3M and Nanosys team-up to roll out quantum dot-enhanced LCDs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/07/3m-and-nanosys-qdef-displays/

Nanosys' eye-popping QDEF (Quantum Dot Enhancement Film) might be inching closer to a display near you. A new partnership with 3M aims to get the color-loving tech commercialized and into mainstream products. The film uses quantum dots to create an LCD with a wider color gamut -- apparently translating to up to 50 percent more color. The quantum dots are packed onto this film in their trillions (yes, trillions) which is then fitted within the backlight. As the new layer would replace the existing one within LCDs, Nanosys' solution aims to avoid the need for new equipment or processes. However, we're still waiting for high-color QDEF to become that "ecosystem changer" we were promised.

Continue reading 3M and Nanosys team-up to roll out quantum dot-enhanced LCDs

3M and Nanosys team-up to roll out quantum dot-enhanced LCDs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps for Android gets offline support, 'nothing to announce' regarding version compatibility

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/06/google-maps-for-android-gets-offline-support/

Google's Maps event has just given us a much-requested feature: true offline map support. Android users can soon opt to download full maps for given areas (instead of just caching routes) without needing a cellular or WiFi connection. It's a big boon for those of us who have to travel abroad to unfamiliar cities, or just to areas where underground tunnels might cut off Internet access before GPS. Unfortunately, that's all that Google was willing to share: Android phones and tablets will only be getting the upgrade sometime "soon." Still, that's one less advantage for Nokia Drive, and one more hurdle to jump for Apple at WWDC next week.

Update: We just followed up with Peter Birch following the keynote regarding version compatibility for offline and 3D Maps, and were told that Google "has nothing to announce at this time," but will do so in the coming weeks. We prodded a bit to see if 2.x devices would be in the mix, and all we got was a non-confirming reply about an "assumption" that if Google Maps Navigation is supported, offline and 3D would be as well.

Relive the memories in our liveblog... right here!

Google Maps for Android gets offline support, 'nothing to announce' regarding version compatibility originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Get your Samsung Galaxy S III pre-orders right here

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/06/psa-gs-iii-pre-orders/

The phone companies have begun accepting your money in exchange for a place in the queue for a Galaxy S III. If you've yet to splash the cash, then you've got a choice between AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular. We've included links to the pre-order and sign-up lists for each company below, including what arrival information we have. Not that we'd suggest you base your purchasing decisions on that alone since like all things, they're liable to change.

Read - AT&T - (June 18th)
Read - Verizon ("by" July 9th, make of that what you will)
Read - Sprint (Officially set for June 21st)
Read - T-Mobile (Officially set for June 21st)
Read - US Cellular (pre-orders begin June 12th)

PSA: Get your Samsung Galaxy S III pre-orders right here originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google shows off new backpack-worn Street View capture tool, may eventually rent them out

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/06/google-shows-off-new-backpack-worn-street-view-capture-tool/

It looks like Google's Street View will soon be expanding to even more places than it already covers. The company has today taken the wraps off a brand new capture tool it's dubbed the Street View Trekker, which can be worn on a person's back in order to map and photograph areas that are too difficult for even a bicycle or snowmobile to reach. Naturally, it's Android-powered, and it packs two batteries that Google says will last a full day -- although its 40-pound weight will likely necessitate a few breaks during that time. No word on when we'll see the first results from it, but Google intends to take to National Parks, the Grand Canyon, castles, ruins, and more -- even the ski slopes, as seen in another picture after the break.

Update: We just spoke with Luc Vincent more in-depth about the new backpack, and what we learned is after the break.

Gallery: Google Street View Backpack hands-on

Continue reading Google shows off new backpack-worn Street View capture tool, may eventually rent them out

Google shows off new backpack-worn Street View capture tool, may eventually rent them out originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gigabyte outs four dual-SIM Ice Cream Sandwich phones at Computex

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/06/gigabyte-gsmart-ics-computex/

