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| Nintendo 3DS to feature 3.4-inch Sharp parallax barrier display?
April 2, 2010 at 7:11 AM
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| | There aren't many mass production options on the market when it comes to glasses-less 3D displays for Nintendo's forthcoming 3DS handheld gaming console. And according to early leaks from Japan, the special Nintendo 3DS display is supposedly built by Hitachi and Sharp using a parallax barrier system. So guess where this new 3.4-inch, 480 x 854 pixel display is likely headed? While Sharp doesn't say for sure, it's a good bet that this parallax barrier 3D LCD will be fronting the user interface on the 3DS. Unlike the 3D displays you'll find in modern 3D HDTVs requiring the viewer to wear active or passive glasses, Sharp's display uses a parallax barrier system to create a sense of depth by using a series of vertical slits in an ordinary LCD to direct light t! o the right and left eyes. The panel offers a 500nit brightness, 1,000:1 contrast, and is available with or without a touchscreen. The non-touchscreen version of the display goes into mass production before June but there's no specific mention of the touchscreen timeline (but we imagine it won't be far behind). So we we could have a Nintendo 3DS on the market before the holidays. Just saying. Nintendo 3DS to feature 3.4-inch Sharp parallax barrier display? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Engadget Japanese |  Sharp | Email this | Comments | | |
| Ask Engadget: best rugged PMP out there?
April 2, 2010 at 5:00 AM
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| We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Caleb, who is asking not what his PMP can do for him, but what he can do for his PMP. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"My brother is about to leave for the Marines, and I (the geeky brother) want to send something with him to keep him busy. What is a very rugged PMP or similar, with WiFi and a nice UI? A camera is definitely a plus." So, dear readers -- what would fit the bill here? And remember, we're not looking for a PMP with a tough coat of plastic. We're looking for something to last on the battlefield. Oorah! (And Godspeed.)Ask Engadget: best rugged PMP out there? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | |
| Think to start selling City electric vehicle in New York, other locales this year
April 2, 2010 at 4:01 AM
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| | Talk about a revival story. Recently saved from the brink of disaster, Think Electric is back in a big way. Fittingly announced around the New York Auto Show, the company has revealed that it will begin selling its Think City -- one of the planet's first highway-capable electric vehicles, it'll have you know! -- in New York and "other select cities" later on in 2010. Think's currently working in conjunction with the US Department of Energy's local Clean Cities chapters to make it happen in the Big Apple, but exact details (you know, like an on sale date and MSRPs) are nowhere to be found. Considering this company's position just six months ago, though, we'll take whatever progress we can get. Think to start selling City electric vehicle in New York, other locales this year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  CNET |  PR Newswire | Email this | Comments | | |
| Microsoft seeking patent for Windows Phone 7 Series panoramic GUI
April 2, 2010 at 3:02 AM
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| | The US Patents and Trademark Office has today made public a Microsoft patent application (serial no. 240,729) related to the graphical user interface found on the hotly anticipated Windows Phone 7 Series mobile OS. Filed in September 2008, this application describes a "contiguous background" that extends beyond the dimensions of the screen (either vertically or horizontally, but not both) with anchored "mixed-media" elements being littered atop it -- all of which is to be served on a "media-playing device." That should sound pretty familiar, given that it's the central navigational concept of both Windows Phone 7 and the Zune HD, and as such it makes a lot of sense for Microsoft to seek to legally protect its uniqueness. Before you start wondering about potential conflicts ! with other UIs, take note that this requires a continuous graphical background rather than a tiled or repeating image, plus space-orientating graphical elements, which should make it sufficiently nuanced to avoid any more patently unnecessary squabbles should Microsoft's claims be validated by the USPTO. Microsoft seeking patent for Windows Phone 7 Series panoramic GUI originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Electronista | USPTO | Email this | Comments | | |
| Tegra 2 delay rumor makes the rounds, NVIDIA says 'everything's on track'
April 2, 2010 at 2:02 AM
