone?" Bland Barbie: "Yeah, I'm checking my Kin. I'll just write on Hannah's wall from here." End scene. Yes, ABC's new Pretty Little Liars show is the future of American television, where entertainment morphs into infotainment and bakes the minds of an entire generation into a lovely pie of corporate servitude. We blame TiVo. Oh, and just because Palm quit making creepy commercials doesn't mean that they've given up on promoting its Pre to women. Looks like Roger McNamee was right about that backside mirror's appeal. See what we mean in the PLL episode 3 embeds posted after the break. [Thanks, Dave]Continue reading Screen Grabs: Pretty Little Liars is TV's newest home to egregious product placement (video) Screen Grabs: Pretty Little Liars is TV's newest home to egregious product placement (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Lenovo's Skylight and U1 Hybrid being revived with fresh Qualcomm silicon? What's this? A new sliver of hope in a dark, lost world? Before you throw your hands up and shut your eyes, you should know that all of this is coming from Digitimes, so taking it all in with an unhealthy dose of salt is highly suggested. According to them, Lenovo is actually planning to eventually ship its Skylight and IdeaPad U1 Hybrid (yeah, the two machines that were kinda-sorta shelved a month ago), but with far different specifications. For starters, they'll rely on Qualcomm's recently announced dual-core processor line, and rather than using the now-nonexistent Skylight OS, they'll both rely on Google's Android. If all goes well, the official launch will occur before the dawn of 2011, but there's no solid word on when they'll actually ship. In related news, there's also word that Toshiba will be readying a smartbook in its long-standing Dynabook line, with NVIDIA's Tegra 250 under the hood, a 10.1-inch panel and Android running the show. Now, who's up for seeing if any of this actually comes to fruition?Lenovo's Skylight and U1 Hybrid being revived with fresh Qualcomm silicon? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink I4U News | Digitimes | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
RoboCup Soccer 2010 finals show impressive realism by feigning injuries (video) The World Cup may still be ongoing (despite what the US, England, and a handful of others may think), but the RoboCup 2010 in Singapore has just closed shop with an edge-of-your-seat display of autonomous action. The final game came down to two German teams, the Darmstadt Dribblers and the FUmanoids. As seen at numerous points, both android teams have even learned the ancient art of diving, toeing the uncanny valley a little to close for comfort. Video after the break -- we won't to spoil the ending, so let's just say Germany won by a sizable margin. If fierce competition isn't your cup of tea, we've also got footage of DARwin-LC, a low cost (hence the name) humanoid from our friends at Virginia Tech's RoMeLa. These adorable little guys cost about $2,500 apiece and will be going out to 11 of VT's partner universities. [Thanks, Stefan]Continue reading RoboCup Soccer 2010 finals show impressive realism by feigning injuries (video) RoboCup Soccer 2010 finals show impressive realism by feigning injuries (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Twitter (@Dribblers), Plastic Pals | I, Bioloid, RoboCup 2010 | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Hulu Plus preview arrives in iTunes App Store, Flash be damned The free Hulu Plus app just hit the iTunes App store, kids, with the promise of 720p streaming over WiFi or 3G to iOS devices including the iPad, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and 3rd generation iPod touch. They're calling it a "limited preview" release that will ultimately require a $10 per month subscription on top of the commercials you're forced to watch. Oh, and it's still restricted to US-only viewership. Well, at least the Flash barrier has been removed. Huzzah? [Thanks, MT H.]Hulu Plus preview arrives in iTunes App Store, Flash be damned originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | iTunes | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Does adjusting or trimming the iPhone 4's micro SIM fix the antenna issue? Probably n Ever since Apple decided to do little about the iPhone 4's pronounced reception issues except suggest that users hold the thing differently and / or buy a nice case, the voodoo engineering remedies have been flying in full force -- sure, we'll admit we tried sticking some tape over the side of our phone (no dice), but we stopped short when people suggested we try a couple coats of nail polish (insanity). Even we have limits, after all. But the latest snake oil fix is definitely the craziest we've heard so far: according to a 13-page (and growing) thread at MacRumors, the iPhone 4's reception issue can be fixed by adjusting or even trimming the micro SIM so the contacts don't