While Gigabyte was grabbing headlines at Computex with its world's lightest Ultrabook, the Taiwanese firm was also sneaking out a gaggle of new phones. Four new models, in fact, all of them Android 4.0, all of them dual-SIM. The rest of the specifications are a mixed bag, with the Gigabyte GSmart M1420 winning the camera wars, with an 8-megapixel shooter, backed up with a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 display and 1GHz MT6575 MediaTek processor. A lower specification M1320 was also announced which is more of the same, but with a smaller, 3.5-inch, display and weaker 3-megapixel snapper. The GSmart G1362 might be more interesting if 4.3 inches is a must, and Snapdragon's your thing (1GHz), but you'll lose 3 megapixels on the camera compared to the GSmart M1420 as a trade. Finally the GSmart G1342 which only packs in 800MHz (Qualcomm) and 3.5-inches of display. There's scant detail on price and availability at the moment, but have a sift through the source link if you want the blow-by-blow breakdown, and head to our Chinese site to get a hands-on with the G1342 and G1362.

Gigabyte outs four dual-SIM Ice Cream Sandwich phones at Computex originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Cloud Gaming to Stream Console-Quality Games Straight to Smart TVs [E3]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5916101/samsung-cloud-gaming-to-stream-console+quality-games-straight-to-smart-tvs

It was announced at E3 today that Samsung Cloud Gaming, developed in partnership with Gaikai, a leading cloud-based video game platform provider, will stream a mix of family-friendly and AAA video games directly to owners of 2012 Samsung LED 7000 series and up Smart TVs in the U.S.

The cloud-based gaming service will be second to none, allowing users access to some of the video game industry's biggest titles, without the need for a console, in much the same way that smart TVs are eliminating the need for a set-top cable box.

One of the more exciting consumer-designed perks of the platform is the try-before-you-buy payment plan, allowing users a free trial of any game, so they'll never have to pay good money for a game they end up disliking.

Samsung will soon begin accepting sign-ups for the Beta Test of its Cloud Gaming service on Smart TVs for users in the United States.

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Sony RX100: This is How You Cram a 1-Inch Sensor and Wide Aperture Lens Into a Point-and-Shoot Body [Cameras]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5916061/sony-rx100-this-is-how-your-cram-a-1+inch-sensor-and-f18-aperture-lens-into-a-point+and+shoot-body

With DSLRs like the Canon T2I and Nikon D3200 becoming increasing accessible, and smartphone cameras becoming increasingly quality, fixed-lens point-and-shoot cameras have become something a forgotten breed. But with the introduction of the RX100—complete with its impressive 1-inch sensor, f/1.8 aperture, and compact body—Sony is trying to make the pocketable camera relevant again.

When it comes to specs, the RX100 is nothing short of impressive. The sensor is a 20.2-megapixel beast that's part of Sony's Exmor family and powered by the Bionz processor. The glass is a 28-100mm Vario-Sonnar Zeiss lens with 3.6x optical zoom and that impressive, aforementioned f/1.8 aperture. The camera has an ISO range of 100-25600, with an auto ISO limit of 6400. Video is an AVCHD affair, with 1080p recording at 60 frames (there's also a 720p MP4 mode). The all-aluminum body isn't much bigger than the Canon S100, and comes equipped not only with fully-programmable manual controls on the back, but also around the lens. The all-black camera is nothing short of beautiful, with stripped down, no-nonsense design that invokes the lines of a Leica camera.

Because Sony packed such a large sensor, and went with a fixed lens, it was able to open up the aperture to let in plenty of light. This not only means sharp images, but also powerful defocusing effects (a.k.a. those nice background blurs). The 1-inch sensor is bigger than those found in both the Canon S100 and G12, not to mention the Fuji X10 and Panasonic LX5. And despite the technical wizardry, the battery is rated for 330 shots-per-charge on average.

In the brief time I got to play with the thing, the RX100 impressed. In both the automatic and program modes, shots were sharp and detailed, even without optimal lighting. At times, the shots certainly looked comparable to those produced by considerably more powerful cameras. Though the is small and light, it hardly feels insubstantial, and can be operated without having to contort your hand in weird ways. And the big 3-inch screen is nice and bright, thanks to the LCD's added white light which is designed to combat sunlight.

