| | Gadgets and Consumer Electronics | | Engadget | | Griffin and Crayola intro contact-free Light Marker, drawing workstations | January 6, 2013 |  Griffin and Crayola are already best of friends through their ColorStudio HD collaboration for the iPad. They're deepening that relationship at CES with a handful of iPad accessories and apps based around the quintessential crayon. Heading up the pack, the Crayola Light Marker you see above upgrades the earlier input by letting kids draw in the air; they can splatter (thankfully virtual) paint and play other games without scribbling directly on the tablet's screen. A pair of cradles are joining the marker, including the Digital Activity Center portable lap desk (after the break) and the briefcase-like Color & Play Workstation. The software side is being rounded out with special Barbie and Hot Wheels versions of the ColorStudio HD app, each of which has drawings themed around the perennial favorite toys. Griffin expects the Light Marker, Digital Activity Center and Color & Play Workstation to reach young artists' hands in the spring for $30, $40 and $20 respectively; the specialized iPad apps should arrive later in January, each for $3.Continue reading Griffin and Crayola intro contact-free Light Marker, drawing workstationsFiled under: Peripherals, Tablets, AppleCommentsSource: Griffin (1), (2), (3) More.. |
| Smart TV Alliance adds Panasonic and IBM to its fold, lays bare new SDK features | January 6, 2013 |  Looks like LG and Toshiba aren't the only TV manufacturers dreaming of a platform-independent future for Smart TVs -- Panasonic has joined the Smart TV Alliance too. Founded to help build a non-proprietary ecosystem for Smart TV apps, the Alliance's ranks have grown to include Panasonic IBM Specific Media, ABOX42 and TechniSat. Smart TV Alliance president Richard Choi is optimistic that the new members will help it mend a fragmented market, giving developers a chance to focus on building apps, rather than navigate compliance processes. A CES developers conference hopes to get them started, too -- introducing the latest SDK's upcoming features, including updated HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript specifications, as well as support for new video codecs and 3D video. Technical presentations will be available this Wednesday for folks in Sin City. Everyone else? Check out the Alliance's official press release after the break.Continue reading Smart TV Alliance adds Panasonic and IBM to its fold, lays bare new SDK featuresFiled under: Home Entertainment, HDComments More.. |
| Dish Explorer is a second-screen solution for satellite subscribers, we go hands-on (video) | January 6, 2013 |  We got a sneak peek at Dish's Explorer app earlier today, but now we're able to provide a closer look. This application serves as a "second screen" -- it's most useful when you're in front of the TV, and essentially replaces your standard remote control with a social media-enabled content-rich touchscreen experience. That means full Twitter and Facebook integration, with sidebars to outline what your friends or contacts are watching at that very moment, so you don't end up feeling left out when your office's favorite show is discussed at the water cooler the next day. The app also ranks current shows based on their popularity on Twitter, updated in realtime, and organizes programs by category, displaying movies sorted by genre, or current televised sporting events. You can also search for films and television shows, and once you've come across one you'd like to watch, you can tap to watch it now (your linked TV will flip to that channel immediately), then tweet your impressions, complete with the proper (pre-loaded) hashtag. We spent a few minutes poking around Explorer, and the app seemed to work well, with an intuitive structure and useful added content, such as a Rotten Tomatoes rating atop each film's cover art. It's a useful way to discover more about whatever you happen to be watching currently, while also serving to help you locate interesting content amid a sea of programming garbage. Dish Explorer will be available beginning later this month.Gallery: Dish Explorer app hands-onContinue reading Dish Explorer is a second-screen solution for satellite subscribers, we go hands-on (video)Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HDComments More.. |
| Vizio debuts its first Windows 8 tablet, an 11.6-inch slate with a 1080p display, AMD processor | January 6, 2013 |  After breaking into the PC market last year, it was only a matter of time before Vizio released its first Windows 8 tablet. The company just announced the Vizio Tablet PC, an 11.6-inch slate running full Windows (i.e., none of this RT business). What's interesting is the combination of specs here: on the one hand, it packs a dual-core, 1GHz AMD Z60 chip, making it among the first Windows 8 tablets with an AMD processor inside. At the same time, it rocks a 1080p display -- not the sort of resolution you'd expect to find on a low-power tablet with a Z-series or Intel Atom CPU. Also, like the rest of Vizio's PCs, this has a Microsoft Signature software install, with zero bloatware. Otherwise, the specs are pretty standard: 2GB of RAM, 64GB of solid-state storage, a 2-megapixel front camera and micro-HDMI / micro-USB ports. Vizio hasn't announced pricing or exact availability just yet, but we hope to get hands-on with this thing very, very soon.Filed under: TabletsComments More.. |