touch the metal tray. The popular belief is that touching the side of the phone somehow shorts across the micro SIM, causing (mumble mumble) and leading to dropped signal. Making things more interesting, Apple and AT&T are apparently using several different types of micro SIMs, including one with a significantly larger contact area -- you can check a shot of two of our iPhone 4 micro SIMs side-by-side after the break. So does all this hocus pocus actually work? In a word, no. We tried it on a few of our particularly bad iPhone 4s -- the ones that consistently demonstrate the issue -- and achieved no meaningful results. We even went so far as to line the edge of one of our trimmed micro SIMs in electrical tape (pictured above) to ensure that no contact was being made, and we were still able to flatline the phone using the "death grip." Sorry folks -- we wanted this to work too, but it looks like people are just being hopefully optimistic. We'd say the real fix is going to have to come from Apple -- and given the growing discontent over this relatively severe issue, the sooner the better.Continue reading Does adjusting or trimming the iPhone 4's micro SIM fix the antenna issue? Probably not. Does adjusting or trimming the iPhone 4's micro SIM fix the antenna issue? Probably not. originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | MacRumors | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Cisco's second tablet runs Linux, manages home energy use Looks like the Android-toting Cius wasn't the only tablet out of Cisco this week -- the company's also announced a countertop unit for home energy management with a 7-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touch screen. Running Ubuntu Linux for MID on a 1.1GHz Intel Atom chip, the Home Energy Controller connects to smart thermostats and appliances over 802.11n WiFi or gigabit ethernet using protocols including ZigBee. It then lets you keep tabs on your electricity usage, and suggests ways you could improve -- assuming you're using the tablet for its intended purpose instead of watching hardware-accelerated videos on Mediafly, browsing the included app store, or (potentially) using it as a phone of some sort. Forbes reports the device will run $900 per installation, though it's more likely it'll arrive subsidized by a monthly power bill. See it in action right after the break, and hit up that PDF at the more coverage link for a full spec sheet.Continue reading Cisco's second tablet runs Linux, manages home energy use Cisco's second tablet runs Linux, manages home energy use originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Cisco | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Samsung T-Mobile Vibrant and Verizon Fascinate preview You'd think we'd be totally sick of Samsung's Galaxy S phones after seeing AT&T's Captivate and Sprint's Epic 4G, but we're just not done lovin' the 4-inch Super AMOLED, Android devices. Verizon's Fascinate and T-Mobile's Vibrant happen to be the last two Sammy phones to jump into our hands-on, but coincidentally, they're also the most alike. Design-wise, both remind us of the iPhone 3G / 3GS -- they're all screen on the front, strikingly thin, and have black shiny backs. And just like the Captivate and Epic 4G, they've got four touch sensitive buttons along the bottom edge. The Super AMOLED screens continue to impress, and watching a clip of Avatar on both versions was pretty breathtaking. (No, we didn't have an iPhone 4 on hand for comparisons, but make sure to check out the post where we put them head-to-head). We didn't get to put the 1GHz Hummingbird CPU to the test in our short hands-on time, though both Android 2.1-running phones seemed to perform briskly when opening videos and pulling up the browser. Beyond Samsung's TouchWiz skin, both are preloaded with Swype and other carrier apps -- Verizon's version had Skype Mobile as well as a number of VCAST applications. Oh, and unlike most of the other Galaxy S phones, the Fascinate had a flash on its backside. We don't have much more on these bad boys for now -- we're still waiting on pricing and availability -- but the pictures and videos after the break should hold you over. Gallery: Samsung T-Mobile Vibrant hands-on Gallery: Samsung Verizon Fascinate hands-on Note: Pay no attention to the background -- there isn't any intended symbolism to draw here, it was just the best lighting arrangement we could muster.Continue reading Samsung T-Mobile Vibrant and Verizon Fascinate preview Samsung T-Mobile Vibrant and Verizon Fascinate preview originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Palm retroactively refunding $50 webOS app submission fee -- each and every one Palm's made a few half-baked attempts at wooing developers in the past, like that time in October when it waived the fees and review process for open-source apps (but not App Catalog entries) or when it provided discounted handsets