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| | We bumped into NVIDIA at CTIA in Vegas last week, and even NVIDIA itself expressed some frustration at not having any finished Tegra 2-powered products to show us, but there was no talk of delays -- not that we really have many hard dates for any of the Tegra 2 devices to push up against. This morning, however, SlashGear ran a rumor from a "trusted source" saying that there were hardware and software "technical problems" with the platform, including a problem with Flash, which were delaying various tablets, including products from Notion Ink, Compal, and ICD. The source said that the Compal, which was due for a June release, has been bumped to September, while the ICD tablets won't hit until October. We asked NVIDIA for a statement, and they said that "The rumors aren't! true. Everything's on track." With that sort of terse replay, weren't not really sure which aspects of this rumor NVIDIA is rebutting, but we have to assume NVIDIA is at least saying that there aren't issues with Tegra 2 that are holding things back. As for when we'll see Tegra 2 tablets and smartbooks hit the market? That's anyone's guess. Tegra 2 delay rumor makes the rounds, NVIDIA says 'everything's on track' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  < href="http://www.slashgear.com/tegra-2-serious-issues-delaying-notion-ink-icd-compal-tablets-0179993/">SlashGear | Email this | Comments | | |
| Netflix iPad app now available in the App Store
April 2, 2010 at 1:07 AM
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| | We'd gotten wind of the Netflix iPad app earlier this morning, but when it wasn't included in the first batch of apps to hit the App Store we just assumed it was coming on Saturday -- or possibly even later. But fear not, movie fans: it's just gone live, complete with screenshot confirmation that it'll do streaming video. That's a huge win for Apple and the iPad, given the restrictions on mobile devices Netflix has traditionally operated under -- remember, Microsoft was only allowed to say the Windows Phone 7 Series Netflix app was a "prototype" when it was demoed at MIX. We're guessing the blurry line between the iPad and regular laptops / netbooks worked in Netflix's favor here, but that's ju! st a semantic debate -- we're much more amused by the fact that the app itself is rated 12+ in the App Store for "Simulated Gambling," "Fantasy Violence," and "Suggestive Themes," simply because it plays back movies from your queue that might have such scandalous content. Oh, the App Store -- has there ever been a paradise of misapplied bureaucratic intent to equal it in the long history of our civilization? Netflix iPad app now available in the App Store originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  App Store (opens iTunes) | Email this | Comments | | |
| 2011 Hyundai Equus to come with 'multimedia tablet,' learning tutorials from Video Professor
April 2, 2010 at 12:07 AM
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| | It's certainly not the first time we've heard of an automobile shipping sans a paper-based user guide, but unlike those other guys who toss you a CD-R with a couple of PDFs on there, Hyundai is seriously upping the ante with its 2011 Equus. Revealed today over at the New York Auto Show, the company announced that the aforementioned vehicle would ship with an Equus Multimedia Tablet, enabling users to easily and quickly pull up a slew of information and diagrams about their new whip. The outfit's US president John Krafcik didn't specifically mention the brand or model of the tablet that'd be included, but the image shown to the crowd (and to you, above) certainly reeks of iPad. What's even more interesting is that the tablet will be used as more than just an owner's guide, but as an interface for handling "customer ! / dealer interactions like scheduling service appointments." We suspect we'll hear more about what kind of device will be included as the vehicle's ship date nears, but if we were the betting kind, we'd say that a massive, undercover deal with Fusion Garage will put a JooJoo into each and every Equus owner's hands. Kidding. 2011 Hyundai Equus to come with 'multimedia tablet,' learning tutorials from Video Professor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Autoblog | Email this | Comments | | |
| The JooJoo is here... seriously
April 1, 2010 at 11:08 PM
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| Of all days for this thing to arrive... it had to be today. Yes folks, as you can see in our gallery below, the JooJoo is not only real, but we've got one. We're not going to go into details right now, as we've got our hands kind of full this week, but we suggest you hang tight until our review hits (probably early next week) so you can make the final decision if it's going to be this thing or, you know, some other tablet. Or maybe you just want to keep that $500. Hey, it's your call, pal. For now, check out our unboxing, and at least breathe a sigh of relief that if you did shell out for one of these, it's likely going to hit your doorstep pretty darn soon.
The JooJoo is here... seriously originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | |
| Apple's iPad: are you getting one?