| Inhabitat's Week in Green: Christmas tree rockets, nerdy-chic Darth Vader and calming LED wallpaper | January 6, 2013 |  The new year is upon us, and at Inhabitat we're looking forward to a year filled with green design innovations. Christmas is already in the rearview mirror, but you might not want to kick the tree out to the curb just yet; new research finds that Douglas firs could actually be used to sterilize medical devices. And in another bizarre but totally awesome story, we checked in on a couple of enterprising DIYers who turned their Christmas tree into a rocket and launched it skyward. 2013 took off on the right foot as Congress came together to pass a fiscal cliff deal at the 11th hour which included a one-year extension of the wind energy tax credit. In New England, the town of Concord, Mass., rang in the new year by becoming the first US city to ban single-use plastic water bottles. And looking back at the past year, according to the current data, wind power capacity in the US might surpass that of both coal and natural gas in 2012.Continue reading Inhabitat's Week in Green: Christmas tree rockets, nerdy-chic Darth Vader and calming LED wallpaperComments More.. |
| Fujifilm gets official with X20 and X100s cameras, promises 'world's fastest AF' | January 6, 2013 |  We saw some details leak out earlier this week, and Fujifilm has now gotten official with its two latest high-end compact cameras. That includes the X100s (pictured above), a successor to the X100 that boasts what Fujifilm claims is the "world's fastest AF of 0.08 seconds" (compared to other cameras with an APS-C sensor and a non-interchangeable lens, at least). Otherwise, you can expect a FUJINON 23mm f/2 fixed prime lens, a 16.3 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor that promises "performance comparable to full-frame output," a hybrid viewfinder that combines both an optical and EVF, and a new Digital Split Image display that displays dual images on the left and right to aid manual focusing. On the slightly lower-end is the company's X10 followup, the X20, which packs a 12 megapixel 2/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor, a non-hybrid but "advanced" optical viewfinder, an f/2.0-2.8 4x manual barrel zoom lens and the ability to shoot full HD video at 60 fps -- all available in your choice of all-black or two-tone black and silver (as pictured after the break). Unfortunately, there's still no word on pricing or availability for either model -- hopefully Fujifilm will have more to say about that once CES officially kicks off.Continue reading Fujifilm gets official with X20 and X100s cameras, promises 'world's fastest AF'Filed under: CamerasCommentsSource: Fujifilm (1), (2) More.. |
| Griffin launches MicConnect XLR microphone adapter, updates StudioConnect with Lightning connector | January 6, 2013 |  It wouldn't be a CES without accessory mavens Griffin launching a small armada of products. This year, the company is launching a revised version of the StudioConnect that's compatible with Apple's Lightning connector. It'll go on sale in the Spring, and 4th Generation iPad and iPad Mini owners will have to stump up $150. It's also pushing out MicConnect (similar to MIDIConnect), an XLR-to-3.5mm connector that lets you hook studio-level microphones into mobile devices and can even supply phantom power. While it's not due to make it onto store shelves until June, it will only cost $40, which might soften the blow for impatient musos everywhere.Continue reading Griffin launches MicConnect XLR microphone adapter, updates StudioConnect with Lightning connectorFiled under: PeripheralsComments More.. |
| Griffin launches PowerDock 5 multi-device charging platform and ChargeSensor adapters | January 6, 2013 |  Given how many of us have more than one device, it's rare to see gear that really cares for our increasingly large gadget collections. Griffin's solution is to produce the PowerDock 5, a USB-device toast-rack that can replenish the energy of up to five iPads simultaneously. It's priced at $100 and will be available in Spring. At the same time, the company is putting out a new PowerBlock plug adapter and PowerJolt car charger with Griffin's ChargeSensor technology, which identifies the power needs of your device and meters out energy accordingly. Both will be available in the spring, the PowerBlock setting you back $30 and the PowerJolt costing $25.Continue reading Griffin launches PowerDock 5 multi-device charging platform and ChargeSensor adaptersFiled under: PeripheralsComments More.. |
| Dish Explorer for iPad steers Hopper DVRs, tells TV watchers what's trending | January 6, 2013 |  Dish was quick to take advantage of its Sling Media integration with remote live TV, but it hasn't put as much of an emphasis on what happens when we're still sitting comfortably in our living rooms. It's filling that hole with the launch of its Explorer app for the iPad. Viewers with a Hopper DVR can control their set-top box directly from the tablet, as you'd expect, but they'll also get a companion to whatever they're watching, whether it's live or recorded. Explorer catches the buzz around a show on Facebook and Twitter, including rankings if you'd like to see what shows are the hottest; it also builds in Thuuz sports stats and ratings to identify what's likely to be the big game for the day, even as it's happening. The app doesn't officially reach the App Store until Monday, and there's no word of an Android port, but we'll be sure to share our first-hand experiences as soon as possible.Continue reading Dish Explorer for iPad steers Hopper DVRs, tells TV watchers what's trendingFiled under: Home Entertainment, Tablets, HDCommentsSource: Dish More.. |