that happened to carry a large carrier-specific ball and chain. This week, Palm's decided to be a bit more generous -- it's eliminating the $50 App Catalog submission fee entirely and putting every last cent back where it came from. With only 2,684 apps in the store, that's just $134,200 in total, but symbolically it's a very welcome gesture, no? According to the official Palm Developer Center Blog, developers should see credits appear in their PayPal accounts soon -- though perhaps not soon enough to spend it on the fruit of their fellow man's labor at 50 percent off.Palm retroactively refunding $50 webOS app submission fee -- each and every one originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink PreCentral | Palm Developer Center Blog | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Switched On: Token gestures Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. In early 2005, even after the launch of the Nintendo DS, Switched On critiqued pen computing, noting that it was too cumbersome and unnatural to become a mainstream input method. That column was validated by the launch of the iPhone, which banished the stylus to "blown it" status and popularized "finger-friendly" handset designs from all major smartphone OS developers. Many have described the user interfaces of products such as the iPhone and Surface as ushering in the post-WIMP (windows-icon-mouse-pointer) era. Former Windows Magazine editor Mike Elgan has referred to the new paradigm as "MPG" (multitouch, physics, gestures) However, while these user interfaces feature streamlined designs and more direct manipulation, they still form a bridge with the graphical user interface. The main shift has been to more direct manipulation as the device processes more natural inputs. The same can be said for Kinect. For a tidy sum and some untidiness, Kinect enables the kind of motion-sensing gameplay that has become the Wii's hallmark without having to strap the controller to various limbs (as with EA Active for Wii). In fact it eliminates the need to hold a controller entirely, just like the iPhone and iPad free users of mice and styluses. Beyond Soviet Russia, the input device uses you.Continue reading Switched On: Token gestures Switched On: Token gestures originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Samsung's American Galaxy S phones pose for family portrait Samsung's US team held a swanky event in NYC this evening to launch all four of its new US-spec Galaxy S phones in style. If you haven't been brought up to speed on Samsung's stateside Android invasion, the Captivate is headed to AT&T, the Fascinate to Verizon, the Epic 4G to Sprint and the Vibrant to T-Mobile. Each of the phones have 4-inch Super AMOLED screens, 1GHz Hummingbird Cortex A8 CPUs, and cams that can capture 720p video. We've already got detailed hands on impressions of the Captivate and Epic 4G, but stay tuned for Fascinate and Vibrant previews tonight. In the meantime, check out the family all together in the pictures in the gallery below. Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S family Samsung's American Galaxy S phones pose for family portrait originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Samsung says all Galaxy S phones will get Android 2.2 Samsung has mercifully confirmed at an event in New York this evening that all Galaxy S versions -- including the Captivate, Epic 4G, Vibrant, and Fascinate -- will be receiving updates to Android 2.2 Froyo later this year and offer compatibility with Flash 10.1. All of the devices will be shipping with Android 2.1 out of the gate, so considering that Froyo's already launched, we're sure there'll be no shortage of pressure to get the updates fast-tracked. Sprint says it won't be a long wait on the Epic, but otherwise, we don't have any time frames at this point.Samsung says all Galaxy S phones will get Android 2.2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Twitter (via @SamsungMobileUS) | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Optimus Popularis keyboard finally pictured, still on track for sub-$1000 release Art Lebedev doesn't have a fantastic track record when it comes to timing, but we'll be damned if those boutique devices don't look hot when they hit the scene -- just check out this first render of the Optimus Popularis keyboard, which the studio informs us will still (despite years in the making) cost less than $1000 when it eventually arrives. We're loving the new chiclet keys with typewriter spacing, even as we mourn the loss of a dedicated numpad in favor of industrial design -- though Art Leb says a press of the FN key will remedy that issue. When every button has a screen built into it, you can put that ten-key wherever you want, right?Optimus Popularis keyboard finally pictured, still on track for sub-$1000 release originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Optimus Project (LiveJournal) | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Remote Auxiliary Power System recharges our special forces straight from overhead pow If you're the type who gets a little nervous connecting jumper cables to your Accord after you forgot and left the trunk open overnight (again), this is one military gadget you will probably not be coveting. It's called RAPS: the Remote Auxiliary Power System. US Air Force Spec Ops personnel requested "something like Batman" that would enable them to add some juice to their night vision goggles, GPS units, and Hello Kitty media players while in the field, and this is the result. When thrown over a power line it makes contact with the bare ground and then cuts through the insulation into the live wire within, pulling the power down to an AC/DC transformer built into the spool. This device has proven safe for use in the rain and even underwater, but we're thinking we'd rather sing "Kumbayah" to ourselves than recharge our iPods in this manner. Video demonstration after the break, which also explains where the power actually comes from!Continue reading Remote Auxiliary Power System recharges our special forces straight from overhead power lines (video) Remote Auxiliary Power System recharges our special forces straight from overhead power lines (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Wired | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
HTC HD2 caught running Android 2.1 and Ubuntu with touchscreen enabled (video) Still clinging on to your HTC HD2? Good on ya, cos this WinMo slate's about to last you a wee bit longer -- team HTC Linux has recently made a breakthrough with getting the touchscreen to talk to the HaRET Linux bootloader. In other words, us mere mortals can finally use Linux variants like Android and Ubuntu on the HD2 the way it's meant to be, although we're apparently still a few bugs away from a stable release. Until then, enjoy the techno-fueled video demo after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Continue reading HTC HD2 caught running Android 2.1 and Ubuntu with touchscreen enabled (video) HTC HD2 caught running Android 2.1 and Ubuntu with touchscreen enabled (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | xda-developers, darkstone1337 (YouTube) | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
MeeGo for handsets makes its first appearance As promised, Nokia and Intel have revealed the pre-alpha version of MeeGo for handsets today, supporting the Intel-powered Aava reference phone and the Nokia N900. What's most interesting at this early stage is the UI, which appears to have taken a big Nokia-influenced step away from the Intel-designed MeeGo netbook and tablet UI -- and we're definitely detecting some hints of Android and webOS here and there. Seriously, just check out that task switching interface. Of course, MeeGo is open-source, so we're sure Nokia has some deeper UI customizations in store -- like homescreen widgets, which are notably missing here. On a deeper level, this build of MeeGo includes the base MeeGo APIs, including Qt and the MeeGo touch frameworks, the Firefox-based browser, a photo viewer, and some basic UI elements like the status bar, app launcher, and virtual keyboard. There are pre-built images for the Atom-based Aava handsets available now, but N900 owners will have to do a little building until someone makes an image available. Be warned, though: there's a long enough list of known bugs, and while that's totally fine for pre-alpha code, it might not be too fine for your device. That's not going to stop us from installing this thing, but you be careful, alright? And let us know how it goes. Video of the UI after the break. P.S. Given that the N8 is destined to be the last Symbian N Series device, we can't help but feel it's being overshadowed by MeeGo before it's even out. Can we pre-pour one out? Is that a thing? It is now.Gallery: MeeGo for handsets makes its first appearance Continue reading MeeGo for handsets makes its first appearance MeeGo for handsets makes its first appearance originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | MeeGo | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Windows Anytime Upgrade offer ends this Saturday Stuck using a lower-end version of Windows 7 and considering an upgrade? Then you might want to act fast -- Microsoft has just issued a reminder that its Windows Anytime Upgrade offer is ending this Saturday, July 3rd. That lets anyone using Windows 7 Starter edition upgrade to Home Premium for just $49.99 (normally $79.99), or from Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional for $79.99 (normally $89.99). Ready to make the jump? Hit up the link below for all the details.Windows Anytime Upgrade offer ends this Saturday originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Geek.com | Windows Anytime Upgrade, Windows Experience Blog | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