April 1, 2010 at 10:34 PM
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| | Two days to go, and we're just curious is all: are you getting an iPad? Hit up the poll below with your answer, and if you are getting one, we'd love to hear why in comments. What exactly do you plan on using it for? Will it augment current tech you have, or perhaps replace a device in your stash? Which version are you getting and why? Not feeling the iPad? Tell us why as well! Let's just keep it civil, yes? Don't worry, the iPad coverage nightmare will be over before you know it. View Poll Apple's iPad: are you getting one? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | |
| PU_PA EV concept is cute, light, and deadly
April 1, 2010 at 10:09 PM
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| Of all the wacky EV concepts we've seen lately, this is certainly one of them! PU_PA EV is a car developed by Teijin Ltd, a Japanese textile manufacturer that among other things recently teamed up with Mazda to produce Biofront bio-plastic. Meant to highlight the firm's materials and technologies, the vehicle weighs less than half a ton (437kg, to be exact) and will shuttle you around at speeds of roughly 40 MPH for up to 60 miles on a single charge. Sadly, this bad boy isn't street legal, for a number of good reasons: the windows (made from a heat-absorbing polycarbonate resin) have half the density of glass and are, in the words of one technician, "especially shatter-y" (OK, we made that word up). Additionally, the lights aren't too terribly bright, a! nd the thing isn't equipped with airbags. Hopefully, the company will soon be called upon to supply materials for other, much less deadly vehicles at some point in the near future. PU_PA EV concept is cute, light, and deadly originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Tech-On! | Email ! this | Comments | | |
| Motorola patent application offers new option for 3D cellphones
April 1, 2010 at 9:53 PM
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| Flip phones may be somewhat on the outs these days (at least among those demanding the latest and greatest), but they may well be the key to future 3D cellphones -- at least if this Motorola patent application is any indication. The basic idea is actually a fairly simple one: you'd see a regular 2D image on the screen when the cover is open, but when it's closed you'd be able to look through the transparent lid and see the images with a "three dimensional appearance." As you can probably figure out, that screen would be a touchscreen that takes the place of a keypad, and another illustration also shows that the same idea could be applied to a slider phone. Of course, what the illustrations don't show is how effective that three dimensional appearance would actually be, although it seems like it could give Motoblur a whole new meaning. Motorola patent application offers new option for 3D cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Go Rumors | Patent Application | Email this | Comments | | |
| Fujitsu debuts thin-and-light LifeBook MH330 netbook
April 1, 2010 at 9:29 PM
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| We just got a chance to check out Fujitsu's MH380 netbook in February, but the company has now already followed it up with a new, thinner and lighter model: the LifeBook MH330. In addition to getting the weight down to 2.4 pounds (with a three-cell battery), the netbook sports a slightly more angular design than its counterpart, but remains mostly unchanged when it comes to specs, That includes the same 10-inch screen as before (albeit WSVGA instead of WXGA), along with an Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and the usual niceties like built-in Bluetooth and an integrated memory card reader. Still no official word on a release over here, but it looks like this one is now at least available in Singapore for the local equivalent of $500. Fujitsu debuts thin-and-light LifeBook MH33! 0 netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Far East Gizmos | Fujitsu, Notebook It! alia | Email this | Comments | | |
| iPad apps now live in the App Store
April 1, 2010 at 9:06 PM
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| | Ready to start paying more for giant iPhone apps? Get that credit card ready -- tons of iPad apps are now live in the App Store, even though the iPad itself is under lock and key until Saturday. Lots of the expected stuff here, like Brushes, Twitteriffic, and the Wall Street Journal app, but there's a few things we're definitely interested in playing with, like the Desktop Connect VNC client, the ABC Player, and quite a few apps focused on printing. Yes, printing -- apparently the ability to print a document from the iPad will cost you at least $2, and probably more like $5. Magical and revolutionary, indeed. There's tons to look at, so hit the source link and let us know if you see anything interesting in comments. iPad apps now live in the App Store originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |&nbs! p;  App Store (opens iTunes) | Email this | Comments | | |
| Olympus E-PL1 review
April 1, 2010 at 8:28 PM
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| | It seems like such a simple thing now, but it took Olympus three revisions to finally get its "Pen" Micro Four Thirds series down below (or even close to) the magical $600 mark. Lucky for us, the E-PL1 doesn't skimp on functionality, and in fact expands on the capabilities of the E-P1 and E-P2 with an integrated pop-up flash. We already rounded up some reviews from the big boys, so check out those in-depth walkthroughs if you're looking to get nerdy, but if you'd still like to hear our thoughts on this new shooter, follow along in our mini-review after the break. Continue reading Olympus E-PL1 review Olympus E-PL1 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | |
| GPS pioneer Roger L. Easton inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame
April 1, 2010 at 8:06 PM
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|  Well, it looks like it's the season for pioneering inventors to be honored, with Chuck Thacker's recent Turing Award win now followed up by Roger L. Easton's induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Pictured at left above, Easton started working at the Naval Research Laboratory in 1943, and later helped develop MINITRACK, the very first satellite tracking system, which in turn led to the concept Easton dubbed TIMATION (short for "time navigation"). That was used to aid in the launch of four experimental satellites over the course of the 1960s and 1970s, the last of which was the first satellite to fly in the GPS 12-hour orbit and the first transmit GPS signals. In fact, the relativistic offset correction Easton applied to that satellite is still used by every GPS satellite now in orbit, and it also helped to experimentally verify Einstein's theory of rela! tivity for good measure. Easton didn't call it quits when he left the lab, however, and eventually served two terms in the New Hampshire State Assembly, and even ran for Governor in 1986. GPS pioneer Roger L. Easton inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Business ! Wire | Email this | Comments | | |