| GTVHacker shows off custom recovery for Google TVs (video) | January 6, 2013 |  There's plenty of official news about Google TV this week at CES, but if you're more interested in cracking the platform wide open unofficially this video may be of interest. The GTVHacker team reveals that it has been developing an exploit that will let it run custom kernels on "most" second generation Google TV devices, along with a custom recovery designed specifically for Google TV. It's not ready for prime time just yet but in the video you can get a peek at it being loaded on a Sony NSZ-GS7 box, opening up wider access to the kinds of adjustments we're already used to seeing on mobile Android devices. There's no word on when this will see wide release, but you can hit the source link for more details plus a history of what the team has been up to since coming together over two years agoContinue reading GTVHacker shows off custom recovery for Google TVs (video)Filed under: Home Entertainment, HDCommentsSource: GTVHacker More.. |
| Google 'currently working' on Google Maps redirect fix on Windows Phone, explains former stance | January 6, 2013 |  As recently as yesterday, Google was explaining its auto-redirect of Google Maps on Windows Phone devices to Google.com as a question of incompatibility rather than one of choice. "The mobile web version of Google Maps is optimized for WebKit browsers such as Chrome and Safari. However, since Internet Explorer is not a WebKit browser, Windows Phone devices are not able to access Google Maps for the mobile web," Google told us yesterday. Case closed, right? Apparently not. As The Next Web reports, Google's changing its tune today, and is working on a redirect as we speak. "We periodically test Google Maps compatibility with mobile browsers to make sure we deliver the best experience for those users," the statement reads. "In our last test, IE mobile still did not offer a good maps experience with no ability to pan or zoom and perform basic map functionality. As a result, we chose to continue to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com where they could at least make local searches. The Firefox mobile browser did offer a somewhat better user experience and that's why there is no redirect for those users," it continues. The kicker? "Recent improvements to IE mobile and Google Maps now deliver a better experience and we are currently working to remove the redirect. We will continue to test Google Maps compatibility with other mobile browsers to ensure the best possible experience for users." So! It looks like Windows Phone users employing Internet Explorer for Google Maps will soon be back in business. As of right now, we're still seeing the redirect in place, but feel free to let us know if you're already seeing the fix enabled!Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, Microsoft, GoogleCommentsSource: The Next Web More.. |
| Mobile Miscellany: week of December 31st, 2012 | January 6, 2013 |  If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, two of the best cameraphones out there were pitted against one another in a shootout rematch and a very handy widget was added to the latest nightly builds of CyanogenMod. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of December 31st, 2012.Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of December 31st, 2012Filed under: Cellphones, Software, MobileComments More.. |
| iLuv outs Bluetooth speaker trio: Mo'Beats HD, MobiCup and MobiOut | January 6, 2013 |  Now that Bluetooth speakers are all the rage, iLuv is looking to add to its lineup of said offerings just before the official start of CES. First, the Mo'Beats HD wireless unit features SRS WOW tech and a 3.5mm aux jack for wired streaming. The gadget also touts a space that will cradle that handset or slate while The Black Keys are blasting. Next, the Bluetooth-wielding MobiCup is designed to get cozy in that beach chair this summer with 360-degree speakers, built-in microphone, top-mounted controls and splash-resistant buttons to keep things dry (to a certain extent, of course). Last but not least, the MobiOut (pictured above) is also splash-resistant and sports a built-in mic, but this unit boasts Jump-start tech that will offer a quick charge in a pinch and deeper bass tones alongside high-fidelity sound. The MobiCup is priced at $59.99 and the MobiOut at $129.99, however there's no pricing info on the Mo'Beats HD just yet. While the former two speakers will arrive later this month, the latter is scheduled for May. For a look at the entire lot in order of mention, consult the gallery below. Gallery: iLuv Mo'Beats HD, MobiCup and MobiOutContinue reading iLuv outs Bluetooth speaker trio: Mo'Beats HD, MobiCup and MobiOutFiled under: Portable Audio/VideoCommentsSource: iLuv (1), (2), (3) More.. |
| Samsung introduces its CES audio hardware, claims a world first | January 6, 2013 |  Samsung's just unveiled its raft of audio products at CES and they're headlined by what the firm claims is a world's first: a sound bar to pack a built-in vacuum tube and Bluetooth for connecting to tubes of another kind (read: TVs). A portable wireless Bluetooth speaker (labeled the DA-F60), pumps out tunes with the apt-X audio codec and leverages NFC to connect to devices. Home theater buffs were also given a nod with a 7.1 channel surround sound system intended to be used with the firm's line of 2013 televisions. As for internals, the system relies on a Gallium Nitride amplifier for enhanced sound quality. If you're jonesin' for a new way to watch Blu-Rays to go along with the fresh audio hardware, Sammy's also unveiled a "premium" Blu-Ray player which upscales content to 4K. Head past the break for the press release and full set of glamour shots.Gallery: Samsung CES 2013 Audio HardwareContinue reading Samsung introduces its CES audio hardware, claims a world firstFiled under: Home Entertainment, HD, SamsungCommentsSource: Business Wire More.. |