So who is this thing for? At $650, it might be too pricey as a second camera for the DSLR crowd. But for someone who doesn't use a camera enough to justify the cost and bulk of a DSLR, the RX100 could be a very happy compromise. Sony says you can expect the RX100 to arrive in July. [Sony]

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Layar Creator sees an interactive future for print media via augmented reality (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/layar-creator-printed-media-augmented-reality/

Heavy hitters across several industries have tried to find the perfect balance between the old and the new to breathe some life into what's been described as a dying medium. Layar "wants to make the world clickable" with its augmented reality software and doesn't plan on letting paper-based media go the way of paying for long distance or total privacy. Instead, it's opted to fully welcome it into this brave new digital world by letting publishers embed videos and interactive buttons onto existing printed materials. A mobile app can then display superimposed content that pops right up on the page when viewed through a device's camera. The new web app, Layar Creator, is free if you can get your stuff published and all Layared up before August 1st, but if you're a procrastinator, a 100-page bundle will run €999 ($1,242), or €15 ($18.65) per page. You can see the the Layar Creator and AR app in full effect right after the break.

Continue reading Layar Cre! ator see s an interactive future for print media via augmented reality (video)

Layar Creator sees an interactive future for print media via augmented reality (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 22:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViewSonic VP3280-LED 31.5-inch 4K monitor prototype hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/viewsonic-vp3280-led-4k-monitor-hands-on/

Would you rather own a mid-range car, or a 31.5-inch 4K monitor? That might not seem like a terribly difficult call, but after seeing ViewSonic's 150 ppi prototype at Computex, we're not so sure we'd go with the car. Hidden beneath a nondescript engineering case a few feet away from the company's 22-inch ICS "tablet" was one of the most impressive 4K displays we've seen. The ViewSonic VP3280-LED features a 31.5-inch LCD panel, packing 8.8 million pixels for a total density of 150 pixels-per-inch. That means incredibly sharp images and vibrant frames -- the display is capable of 10-bit 1.07 billion-color presentation. A relatively small footprint means you could realistically pack 3840 x 2160 pixels on your desk, with a bit of room to spare.

The display we saw was hooked up to an Intel Core i5-powered PC, which ViewSonic reps say is only capable of pumping out still photos (you'll need a Core i7 for video or regular computer use), but we very much liked what we saw. The current iteration requires 2x dual-link DVI, but would be compatible with 2x DisplayPort in the future. ViewSonic reps say the VP3280, which will be marketed towards film studios, broadcasters, photographers and any other professionals in need of a compact 4K display, could ship by the end of the year, costing "about the price of a car." There's sadly no way to do this thing justice in still photos or video, but you can get a vague idea of how it performs in our walkthrough a! fter the break.

Gallery: ViewSonic VP3280-LED 31.5-inch 4K monitor hands-on

Continue reading ViewSonic VP3280-LED 31.5-inch 4K monitor prototype hands-on (video)

ViewSonic VP3280-LED 31.5-inch 4K monitor prototype hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 23:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Voice control comes to MOG's music streaming service with Ford SYNC AppLink

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/06/mog-music-streaming-ford-sync-applink/

Good news for those who like music on-the-go, Ford had just added a new heavy hitter to its AppLink platform, and this time it comes from none other than MOG. The streaming service boasts a catalog of 15 million tracks, which is available to mobile devices for a monthly subscription fee of $9.99. With the Ford SYNC integration, users may access this vast library either through voice commands or in-dash controls, and as another nice touch, one's music queue will automatically resume from wherever they left off. Voice commands include "artist only" and "similar artists," along with "downloads" for situations when you aren't able to stream and "shuffle favorites." Finally, users may also create presets based on what's currently playing, simply by pressing and holding one of the in-dash preset buttons. This availability is solely for iOS users, but if you'd like to learn more, check the full PR after the break.

Gallery: MOG music streaming for Ford SYNC AppLink

Continue reading Voice control comes to MOG's music streaming service with Ford SYNC AppLink

Voice control comes to MOG's music streaming service with Ford SYNC AppLink originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC reveals LaVie Z Ultrabook will ship with third-gen Intel chips, 1600 x 900 screen resolution

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/06/nec-lavie-z-ivy-bridge-ultrabook-specs/

By all means, we were quite impressed when we first laid eyes on NEC's LaVie Z early last month, but much to our disappointment, details were a wee bit scarce at that time. Fortunately for us (and you), however, the company's finally detailed the specs we can expect to see on its 13.3-inch Ultrabook. Among these are -- you guessed it -- Intel Ivy Bridge CPUs (i5-3317U, i7-3517U) and an above-average 1600 x 900 display -- of course, let's not forget it's all bundled up in a 999g package, or about 2.2 pounds if the gram system isn't your thing. As stated earlier, the LaVie Z will be Japan-only once it launches later this summer, though NEC has said it hopes to bring the Ultrabook to other markets at some point in the future. We'll have to wait and see.