| HTC Desire review
April 1, 2010 at 7:34 PM
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| | Following the Legend, HTC continues its Android 2.1 lineup with the Desire -- a gorgeous cousin of the renowned Nexus One. We can trace our drool all the way back to the Desire's leak in December, but there have been some changes since then that made it slightly less desirable -- DivX support and 720p video capture never made it to the final build, but it's not like the company laid down any official promise on them, right? Anyhow, there's still plenty to be loved here, namely the speedy 1GHz Snapdragon, the large AMOLED screen, and HTC's latest revision of Sense UI that we've already seen on the Legend. Now, there are probably two questions floating in the minds of our readers: is the Desire worth the extra moola over the Lege! nd? And is it any better than the Nexus One? Let's all find out together. Continue reading HTC Desire review HTC Desire review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | |
| Kodak Slice touchscreen camera, Pulse WiFi frame, and PlaySport pocket camcorder now on sale... at JC Penney
April 1, 2010 at 7:11 PM
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| | We're not sure why Kodak is pushing its new Slice touchscreen camera out to JCPenney before any of the usual retail suspects, but there it is, looking radiant in "Radish" and marked up with a $100 premium over the usual $349 list price. If that doesn't make any sense to you, you can also grab the 14 megapixel shooter with the 3.5-inch display, 720p video capture, and built-in search for $349 from JR.com or Kodak. Kodak's also got the seven-inch Pulse WiFi digiframe that pulls photos from Facebook and the new PlaySport 1080p waterproof pocket camcorder up for sale now as well, at $129 and $149, respectively -- and yes, you can buy ! those from Penney's at a markup if you like, because the very fabric of our relationship to reality is unraveling in a heap on the floor of the Juniors department. Kodak Slice touchscreen camera, Pulse WiFi frame, and PlaySport pocket camcorder now on sale... at JC Penney originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Slice, Pulse, PlaySport | Email this | Comments | | |
| Motorola announces H17txt Bluetooth headset with MotoSpeak
April 1, 2010 at 6:48 PM
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| | Looking for another reason to wear a Bluetooth headset all the time? Then you might want to consider admitting you have a problem, or you might want to get Motorola's new H17txt model, which can be paired with the company's new MotoSpeak text-to-speech application to read text messages aloud as they come in. That software is available for Android and BlackBerry initially, and will apparently even translate 150 different commonly used acronyms so things like l8r don't get read as l, eight, r. As for the headset itself, it's a fairly standard affair, with it boasting CrystalTalk noise-canceling technology, five hours of talk time and seven hours standby, and Bluetooth 2.1 compatibility. Still no indication of a price, but it should be available through Verizon starting today. Motorola announces H17txt Bluetooth headset with MotoSpeak originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Motorola | Email this | Comments | | |
| Apple Stores, Best Buys not the only places to get an iPad on Saturday
April 1, 2010 at 6:24 PM
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|  It turns out that "select" Apple Specialist locations -- independently-owned stores authorized by Apple to sell and service its products -- will be getting iPad stock to sell on Saturday. In our experience it's hit-or-miss; we've called a few locations around the country this morning and have been given answers ranging from "no" to "we'll have display units, not retail units" to a straight-up "yes," so we recommend that you call the Specialist near you if you're looking for a stealth way to avoid the bedlam that's likely going to be brewing at proper Apple Stores. Complicating matters, though, is the fact that we're also being told these Specialists are currently under NDA, which means you might not be ! able to get a straight answer out of 'em today -- but hey, at least be on notice that you've got a Plan B (or C) if neither Apple nor Best Buy are able to hook you up in about 48 hours' time.Apple Stores, Best Buys not the only places to get an iPad on Saturday originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Apple Specialist ! ;| Email this | Comments | | |
| LG announces LD950 passive shutter 3DTV for UK market
April 1, 2010 at 5:59 PM
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| Just like everybody else in the display business, LG is trying to figure out exactly how they're going to position themselves to benefit from the upcoming 3D Explosion! Since almost-sorta-not really pulling out of a deal with Sky TV to supply British pubs with 3D televisions, the company has announced that it will be offering its first passive 3D sets to English consumers. Presumably cheaper than its active shutter counterparts, the LD950 supports HDMI version 1.4, 1080p HD, external storage via USB 2.0 (with DivX HD, MP3, and JPEG support), and comes bundled with four pairs of polarized glasses. There's no word on a price or release date, but if it makes you feel better we can reveal that two new active 3D displays, the LX9900 (47-inch and 55-inch) and LX6900 (42-inch), featuring 1080p, Freeview HD, Netcast widgets (YouTube, Skype, Accu Weather, Pi! casa), and wireless AV link, will be available in May for a price yet to be determined. LG announces LD950 passive shutter 3DTV for UK market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Pocket-lint | Email this | Comments | | |
| First NYC iPad line sitter also camped for first iPhone: a legend is born (video)
April 1, 2010 at 5:33 PM
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| Greg Packer, we salute you. Sure, the weather in New York City is a lot finer now than it was back in the sweltering summer of 2007, but we still feel the need to tip our hat to someone who'd camp out three whole days at Apple's Fifth Avenue store (read: "The Cube") for an iPad. Tipster Tom dropped in the image after the break at around 3:15PM ET yesterday, and after a short nap in Penn Station, Mr. Packer is freshened up and holding down his spot yet again. We aren't anticipating iPhone-esque lines this coming Saturday, but considering that new pre-orders aren't being fulfilled until April 12th or later, we reckon this guy is followi! ng that whole "better safe than sorry" thing to a T. Check out a brief video captured on the streets by tapping that 'Read More' link, and head on over to Switched if you'd like to relive a similar interview from the iPhone campout.