| Lenovo to split into Lenovo Business Group and Think Business Group, effective in April | January 6, 2013 |  Lenovo's done pretty well since its acquisition of IBM's personal computer business in 2005, but in an internal e-mail earlier today, CEO Yang Yuanqing admitted that despite some attempt, the Lenovo brand is still only playing well in the mainstream and low-end markets; whereas the Think brand is his company's best asset in the high-end market, and that it is the only brand that can compete with Apple in the high-end market. For the sake of better brand positioning and better efficiency, Yang announced in the same e-mail that his company will split into two new groups: Lenovo Business Group (LBG) and Think Business Group (TBG). Effective from April 1st, LBG will be headed by Senior Vice President (Mobile Internet Digital Home) Liu Jun to focus on mainstream consumer and business desktops, laptops, and tablets, as well as smartphones and smart TVs. On the other side of the fence, TBG will be led by Senior Vice President (Product Group) Dr. Peter Hortensius to better establish the business-friendly Think brand in the consumer market, as well as continuing to stay ahead of the game in the global commercial business. Yang also pointed out that the recently created enterprise business team and workstation team will be part of TBG. It'll be a while before we see the fruit of Lenovo's restructure, but it'll sure be interesting to come back to this in a year's time. Alas, we're now further away from ever seeing a ThinkPhone.Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops, LenovoCommentsVia: Engadget ChineseSource: Sina Tech (translated) More.. |
| Ask Engadget: best smartphone car mount? | January 6, 2013 |  We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Sam, who needs to find a new way of attaching a Galaxy S III to a windshield. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I've ditched my GPS unit for a Galaxy S III in my car, but I can't find a good windshield mount. Are there any models that don't use suction cups? For some reason they won't stick to my window, and yes, before you ask, yes I do keep it clean. Thanks!" While we wouldn't recommend doing anything unhealthy, we've found a good lick on the suction cup before attaching it sometimes helps. Your mileage, however, may vary. Still, you could always try one of TomTom's generic smartphone dashboard mounts or perhaps even using a Bean Bag mount? As for a window mount that doesn't use suction cups? That's a question we'll leave for our friendly commenters to join in on.Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, MobileComments More.. |
| Bill Richardson's office confirms North Korea humanitarian trip with Google's Eric Schmidt | January 6, 2013 |  The office of Bill Richardson confirmed the former New Mexico governor's planned trip to North Korea with Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt today via press release. The trip, planned for next week, is being billed as a humanitarian initiative. The duo's team also includes Google employee Jared Cohen, the director of the software giant's Google Ideas initiative, a think tank tasked with "tackling some of the toughest human challenges." Ideas' mission statement also highlights the program's search for "challenges that affect multiple regions and demographics, so that the technological developments our insights fuel will scale to help as many people as possible."Continue reading Bill Richardson's office confirms North Korea humanitarian trip with Google's Eric SchmidtCommentsVia: Yahoo More.. |
| Wilson Electronics announces Sleek 4G signal booster with multi-carrier support | January 6, 2013 |  If you've ever found yourself on a lone road in the middle of nowhere with zero bars of reception on your phone, it's quite likely that you've entertained the idea of grabbing a signal booster. Wilson Electronics, one of the best known manufacturers of such devices, is introducing its latest Sleek 4G booster at CES. What makes this version different from the models launched just a few months ago? Instead of needing separate boosters for AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, it's now capable of supporting phones, tablets and hotspots on all three, as well as legacy signals for all other US carriers. Head to the press release for more details.Continue reading Wilson Electronics announces Sleek 4G signal booster with multi-carrier supportFiled under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Wireless, MobileComments More.. |
| PBS' latest digital short explores the world of coding as art | January 6, 2013 |  PBS already showcased indie game creation and buggy software, so this week's digital short on coding as an art form isn't exactly what we'd call a big surprise. It is, however, delightful (also not a big surprise); NYU's Daniel Shiffman, Barbarian Group's Keith Butters, and RGBDToolkit's James George / Jonathan Minard do a great job of representing the medium. The latter folks even employ Microsoft's Kinect with their coding to magnificent effect. See for yourself just below the break.Continue reading PBS' latest digital short explores the world of coding as artFiled under: Software, AltCommentsSource: YouTube More.. |
| Fulton Innovation to demo tablet that doubles as wireless charging mat at CES | January 6, 2013 |  Fulton Innovation comes to CES each year armed with the latest tricks in the field of wireless charging, and this year is no exception. Starting things out with a bang, the purveyor of all things Qi will be on-hand to demonstrate its newest feat: the ability to charge your Qi-compatible phone... on the back of a tablet. Indeed, your 7- to 10-inch slate may someday be able to double as its own wireless charging mat, allowing you to feed battery from your tablet to your smartphone just by holding the two devices back-to-back. Additionally, Fulton promises to show off a multi-device charging platform capable of powering up two devices simultaneously. Even better, this surface can recognize and adapt to the needs of each particular product -- in other words, tablets and smartphones can charge together on the same pad, each device receiving the proper amount of juice. Check out the video and press release past the break to see a few ideas Fulton is bringing to the table this week, and fortunately we'll get to take a closer look at all of them soon.Continue reading Fulton Innovation to demo tablet that doubles as wireless charging mat at CESFiled under: Cellphones, Tablets, MobileComments More.. |