NEC reveals LaVie Z Ultrabook will ship with third-gen Intel chips, 1600 x 900 screen resolution originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 06:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu brings its Lifebook Ultrabooks to the US, NH532 and Esprimos tag along for the ride

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/fujitsu-brings-its-lifebook-ultrabooks-to-the-us-nh532-and-espr/

Did you eye Fujitsu's new U772/E Ultrabook and dream of bringing that 0.69-inch thick, Ivy Bridge-packing Lifebook across the Pacific? The company has clearly been reading your mind, since it's just started shipping the portable and a few of its companions to the US. In American guise, you'll find the more simply-titled U772 carrying a choice of Core i5 or i7 chips, as much as a 500GB spinning hard drive or a 256GB SSD for storage, a trio of USB ports, HDMI and an SD card slot. It's joined by a more budget-oriented brother, the UH572 Ultrabook, which is slightly more portly (0.71 inches and 3.5 pounds) but otherwise touts the same credentials. The two are shipping right away and will offer that Japanese Ultrabook flavor at prices of $1,149 for the U772 and $999 for the UH572.

Those more accepting of big-boned computers aren't left out of the mix. On the still semi-portable side, the Lifebook NH532 takes Ivy Bridge to a desktop replacement size, albeit with precious few other details besides its 17.3-inch screen. Three Esprimo desktops (sadly, not pictured) are making the leap to third-generation Core chips as well, including the extra-quiet Q910 mini desktop as well as the fast-booting P710 microtower and full-size E710 desktop. While Fujitsu isn't giving us a full peek at the larger side of the roster, none of them stretch budgets: the NH532 sits in the mid-range at $749, while the E710 / P710 and Q910 are also easy on the finances at their respective $649 and $999 asking prices.

Gallery: Fujitsu U772, UH572 and NH532

SATA-IO unveils USM Slim external storage jack for ultrabooks, tablets and 'other portable devices'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/sata-io-unveils-usm-slim-external-storage-jack/

So, how do you best improve upon the USM standard and boldly take it to new frontiers? Well, as with most tech, simply shrinking it down never seems to hurt. The new USM Slim standard has just been announced by the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) as part of the SATA 3.2 Revision. It takes the ability to plug in powered, external storage with on-board SATA and slims down the port from 14.5mm to 9mm. By trimming the jack by of a third of its bulk the SATA-IO have prepped the standard for the next generation of products, including ultra-thin ultrabooks, svelte tablets and "other portable devices." What might those other devices be? Well, we can't help but hope for a smartphone that boots to Ubuntu when docked (or Ubuntu TV) and can connect to a sizable external hard drive... ah, pipe dreams. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading SATA-IO unveils USM Slim external storage jack for ultrabooks, tablets and 'other portable devices'

SATA-IO unveils USM Slim external storage jack for ultrabooks, tablets and 'other portable devices' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for ! use of f eeds.

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LG Display's new five-inch 1080p smartphone display: it's real, and we've got video

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/lg-displays-new-five-inch-1080p-smartphone-display/

We stopped by the The Society for Information Display's (SID) 2012 convention in not-so-sunny Boston, Massachusetts to feast our eyes upon LG Display's latest creation: a five-inch display panel with Retina-smashing specs. We're talking about a screen that sports a 1920 x 1080 full HD (FHD) resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio and 440ppi density -- not to mention the Advanced High Performance In-Plane Switching (AH-IPS) technology. The Life's Good arm states that the window, which has not yet been paired with a smartphone, will provide "Full HDTV quality" on a phone for the first time. Seeing is believing, though, so have a look at our gallery then saunter past the break to read what the company's VP of IT and Mobile Development had to say about the future of screens.

Gallery: LG Display's 1080p, Full-HD, AH-IPS Display eyes-on - SID 2012

Continue reading LG Display's new five-inch 1080p smartphone display: it's real, and we've got video

LG Display's new five-inch 1080p smartphone display: it's real, and we've got video originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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