iPhone 4's antenna problem looks worse than it is, but it's still bad The iPhone 4's antenna issues have sparked off a firestorm of debate as to the root cause -- Apple says holding the phone differently or buying a case are the best answers, while other are going down a more voodoo path -- but our friends at AnandTech have done some more scientific testing of the problem and come up with a few interesting results. Turns out the iPhone 4 actually performs slightly better inside a case than a phone like the Nexus One, which has had similar issues crop up, but it's slightly worse when held in the hand, reporting an average signal drop of 20dB. Here's where it gets a little wacky, though: the signal meter in iOS 4 is logarithmic, so that 20dB drop can either leave you looking steady at five bars or drop you all the way to zero, depending on what the actual signal level in the area is like. Take a look at the chart above and you'll get it: the range of values between one bar and four spans just 23dB, while the range for five bars is 40dB. That means holding the phone in an area with a strong five-bar signal will have no apparent effect -- you can lose 20dB at full signal and still see five bars -- but holding the phone in an area with weaker coverage will easily drop the meter to one bar, since the 20dB signal drop covers almost the entirety of the remaining 23dB scale. Oops. Of course, that's just the on-screen display, which Apple can and likely will tweak in a future iOS update. The real question is whether the reported signal has anything to do with performance, and Anandtech agrees with our general experience, saying that the iPhone 4's improved signal to noise ratio means it actually does a better job of hanging onto calls and using data when there's low signal than the iPhone 3GS. In their words, "this iPhone gets the best cellular reception yet, even though measured signal is lower than the 3GS." However, there's no getting around the fact that we've definitely dropped a couple calls with the iPhone 4 by holding it the wrong way, and Anandtech says the only real solution to the antenna issue will be for Apple to either subsidize free bumpers or add an insulative coating to the antenna band. We'll see what happens -- we've got a feeling an iOS update is on the way, but we'd definitely love to see Apple pursue a more aggressive solution to this problem.iPhone 4's antenna problem looks worse than it is, but it's still bad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | AnandTech | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Magellan's waterproof Toughcase wraps GPS module, extended battery around your iPhone There are iPhone cases, and then there's Magellan's waterproof Toughcase. Priced at $199.99, it's actually just as expensive as a new iPhone 4 on contract, and double the price of an iPhone 3GS (which it actually houses). So, what does two Benjamins get you? Most would argue "not nearly enough," but argonauts may beg to differ. The case meets IPX-7 waterproof standards, enabling it to be submerged at a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes, and there's also an integrated 1,840mAh battery that's able to "double the life" of your iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS or second / third-generation iPod touch. Moreover, there's a built-in high sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS chipset for superior GPS reception, and nothing here prevents consumers from accessing the touchscreen. 'Course, the sex appeal of your iDevice goes right out of the window once you strap this monster on, and there's no official support for Apple's newest iPhone, but it's hard to knock the approach here.Continue reading Magellan's waterproof Toughcase wraps GPS module, extended battery around your iPhone Magellan's waterproof Toughcase wraps GPS module, extended battery around your iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Akihabara News | Magellan | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Android 3.0 Gingerbread getting revamped UI, Froyo living on for lower-end phones? Last we'd heard, the next major release of Android -- codename Gingerbread -- was scheduled for a fourth-quarter launch, but the always-entertaining Eldar Murtazin has apparently just spilled a few details on what he knows of the release on a Russian podcast. Most notably, the dude says that we can expect an entirely revamped UI -- the first that the platform will have undergone since its introduction -- and will take cues from the fancy 3D Gallery app launched with Eclair. There's said to be a new 1280 x 760 resolution available for devices larger than 4 inches, which would dovetail nicely with Verizon's desire to bring a bunch of Android tablets to market. Like Windows Phone 7, Murtazin claims that Google will be laying down the law with some hardcore hardware specs to run 3.0, demanding a minimum of a 3.5-inch display, a 1GHz processor, and 512MB of RAM -- so what about cheaper devices? Well, those will apparently continue to run Android 2.1 or 2.2, which sounds like yet another serious recipe for platform fragmentation from the outset. We'll apparently see the first devices launch in time for the holidays following an October introduction, which lines up with what we've heard so far. Needless to say, we'll be keeping a close eye on this one. [Thanks, John]Android 3.0 Gingerbread getting revamped UI, Froyo living on for lower-end phones? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Gizmodo, Unwired View | Digestiv | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Do you live in the San Francisco area? Do you want to write for Engadget? Oh sure, you love gadgets -- but do you have the chops to write about them? We'd love to know if you think you do, because we're looking to actually pay people to do this stuff. Professional writing experience isn't necessary (though it doesn't hurt), but what we really care about is that you can write skillfully about gadgets with wit, concision, and authority. And being obsessed with Engadget is good, too. We're looking for an editor in the San Francisco area. Want to apply? Read on. Continue reading Do you live in the San Francisco area? Do you want to write for Engadget? Do you live in the San Francisco area? Do you want to write for Engadget? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Prompt-It iPhone teleprompter perfect for business meetings, Internet cranks What did JFK, Obama, and Martin Luther King Jr. all have in common? If you believe the makers of You Prompt-It!, it's the ability to use a teleprompter. And now you can join the pantheon of important Americans who inspire us regular schlubs to greatness. What does your $130 get you? Tripod, base, beamsplitter glass display, and a carrying case. Fits your iPhone or iPhone-esque device, and will sit comfortably on your laptop. To get that scrolling text effect, the manufacturer suggests that you check out the PROPROMPTER app from the App Store. What are you waiting for? We're quite frankly getting sick of all the hemming and hawing on your YouTube rants. Maybe now you can start winning people over with your "Larry King is an alien from the future" message -- it's worth a shot at least. A video, of sorts, after the breakContinue reading Prompt-It iPhone teleprompter perfect for business meetings, Internet cranks Prompt-It iPhone teleprompter perfect for business meetings, Internet cranks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Gadget Review | Prompt-It | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
iPhone OS 2 apps no longer welcome on the App Store Apple hasn't been shy about dropping support for older hardware and software in recent years, and it looks like the iPhone and iPod touch are no exception: according to a short note on the iPhone developer site encouraging devs to get ready for iOS 4, the App Store will no longer affect apps that target iOS 2. That doesn't really mean much right now -- apart from a few iPod touch owners who didn't pay the $10 iOS 3 upgrade fee, we doubt there are many people out there still running iOS 2 -- but we can see Apple dropping support for iOS 3 apps next year when iOS 5 and a new iPhone are announced, and that'll effectively be the end of the original iPhone and touch, which can't be upgraded to iOS 4. That's a four-year shelf life, which isn't too bad considering the insane pace of mobile development, but we can still shed a tear -- especially since we paid $599 for the damn thing on contract way back when.iPhone OS 2 apps no longer welcome on the App Store originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink iLounge | Apple | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
iMovie for iPhone gets a cheeky hack for jailbroken 3GS, runs well-oiled Not feeling hot about the trouble-prone iPhone 4, but still tempted by its optional iMovie app? Now you have a choice! Turns out to run said app on other devices (including iPod touch, supposedly) running iOS 3.0 and above, all you need are a jailbroken iOS device, iMovie for iPhone from the App Store, and two quick edits in the app's info.plist file -- change minimum system version to "3.0.0" and front-facing-camera to "false." Sounds easy enough, although we've yet to see the hacked app actually running on devices other than the 3GS demoed in the video after the break. And sorry, Redmond Pie's already confirmed that this sucker doesn't work on the iPad... yet.Continue reading iMovie for iPhone gets a cheeky hack for jailbroken 3GS, runs well-oiled iMovie for iPhone gets a cheeky hack for jailbroken 3GS, runs well-oiled originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink T3 | Redmond Pie | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Microsoft's new 'dual display device' patent re-opens old Courier wounds We were just starting to get over