| Belkin introduces Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater for iPad, we go hands-on | January 6, 2013 |  While Belkin has long been at the forefront of Apple accessories, offering everything from keyboard cases to baby monitors, it somehow left the audio arena unexplored. That ends today with the introduction of the Belkin Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater. Behind that mouthful of a product name is essentially a portable speaker dock for the iPad housed inside a protective case, which seems a lot more reasonable than Bang & Olufsen's pricey speaker "wedge." The Thunderstorm's front-facing speaker system boasts full-range drivers and integrated air channels for "immersive sound" and "deeper bass." All the internals are powered by Audifi, a mobile audio engineering outfit that Belkin specifically hired for the project. As for the cover, Belkin took a cue from Apple's own magnetic offering, but went a step further with the addition of multifold creases for different viewing angles. We spent a few days with the Thunderstorm and so far we're impressed with the volume and depth from such slim speakers. Though we didn't have a chance to test it, Belkin is also offering a free iOS app to accompany the product -- it essentially lets you fine-tune the audio with presets for music, movies and games. However the Thunderstorm is not without a few annoyances: the case adds an unsettling amount of bulk to the iPad and it's currently only available with the now-ancient 30-pin connector (we're told a Lightning-equipped version is due in Q2 2013). If you're happy with the ole universal dock though, you can pick this up in the coming weeks from Belkin's online store, Amazon.com or the Apple Store for $200 a pop.Continue reading Belkin introduces Thunderstorm Handheld Home Theater for iPad, we go hands-onCommentsSource: Belkin More.. |
| Vizio refreshes its PC lineup: all new models have touchscreens, quad-core CPUs | January 6, 2013 |  When Vizio entered the PC market last year, we weren't gushing about its computers, per se, but we found ourselves rooting for the company anyway: for all it got wrong (flaky trackpads, poor battery life), it did a lot of things right. We had to respect Vizio for giving most of its PCs 1080p screens and installing a clean, bloatware-free version of Windows. Not to mention, Vizio kept the price relatively low, the same way it did when it was trying to break into the TV space. Now, the company is completely refreshing its lineup for 2013, leaving only one model from 2012 (that would be its 15-inch mainstream notebook). Starting now, all of its all-ones and Thin + Light laptops will come standard with touchscreens and quad-core processors, including some from AMD (a first for Vizio). What's curious is that although Vizio is taking the opportunity to replace most of its PCs, it hasn't actually made any changes to the industrial design. That means, for better or worse, that these new models will probably be quite similar to the PCs we tested just a few months ago. Same all-metal chassis but also, the same flat keyboard. What they do promise is faster performance, along with improved audio. Both the 14- and 15-inch Thin + Light Touch are available in two configurations, one with a Core i7 processor, and the other with AMD's top-of-the-line A10 chip. Likewise, the 24-inch all-in-one is now the All-in-One Touch, and it, too, will be available in two configurations. If you've been eyeing the 27-inch model, though, that will only be offered with Intel components. As ever, they'll all have that clean, Microsoft Signature install, and almost all will have 1080p screens, save for the 14-inch Thin + Light, which has 1,600 x 900 resolution. No word on pricing, though Vizio says they'll go on sale in mid-February. We'll be back soon enough with hands-on shots but for now, check out some press photos after the break.Continue reading Vizio refreshes its PC lineup: all new models have touchscreens, quad-core CPUsFiled under: Desktops, LaptopsComments More.. |
| Vizio debuts its first Windows 8 tablet, an 11-inch slate with a 1080p display, AMD processor | January 6, 2013 | | After breaking into the PC market last year, it was only a matter of time before Vizio released its first Windows 8 tablet. The company just announced the Vizio Tablet PC, an 11-inch slate running full Windows (i.e., none of this RT business). What's interesting is the combination of specs here: on the one hand, it packs a dual-core, 1GHz AMD Z60 chip, making it the only Windows 8 tablet we know of with an AMD processor inside. At the same time, it rocks a 1080p display -- not the sort of resolution you'd expect to find on a low-power tablet with a Z-series or Intel Atom CPU. Also, like the rest of Vizio's PCs, this has a Microsoft Signature software install, with zero bloatware. Otherwise, the specs are pretty standard: 2GB of RAM, 64GB of solid-state storage, a 2-megapixel front camera and micro-HDMI / micro-USB ports. Vizio hasn't announced pricing or exact availability just yet, but we hope to get hands-on with this thing very, very soon.Filed under: TabletsComments More.. |