We'll leave you with a few choice quotes from Mr. Packer on why exactly he's doing such a thing for such a product:
Question: "So, nobody took your place?"
Packer: "No, nobody... nobody."
Question: "So, you are the first one?"
Packer: "So far, yep yep!"
Question: "So you're going to be the first one to buy one, also?"
Packer: "Yep, yep!"
Question: "Do you have any number?"
Packer: "Huh?! Yes, yes. Well, first come, first serve! They don't give you a number, you queue up for a number."
Question: "Do you have something in your bag, to eat or drink?"
Packer: "Just mainly a change of clothes. Nothing to eat, nothing to drink."
Question: "Why do you want [the iPad] so desperately?"
Packer: "Because... it's like a mini laptop! I mean, you just... you know, click it on, just like you click the iPhone on. And you don't have to open it up, and you know, go through, you know, go through everything. "
Question: "So, you need to have it?"
Packer: "Yes! "
[Thanks, Tom and Zoltan]Continue reading First NYC iPad line sitter also camped for first iPhone: a legend is born (video) First NYC iPad line sitter also camped for first iPhone: a legend is born (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | ! YouTube | Email this | Comments | | |
| Verizon Mobile Hotspot on webOS devices now free, Pre Plus and Pixi Plus fall to $49.99 and $29.99
April 1, 2010 at 5:15 PM
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| Whoa, we didn't see this one coming: Verizon just slashed the cost of its 3G Mobile Hotspot feature for the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus all the way down to $0, effectively giving you a broadband modem for your laptop, iPod touch, and up to three other devices for $60 less per month than you'd pay with a MiFi that accomplishes exactly the same function (and $50 less than any other tether-capable Verizon handset). For some, this alone could be reason enough to take the plunge and become a webOS user, we'd wager. Here's Verizon's official statement on the matter: "Customers who purchase or upgrade to a Palm Pre and Palm Pixi will get the Mobile Hotspot for free. Existing customers who already have the service will find charges on their next bill will be $0.00."
Add that in to the fact that the Pre Plus is now $49.99 and the Pixi Plus is now $29.99, both with buy-one-get-one-free deals tacked on, and yeah... what do you want to bet there are some wide smiles over in Sunnyvale this morning?Verizon Mobile Hotspot on webOS devices now free, Pre Plus and Pixi Plus fall to $49.99 and $29.99 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Veriz! on | Email this | Comments | | |
| Is LG going Droid hunting with its C710 Aloha Android smartphone?