the Courier, moving on after the tantalizing first reveal, the delish conceptual walkthrough, the heartbreaking cancellation, and the inevitable fallout. Now, Microsoft is dragging us back down memory lane with the receipt of a new patent covering the design of the thing. It was filed back on January 19, right after the CES that we'd (futilely) hoped would give us a glimpse of Courier in the flesh, and that patent has just now been approved. So, Microsoft officially owns the design of the thing, and the question now is whether they'll ever actually do anything with it other than sprinkle mementos like this about from time to time and remind us what might have been. You're a cruel mistress, Steve Ballmer. [Thanks, Basil]Microsoft's new 'dual display device' patent re-opens old Courier wounds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink TechFlash | USPTO | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
iFixit and Chipworks teardown the iPhone 4's gyroscope You didn't think the folks at iFixit would simply teardown the iPhone 4 and call it a day, did you? They've now gone the extra mile and done a detailed teardown of the iPhone 4's gyroscope with a little help from Chipworks. That's of course a MEMS (or microelectromechanical system) gyroscope and, according to Chipworks, nearly identical to an off-the-shelf STMicroelectronics L3G4200D gyroscope, which is actually what they used for the teardown. What's more, they also went even further and put another gyroscope (not used in the iPhone 4) under an electron microscope just to illustrate how incredibly complex and minute the structure of MEMS gyroscopes are. Head on past the break for a glimpse of that, and hit up the link below for the complete teardown.Continue reading iFixit and Chipworks teardown the iPhone 4's gyroscope iFixit and Chipworks teardown the iPhone 4's gyroscope originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | iFixit | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Latest EVO 4G update is back online, presumably won't brick your phone this time That didn't take too long, did it? That pulled EVO 4G update promising a handful of fixes for WiFi, Exchange, and battery life (no Froyo yet, sorry) is back online according to our contacts at Sprint -- and indeed, we're getting prompted on our own unit, so that's that. Go forth, readers; get your update on, now with less brick than ever before. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: To be clear, you don't need to apply this update if you already have done so successfully -- the only change that we're aware of here is that attempting to apply the update multiple times won't kill the phone.Latest EVO 4G update is back online, presumably won't brick your phone this time originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
HD 101: IR blasters, HDMI-CEC, RS-232 and IP control You'd be hard pressed to find a TV without some sort of extra box attached to it these days -- and with each box comes another remote. The sad part is it doesn't have to be this way, nope, the necessary interaction between devices really isn't that complicated. The problem is the devices just aren't designed to work together, but that isn't because the industry hasn't tried. All the political reasons aside the technology to let your cable box carry on a two way conversation with your TV and other equipment does exist. So we're going to explain what's out there. If you've ever wondered how you can gain more control over your gear using everything from an IR blaster to sending TCP commands via IP, then read on. Just getting into HD? Check out these other HD 101 features: HD 101: Overscan and why all TVs do it What is ATSC, PSIP, QAM, and 8-VSB? How to use Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD with your PS3 Why there are black bars on HDTVsContinue reading HD 101: IR blasters, HDMI-CEC, RS-232 and IP control HD 101: IR blasters, HDMI-CEC, RS-232 and IP control originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
'Dippin' In My Tesla' is the best rap song ever about a Tesla Don't bother reading this text, just listen to the intensely awful hip-hop ode to an electric car. Elon Musk, where you at!?Continue reading 'Dippin' In My Tesla' is the best rap song ever about a Tesla 'Dippin' In My Tesla' is the best rap song ever about a Tesla originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Autoblog | YouTube | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Gresso gussies up iPhone 4 with rare wooden veneer From the front it looks like any other iPhone 4, but flip it around and a glint might catch your eye -- that's the doing of Russian technology tailor Gresso, who's embedded Swarovski crystals and an 18-karat golden Apple logo in a sheet of African Blackwood attached to the device. As usual, one wonders why anyone would bother, but honestly we can't complain -- the design is worlds more tasteful than the solid