| Belkin adds WeMo Light switch, looks to tack on Android compatibility later this year | January 6, 2013 |  At CES 2012, Belkin outed its WeMo line of home automation products with the Home Control Switch and Motion Sensor with a Baby Monitor tacked on in October. This year in Las Vegas, the company adds a Light Switch to the family. When paired with an iOS device, WiFi router and your home's existing wiring, the Light Switch can be used to control lights from anywhere -- including scheduling -- via the WeMo app. Additionally, Belkin has announced that Android compatibility will be available with the device launches this summer or shortly thereafter. Ice Cream Sandwich the minimum OS requirement and beta testing is set to begin next month for Samsung Galaxy S III users. (We're waiting on images from Belkin, but when they arrive we'll update this post tout de suite.)Continue reading Belkin adds WeMo Light switch, looks to tack on Android compatibility later this yearFiled under: Household, WirelessComments More.. |
| All-robot band plays Motorhead's 'Ace of Spades' | January 6, 2013 |  Gonna be hard for CES to top this.Continue reading All-robot band plays Motorhead's 'Ace of Spades'Filed under: RobotsCommentsSource: Compressorhead More.. |
| AKKA Ski Retriever detects where you lost your skiing gear with waterproof radio tags | January 6, 2013 |  AKKA wants you to find your snowsports gear, minus hours lost digging in the snow. Its Ski Retriever project, being pitched on Kickstarter, pairs a handheld 1-inch OLED display with multiple tags, with audio and visual feedback delivered as you get closer to your lost property and visible notification for both distance and direction. The tags can be connected into the base plate of your skis, through a cold-weather adhesive mount, or simply lashed to your equipment through lanyard loops. The creators have even have a list of wants they're hoping to add to the Ski Retriever if they get the necessary funding, including security geo-tagging, and certification to be used in search efforts after an avalanche. Kickstarter preorder customers will pick up a handset and two tags to start with -- the founders are hoping to raise $100,000.Filed under: WearablesCommentsSource: Kickstarter More.. |
| Samsung Korea posts Galaxy S II Jelly Bean update details, but not the release date | January 6, 2013 |  Samsung Galaxy S II owners waiting for an update that adds features (instead of taking them away) may not have long to wait, now that support pages for the official Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update -- announced months ago -- have been found on the company's Korean website. Listing details for all three local carriers, the update will arrive via KIES and change the amount of available internal memory from 12GB to 11GB. Other than the usual list of Android 4.1 features, it will also preload the Google+ and some additional Play apps while adding Samsung features like Smart Stay. There's no word yet on exactly when the official update will arrive (or a schedule for rollout on US carrier editions), but once it's out in Korea it shouldn't take much for owners of the GT-I9100 international version to try it out as well.Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, SamsungCommentsSource: Samsung Korea, XDA-Developers More.. |
| M-GO video on-demand movie service launches, streams to PCs, Samsung and Vizio players | January 6, 2013 |  Rushing in the door with yet another way to rent/buy movies over the internet, M-GO is promising it's the "people friendliest" service we've seen so far. Backed by Technicolor and DreamWorks Animation, it's ready to stream movies PCs through their web browser, as well as connected devices preloaded with its apps including Vizio, Sony and Intel ultrabooks. To live up to that friendly moniker, M-GO promises that if you're looking for a movie it doesn't offer, it will search other stores to find it for you, Flixster style. It also builds a profile of content you like and provides suggestions, sports an "easy as pie" interface as well as support for up to 5 profiles per account to help households browse through their preferred and owned content. On top of that it supports Ultraviolet -- and potentially other digital lockers -- to let users access the content they've already paid for, and has licensed content from NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Relativity Media, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. We couldn't pull up our Ultraviolet content just yet when we tried it, but with an Android app and plans to show up on LG and RCA devices soon we'll probably have more opportunities to test it soon. Check after the break for the press release with all the details and a preview video, or hit the source link to give it a shot yourself.Continue reading M-GO video on-demand movie service launches, streams to PCs, Samsung and Vizio playersComments More.. |
| HP's EliteBook Folio Ultrabook getting a 1,600 x 900 screen option in March | January 6, 2013 |  We'll be the first to admit we've reviewed an overwhelming number of Windows 8 laptops lately, but perhaps you remember the HP EliteBook Folio? If you don't, here's a one-sentence summary: it's a fantastic machine, with long battery life, fast performance and a generous warranty, but it's stuck with a fairly low-res 1,366 x 768 display. As it turns out, HP is already working on a better screen. A spokesperson for the company confirmed to us that a 1,600 x 900 option will be offered to US and European customers starting in early March. No word yet on how much that upgrade will cost, but if the pixel count was the main reason you ruled it out the first time around, it might be worth a second look -- so long as you're willing to wait another two months for it, of course.Filed under: Laptops, HPComments More.. |