April 1, 2010 at 4:51 PM
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| | Android phones are getting ever faster and, with each iteration, ever bigger. The Droid was large and in charge when it was announced, the Nexus One a little taller and a little speedier, and HTC's EVO gives the slab moniker new credence. Now there's talk that LG is getting in on the big and beautiful game, with an Android smartphone called the C710 Aloha. It's said to sport an 800 x 480 screen like the EVO and N1, but unlike those two will have a full QWERTY keyboard. It's also said to offer 802.11n WiFi along with GPRS, UMTS, HSDPA and HSUPA connectivity. Nothing is confirmed at this point, but a device called the C710 was given WiFi Alliance approval recently and, more convincing, a user agent profile file has been found, confirming the resolution and wireless capabilities. If true, the Aloha could provide to be a worthy alte! rnative to the Droid for those who want a phone with a little more to love, and a keyboard to boot. Is LG going Droid hunting with its C710 Aloha Android smartphone? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | tweake rs.net | Email this | Comments | | |
| Qi Smartbook U2000 gets WinMo 6.5 upgrade, retains its wide berth
April 1, 2010 at 4:12 PM
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| When dealing with Chinese products that have yet to cross the pond (and are unlikely ever to), you spend a lot of time looking at translated docs, trying to figure out what the hell it is exactly they're trying to pitch to you. For instance, the Qi U1000 that we caught wind of last September -- or its successor, the U2000, pictured above. Looks like a MID, acts like a smartphone, yet someone (or, more likely, something) insists on calling it a "Smartbook." What we do know is that it'll run you 2,680 Chinese yuan (roughly $390), and it sports Windows Mobile 6.5 OS, a 624MHz Marvell CPU, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and a whopping 5-inch touchscreen. What do you think: Can you handle this much phone? Qi Smartbook U2000 gets WinMo 6.5 upgrade, retains its wide berth! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Windows Phone Mix | Zol |&! nbsp;Email this | Comments | | |
| Australian researchers unveil bionic eye prototype, implants coming in 2013
April 1, 2010 at 3:56 PM
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| | We've been hearing about things like bionic eyeballs -- specifically cameras which are implantable into human eyes -- for quite some time now. But it looks like Bionic Vision Australia has actually developed a real, working prototype. BVA, along with researchers at the University of New South Wales, have shown off their advanced prototype of the "eye," which boasts a pair of glasses mounted with a camera, a pocket-mounted CPU, and a wireless electrode chip which must be surgically implanted in the eye. The electrode chip has 98 electrodes which stimulates cells on the optical nerve, resulting in improved vision for those with vision problems resulting from optical nerve problems. Clinical trials are scheduled to begin later this year in Melbourne, with the hope that actual patients will be treated sometime in 2013. Kudos! The full press release is after the break. Continue reading Australian researchers unveil bionic eye prototype, implants coming in 2013 Australian researchers unveil bionic eye prototype, implants coming in 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this |&n! bsp;Comments | | |
| University of Washington's Prefab tool promises to 'unlock the desktop'
April 1, 2010 at 3:01 PM
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|  The University of Washington may be overstating things a just a tad with a headline like "what if all software was open source," but the so-called "Prefab" software tool developed by some researchers at the university does indeed manage to pull of some fairly impressive tricks. The short of it is that the tool promises to you let you (or developers) modify any application without actually modifying it. To do that, the software constantly looks for easily identifiable elements of an application (dialog boxes, scroll bars, buttons, etc.) and then "alters their behavior" by effectively taking over your display, leaving the actual program running in the background and displaying the augmented version instead. According to the researchers, the possibilities from there on out are virtually endless, and include things like adding iTunes buttons to your Word toolbar and tweaking Photoshop to display previews for a whole range of effects at once. Head on past the break for a qui! ck demo video, and look for more to be unveiled at the CHI 2010 conference in Atlanta next month.
[Thanks, Keith] Continue reading University of Washington's Prefab tool promises to 'unlock the desktop' University of Washington's Prefab tool promises to 'unlock the desktop' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink CBC | University of Washington | Email this | Comments | | |
| Stype, the Skyping typewriter, lets you chat about the passion (video)
April 1, 2010 at 2:29 PM
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| It's a great day when something digital meets something purely mechanical, and that looks to be what we have here, a project from Daniel Huhndt. It's a vintage typewriter that, through what appears to be a complex set of belts and pulleys, enables two-way text chats on Skype. The user types their message onto paper and then waits while the response from someone else is magically typed back onto the paper -- complete with that delicious manual sound. It is, or at least was, on display at Bauhaus University (which also introduced the world to WiiSpray), and if we were just a little bit closer we'd be down there clunking away right now.
[Thanks, Max]Continue reading Stype, the Skyping typewriter, lets you chat about the passion (video) Stype, the Skyping typewriter, lets you chat about the passion (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Absurd Ape | Email this | Comments | | |
| Smart Car's Smart Drive Kit for iPhone demonstrated (video)
April 1, 2010 at 1:54 PM
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| | Daimler hasn't had a sales success on its hands lately with its line of Smart cars, with sales festering after an initial boom. To try to re-capture the imagination of we smartphone-loving Americans with short attention spans, Smart unveiled the Smart Drive Kit last month and now, at the NY Auto Show, is giving it a proper demonstration. The iPhone app effectively takes the place of an infotainment system like Sync, including internet radio, navigation, and hands-free calling. It's all demonstrated in a video after the break, and it looks cool -- cool enough to even warrant $9.99 for the app and, maybe, the $49.99 annual fee for maps and navigation. What we still needing clarification on is whether that c! radle will actually be priced at a ridiculous €240 ($326) and, if so, from which precious materials it has been crafted. Continue reading Smart Car's Smart Drive Kit for iPhone demonstrated (video) Smart Car's Smart Drive Kit for iPhone demonstrated (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  AutoSpies | Email this | Comments | | |
| Was Nintendo pressured into revealing the 3DS early?