gold and diamond-encrusted contraptions we're used to seeing. Expect the dainty dillantante to arrive in December at a surprisingly reasonable $3,500, or $3,000 for the male-targeted version at right. Of course, if you've got that kind of money to spend, you want one now, right? Good news: the iPhone 3GS gets the same luxurious treatment -- and price -- in July. [Thanks, Bob]Gresso gussies up iPhone 4 with rare wooden veneer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Mobiledia | Gresso | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Kinect detailed in newly precise tech specs Sure, you know Kinect, but do you know Kinect? While retailers have backed off publishing $150 pricetags for Kinect in bizarre displays of solidarity, UK shop Play.com has up some new specifics on the technology in its listing for the device. Here are a few of the standouts that were news to us: Field of view is relatively limited, something we could sense when spending time with Kinect at E3. The unit sees 57 degrees of horizontal and 43 degrees of vertical, with a 27 degree physical tilt to keep you in the action. Depth of view is similarly strict, ranging from 4 feet to 11.5 feet. Skeletal tracking is limited to two active players at a time, as we knew, but the system can at least keep its eye on up to six people at once -- like that totally optional pair of backup dancers in Dance Central. Resolution, because we know you were wondering, is detailed as well: 320 x 240, 16-bit at 30 fps (we're guessing this is the depth camera), 640 x 480, 32-bit color at 30 fps (yeah, this is the color one), and 16-bit audio at 16 kHz. No huge surprises, and we're sure a few more details will leak out before launch -- can't you just wait to get "off the couch, on your feet and in the fun"?Kinect detailed in newly precise tech specs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Engadget Spanish | Play.com | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Sony to recall half a million 'too hot to handle' VAIO laptops Well, this isn't good. Sony's issued a warning that about half a million of its VAIO laptops are at risk of seriously overheating, and could even cause burns. The company says that the heat-monitoring chips of its VAIO F and C series laptops (which were launched in January) could be defective, causing them to overheat and physically warp. Sony says it's received about 40 total complaints about the issue, and that affected customers will be able to download a software fix or contact the company directly to have the laptop picked up for a repair.Sony to recall half a million 'too hot to handle' VAIO laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Terrafugia Transition flying car gets a little closer to reality with FAA approval If you're a little heavier than your spouse would like, you have two choices: get a new diet, or get a new spouse. However, if you're the Terrafugia Transition flying car and you're a little heavier than the FAA would like, you have a third option: get an exemption. The, uh, car is 120lbs too heavy to fit into the FAA's "light sport" designation, defining craft that can be flown by pilots with only 20 hours of logged seat time. However, the 1,560lb craft was given special exemption, enabling it to continue onward to production. If you haven't been following along, the thing can manage 115mph in the air then land, fold up its wings, and get 30mpg on the highway. If all goes according to plan we should be seeing this car get its big, beautiful self up for sale sometime next year -- all $194,000 worth of it.Terrafugia Transition flying car gets a little closer to reality with FAA approval originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Autoblog | Daily News | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...
Palm Foleo lands on eBay, can be yours for a relative song (update: sold!) It's probably not the first Foleo to ever splash down on eBay, but this one might just be the most comprehensive of them all. Palm's companion laptop-that-never-was will almost definitely remain a tech mystery for eons to come, but today, the chance is yours to own the flop of the last decade for just $750. Better still, that Buy It Now price includes a smorgasbord of applications, so you won't have to go hunting in order to find programs that actually take advantage of the thing. The only downside is the lack of a VGA dongle and the original packaging, but there's only so much griping you can do about a Foleo that costs less than an Adamo. Update: And she's gone! But strangely, it looks as if the entire auction has been removed. We're guessing someone paid this fellow a couple million to end it early and take an under the table lump sum, Just a guess, though.Palm Foleo lands on eBay, can be yours for a relative song (update: sold!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Slashgear | eBay | Email this | Comments More info after the jump...