| Who to follow on Twitter: Apple edition | January 6, 2013 |  Welcome back to our series on Who To Follow, and this time we're listing our favorite Apple-tinged Twitter users. Encompassing our favorite news sites, writers and iOS tinkerers, there should be something there for most Apple fans, whether you're looking for Mac news, app developments, or (sometimes) a vague glimpse of what to expect from the Cupertino-based team in the future. Shameful omissions should be sent directly to the author -- or you can just let us know in the comments below.Continue reading Who to follow on Twitter: Apple editionFiled under: Cellphones, Laptops, Tablets, AppleComments More.. |
| Behringer announces OMNI series AirPlay speakers and connecting receiver amps | January 5, 2013 |  Behringer made a bit of a splash as CES last year with its oversized iPhone dock, this year it's keeping things a little more front-room friendly. Launching its new OMNI system, the audio maker hopes to bring a little AirPlay magic to your house, without excluding some of your legacy hardware. The system consists of modular elements that let you add your passive speakers into the mix, as well as work together as a whole. More specifically, the OMNI SP3 and SP5i units are all-in-one 2.1 systems, and there's a dedicated subwoofer too. But, if you don't have or want their own breed, you can bring in your own. The OMNI Amp is a 2 x 40W stereo amplifier and AirPlay receiver that lets you play your music with your existing passive bookshelf or floor-mounted gear, and active speakers can be looped into the AirPlay party with the OMNI link box. The speakers are provisionally set to cost $249 (for the SP3i) and $349 (for the SP5i and sub), while the amp and link boxes will likely set you back $199 and $129 respectively. No word on the official launch date, but head on over to the press release for more info.Continue reading Behringer announces OMNI series AirPlay speakers and connecting receiver ampsFiled under: Home EntertainmentComments More.. |
| Apple now selling refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display beginning at $1,869 | January 5, 2013 |  We can't say we're exactly surprised to see Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro show up on the company's "Certified Refurbished" online store -- still, it's good news for folks looking to save a little cash while getting a taste of Retina MBP straight from the source. Currently, Apple is only offering the 15-inch model (with a 2.3GHz, quad-core i7 CPU, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD) for $1,869, making it about $330 less than its non-refurbished counterpart -- of course, that premium price tag also includes the accustomed one-year manufacturer's warranty, which is a good security blanket to have when shelling out this much capital. As is usually the case with Cupertino's rejuvenated goods, though, supplies may be somewhat limited, so now could be a great time to jump on the MacBook Pro with Retina display bandwagon.Filed under: Laptops, AppleCommentsVia: 9to5MacSource: Apple More.. |
| Rosewill Helios RK-9200 double backlights your keyboarding with two LEDs | January 5, 2013 |  It's nearly CES, which apparently means announcements of several mechanical gaming keyboards. Roccat kicked off the announcements earlier today with its Ryos, and tonight Rosewill's showing off its Helios RK-9200 -- a mechanical keyboard with not just one LED lighting up the board, but two. Imagine the possibilities! Both red and green LEDs are supported by the Helios, making this the perfect keyboard for Christmas celebrations. Of course, the family might not like all that clicking and clacking, but who are they to get in the way of your holiday gaming celebration?Gallery: Rosewill Helios RK-9200Continue reading Rosewill Helios RK-9200 double backlights your keyboarding with two LEDsFiled under: GamingComments More.. |
| Rosewill Helios RK-9200 double illuminates your keyboarding with two LEDs | January 5, 2013 | | It's nearly CES, which apparently means announcements of several mechanical gaming keyboards. Roccat kicked off the announcements earlier today with its Ryos, and tonight Rosewill's showing off its Helios RK-9200 -- a mechanical keyboard with not just one LED lighting up the board, but two. Imagine the possibilities! Both red and green LEDs are supported by the Helios, making this the perfect keyboard for Christmas celebrations. Of course, the family might not like all that clicking and clacking, but who are they to get in the way of your holiday gaming celebration?Gallery: Rosewill Helios RK-9200Continue reading Rosewill Helios RK-9200 double illuminates your keyboarding with two LEDsFiled under: GamingComments More.. |
| Create your own space program: NASA quietly flogging bits of the Kennedy Space Center | January 5, 2013 |  The idea of private space tourism is certainly taking off, but at such high costs, only 1 percent of the 1 percent will be able to afford it. But, what if you could just do it all yourself? You're going to need some infrastructure to get you started, and luckily, NASA is reportedly looking to lease or sell off some Kennedy Space Center assets it no longer needs. While that list has not been made public, it apparently includes Launch Pad 39A, a landing strip, the Launch Control Center, and various other high-tech equipment and buildings from its late shuttle program. NASA also wants some quick deals before anything falls into disrepair, so if you're serious about your new space venture, you might be able to snag a bargain or two with some strategic low offers. Now you've just gotta wait for a cheap rocket deal to pop up on eBay and you're good to go.Filed under: Misc, Science, AltCommentsVia: The LoopSource: Orlando Sentinel More.. |