April 1, 2010 at 1:22 PM
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| | Hey, remember when Nintendo unveiled a 3D Nintendo DS, the 3DS, completely out of the blue? And you know how they announced it just a week before we Americans finally got our hands on the DSi XL -- effectively making it seem obsolete before it even hit retail? It seemed like curiously unfortunate timing, but according to M2 Senior Analyst Billy Pigeon, there was something more sinister behind the surprise unveil: the Japanese media. "Apparently, the Japanese press was all over it and talked with suppliers there and Nintendo just wanted to get out ahead by breaking the news to prevent a leak." That they did, but they also subverted the US launch of the oversized DSi in the process. It's a gaming system few really thought they needed in the first place, and now with! confirmation of something better coming soon it looks even less appealing. Was Nintendo pressured into revealing the 3DS early? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Joystiq | C! NBC | Email this | Comments | | |
| April Fools' Day roundup: 'let me Topeka that for you' edition
April 1, 2010 at 12:44 PM
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| | Alright, good netizens of Engadget, it's time for us to bring you the sort of hard-hitting news content you can expect only on the first day of April. First on our slate we have the earthshaking news that Google is to officially rename itself Topeka, with the company's official blog urging all future communications to be addressed to Topeka Inc. This is to honor the Kansas town that renamed itself Google in an effort to curry favor with Goog... excuse us, Topeka's 1Gbit broadband program. We also have exclusive and absolutely official confirmation of the forthcoming Android 2.5 update, an inflatable laptop from Toshiba, YouTube's textual deviance, and the hands-down best iPad dock you will ever see. You'll have to come after the break for all those -- they're too hot to handle out in the open. We'll be updating this post as the day goes along, so keep it locked. Continue reading April Fools' Day roundup: 'let me Topeka that for you' edition April Fools' Day roundup: 'let me Topeka that for you' edition originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | |
| PlanetSolar boat aims for Earth circumnavigation with Sun's help, enters testing stage (video)
April 1, 2010 at 12:03 PM
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| You'll be forgiven for letting the PlanetSolar boat slip your mind in the year that's passed since we last heard of it, but the engineers behind the project haven't been slacking and today we're hearing that the multihull vessel has been put into the water to begin its seafaring tests. With nearly 5,400 square feet of photovoltaic cells adorning its roof, this is by far the biggest and most ambitious solar-powered boat yet, so it's no surprise that it won't be casting off on its globe circumnavigation attempt until at least April 2011. For now, you can enjoy photos of the vast ray-muncher at the PlanetSolar link below or skip past the break for the latest video from the team.
[Thanks, Pavel]Continue reading PlanetSolar boat aims for Earth circumnavigation with Sun's help, enters testing stage (video) PlanetSolar boat aims for Earth circumnavigation with Sun's help, enters testing stage (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Associated Press | Email this | Comments | | |
| WSJ: CBS bringing free HTML5-encoded TV shows to the iPad, ABC plans detailed
April 1, 2010 at 11:14 AM
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| | The Wall Street Journal is reporting that ABC and CBS are hard at work adapting episodes of their TV shows for the iPad, with both set to offer streamable programming to new slate owners immediately upon launch. Their delivery strategies diverge slightly -- ABC will use the app that was unearthed (and confirmed by us) this morning whereas CBS will stream through the browser (hello, HTML5!) -- but the eventual user experience will be a commercial-supported affair that should be familiar to those who've used their respective online streaming services already. All that remains now is for NBC and Hulu to fall in line, as expected, and your portable media consumption menu! will be complete. It'll also be interesting to see what happens to iTunes Store pricing for episodic TV programming, which will soon be up against free (or in Hulu's case, potentially subscription-based) alternatives. WSJ: CBS bringing free HTML5-encoded TV shows to the iPad, ABC plans detailed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 05:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments | | |
| NC State's refreshable Braille display could revolutionize reading for the blind
April 1, 2010 at 10:43 AM