| First proposed Android OS mascots see the light of day, give you the crazy eye | January 5, 2013 |  Just before Page and Co. officially took the wraps off of Android in 2007, Googler Dan Morrill was getting ready to introduce the OS to a larger swath of developers in Mountain View. In an effort to spice up his presentation to devs, Morrill drew up a gang of bots while taking a brief respite, creating what he believes were the first proposed mascots for Android. The rowdy bunch may be a far cry from the avocado-hued droid we've come to know and turn into figurines, but the "Dandroids" enjoyed a small measure of popularity within Google before Bugdroid took the limelight. Their creator unearthed the image files while cleaning up a NAS and has slung them up on Google+ for all to see. Take a gander at the adjacent gallery or jab the neighboring source link to catch a glimpse of the other bots.Gallery: First Android MascotsFiled under: GoogleCommentsVia: TechRadarSource: Dan Morrill (Google+) More.. |
| Sprint confirms pay-as-you-go service, promises not to throttle speeds or cap data | January 5, 2013 |  Word of a Sprint pay-as-you-go service crossed our desks just yesterday in the form of a leaked slide, and now Big Yellow has confirmed to FierceWireless that the effort, dubbed Sprint As You Go, will launch on January 25th. The Now Network's new initiative will offer a $70 monthly plan for smartphones and a $50-a-month plan for feature phones. Both options won't offer premium features such as WiFi tethering and Sprint Navigation, but Sprint says customers will see neither hide nor hair of data caps or speed throttling. As for hardware, the smartphone tier includes the LTE-enabled Samsung Victory at $250 and the LG Optimus Elite for $150. On the feature phone end of the spectrum, Samsung's Array and M400 handsets are available on the service (presumably ringing up at $80 and $50, respectively). Angling to take advantage of Sprint's new offer? You'll have to forgo online shopping this time, as the firm is making the offer available exclusively through it's brick-and-mortar Sprint Stores.Filed under: MobileCommentsVia: PhoneDogSource: FierceWireless More.. |
| AKKA Ski Retriever detects where you lost your skiing gear with waterproof Bluetooth tags | January 5, 2013 | | AKKA wants you to find your snowsports gear, minus hours lost digging in the snow. Its Ski Retriever project, being pitched on Kickstarter, pairs a handheld 1-inch OLED display with multiple bluetooth tags, with audio and visual feedback delivered as you get closer to your lost property and visible notification for both distance and direction. The tags can be connected into the base plate of your skis, through a cold-weather adhesive mount, or simply lashed to your equipment through lanyard loops. The creators have even have a list of wants they're hoping to add to the Ski Retriever if they get the necessary funding, including security geo-tagging, and certification to be used in search efforts after an avalanche. Kickstarter preorder customers will pick up a handset and two tags to start with -- the founders are hoping to raise $100,000.Filed under: WearablesCommentsSource: Kickstarter More.. |
| Google quietly removed search warning message in China in early December 2012 | January 5, 2013 |  Google's search engine has a turbulent history in China, from search results being censored to temporary shutdowns. The company's most recent effort to serve mainland China with unfiltered search results met with an untimely end back in early December, Google confirms -- a warning previously told mainlanders when the search term they were using had met with issues (read: Chinese government intrusion causing lengthy connection times) for other users. GreatFire discovered that said message no longer popped up when searching for various censored terms on Google Search in China, and while Google's confirming that fact, it's unclear what the exact reasoning is. Given the rocky history between Google and China, it seems likely that China responded in turn to Google's efforts with its own -- or as The Guardian puts it, "Google concedes defeat in China censorship battle." Whether that's the case or not remains to be seen, but Chinese Google searchers should beware that your experience may result in some unfortunate connection issues from time to time (as much as 90 seconds), per China's censorship policies.Filed under: Internet, Software, GoogleCommentsVia: The Guardian, The VergeSource: GreatFire More.. |
| The Daily Roundup for 01.04.2013 | January 5, 2013 |  You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.Continue reading The Daily Roundup for 01.04.2013Comments More.. |
| US Department of Defense signs three-year, $617 million Windows 8 licensing deal | January 5, 2013 |  Despite some launch hiccups with Windows 8 and its related devices, Microsoft has received a smashing bit of news in the form of a new $617 million licensing agreement that will bring the fledgeling OS to 75 percent of US DoD personnel. The deal also includes Office 2013 and Sharepoint 2013 Enterprise, and will let users access the software "from any location, and any supported device, while taking advantage of enhanced security," according to Redmond. Microsoft added that the agreement was "the most comprehensive" it's ever signed with the sprawling government arm, which plans to use the software for a wide range of priorities from cybersecurity to mobility. Meanwhile, the software giant is working to achieve the coveted, though highly unwieldy-sounding "Army Golden Master and Air Force Standard Desktop Configuration" compliance for Windows 8 -- which we imagine is a good thing, and hope to never have to type out again. To reconnoiter further, check the sources below.Filed under: Software, MicrosoftCommentsSource: US Department of Defense, Microsoft More.. |
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