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| | While many in Raleigh are wondering whatever happened to the glory days of 1983, Dr. Neil Di Spigna and company are doing far more productive things at NC State. It's no secret that the holy grail of Braille is a tactile display that could change on a whim in order to give blind viewers a way to experience richer content (and lots more of it) when reading, but not until today have we been reasonably confident that such a goal was attainable. Gurus at the university have just concocted a "hydraulic and latching mechanism" concept, vital to the creation of the full-page, refreshable Braille display system. As you may expect, the wonder of this solution is the display's ability to erect dots at the precise points, retract them, and re-erect another set when the reader scrolls through a document or presses a "link" on a website. We're told that the researchers have already prese! nted their findings, and if all goes well, they'll have a fully functioning prototype "within a year." Here's hoping a suitable replacement to Lee Fowler is also unearthed during the same window. NC State's refreshable Braille display could revolutionize reading for the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | NC Sta! te University | Email this | Comments | | |
| Amazon agrees to agency pricing model with two more publishers, Jobs prophecy coming to pass
April 1, 2010 at 9:58 AM
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| | Time to add HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster to the list of publishers who've managed to strongarm Amazon into acceding to their supposedly industry-saving agency pricing model. Under the new agreement, you might still see e-book versions of bestsellers priced at the familiar $9.99, but the majority will be jumping up to $12.99 and $14.99 price points, depending on the publisher's discretion. This is essentially the same deal that brought Macmillan books back to Amazon.com, and the e-tailer is believed to also be in advanced negotiations with Hatchette Book Group and Penguin Group to ensure that no book is left behind. This development was cryptically predicted by Steve Jobs mere hours after the iPad's launch and then reiterated by Rupert Murdoch with regard to HarperCollins, so we can't exactly act surprised now, but we can at least grimace a little at having to face a more expensive e-reading future. Amazon agrees to agency pricing model with two more publishers, Jobs prophecy coming to pass originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Wall Street Journal | Email this | Comments | | |
| Netflix streaming, ABC, and 1,348 more iPad approved apps revealed
April 1, 2010 at 9:15 AM
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| Look, we're not sure what appadvice is using to back its claims, but it's been pumping out supposed iPad app leaks for a few weeks now with screenshots and videos that tell a convincing story. Now they've linked us to a host of new iPad apps with Netflix and ABC player being two of the most notable. The free Neflix app is said to be launching along side Apple's slate on April 3rd letting Netflix subscribers browse and manage their queues. More importantly, it will also allow subscribers to stream Netflix's online collection of videos. Of course, if this is true then we expect to see a Netflix app land for the iPhone and iPod touch as well in adherence to Reed Hastings' previous comments.
There's also a free ABC app tipped for April 3rd giving iPad owners WiFi access to full episodes of shows like Lost and Grey's Anatomy. And with CBS seemingly getting into the HTML5 game we suspect that the demand for Hulu in the US will dampen if all this comes to fruition -- especially if Hulu adopts a subscription model. Not enough? Then check out the 1,350 (and counting) approved iPad apps in the source link below or preview 700 of them in a video after the break where you'll also catch a few more Netflix and ABC screenies. We'll have to wait until Saturday to see how many of these actually appear in the iTunes App Store.
Update: Looks like these apps are coming straight from Apple's app database since AppShopper is also showing Netflix and ABC Player iPad apps. Don't believe it? Then why not grab some screenshots of your own direct from Apple's servers. This is legit folks.
[Thanks, Sean M.]Continue reading Netflix streaming, ABC, and 1,348 more iPad approved apps revealed Netflix streaming, ABC, and 1,348 more iPad approved apps revealed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | appadvice (netflix), appadvice (ABC), appadvice (all) | Email this | Comments | | |
| PeeWee PC loses the stylus, gains average netbook status
April 1, 2010 at 8:52 AM
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Previously on Computers Designed For Children, protagonist PeeWee PC introduced us to its creation, the Pivot Tablet Laptop, a cute little netvertible with childish specs -- but a $600 price that set it well out of reach of the average piggy bank. One year later, PeeWee has matured, but not necessarily for the better. For $100 less, the new PeeWee Power Laptop, which is actually just a rebranded Classmate PC, sports the same carry handle and kid-friendly construction as its predecessor (though with a faster 1.66GHz Atom N450 processor, mind you), but completely ditches the tablet PC functionality. Without a stylus or touchscreen for kids on which to express their creativity (read: color outside of the lines), we're not quite sure of the point. In trut! h, the Power Laptop is neither laptop nor powerful -- merely a kid-friendly netbook at an adult price point. But hey, it's got a carry handle! Continue reading PeeWee PC loses the stylus, gains average netbook status PeeWee PC loses the stylus, gains average netbook status originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | | | 
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