Friday, July 06, 2012

HTC reveals Q2 2012 financial results: 57.8 percent net profit drop blamed on customs issues and weak sales

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/06/htc-q2-2012-results-57-8-percent-fall-in-net-profit/

HTC has reported a substantial drop in its quarterly profits, with unaudited results for Q2 2012 totaling T$7.4 billion ($250 million), down from T$17.52 billion this time last year. While it marks an improvement compared to the company's dire first quarter of this year, HTC's been troubled by weaker-than-expected European sales, while customs issues have hampered US sales for high-end devices like the One X. Despite the continued global roll-out of the One series, sales continue to stall, with consolidated sales for last month totaled T$30 billion, unchanged from May and 33.4 percent less than June 2011.

HTC reveals Q2 2012 financial results: 57.8 percent net profit drop blamed on customs issues and weak sales originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 04:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceReuters, HTC (PDF)  | Email this | Comments

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Reuters cooks up remote camera rigs for 2012 Olympics, mounts them where humans can't tread

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/06/reuters-develops-remote-cameras-for-2012-olympics/

Reuters cooks up remote camera rigs for 2012 Olympics, mounts them where humans can't tread

Sure, the 2012 Olympics may be gearing up for HD, 3D and even Super Hi-Vision broadcasts, but that doesn't mean still photography has lost its appeal. In fact, Reuters photographers Fabrizio Bensch and Pawel Kopczynski are taking Olympic photography to the next level, perching remote-controlled camera rigs in stadium rafters. The system, which the duo has been developing since 2009, can turn, adjust focus and receive commands wirelessly. Once stills are snapped, they're sent to an editing system and then off to distribution. The team is spending more than 12 hours a day installing the cams at different Olympic venues before the games kick off on July 27th. In the meantime, you can sprint to the source for photos of the setup.

Reuters cooks up remote camera rigs for 2012 Olympics, mounts them where humans can't tread originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 05:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, July 05, 2012

Constellation Lampshade Projects the Starry Sky Across Your Ceiling [Wish You Were Here]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5923692/constellation-lampshade-projects-the-starry-sky-across-your-ceiling

Constellation Lampshade Projects the Starry Sky Across Your CeilingIf you live in a big city with enough streetlights to drown out the stars for miles in all directions, you can still catch a glimpse of the cosmos in the comfort of your own home with Anna Farkas' 2500 Watt lampshade.

The artist has painstakingly drilled holes in the shade for all of the major stars we can see in the night sky that make up the constellations—and a few others for added atmosphere. And if you're having trouble spotting which is which, the inside of the shade features connect-the-dot hints letting you distinguish Leo from Cancer. We'd say you'll need to bring your own lighting hardware and bulb, but it's a moot point since this looks like a one-off piece that Anna seemingly has no intentions of putting into production. Unless, somehow, the stars align. Sorry.

Constellation Lampshade Projects the Starry Sky Across Your Ceiling

[Anagraphric via Notcot]

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Olympus announces MEG4.0 wearable display prototype, skips the skydive

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/05/olympus-announces-meg4-0-wearable-display-prototype-skips-the-s/

Olympus announces MEG4.0

While Google may have grabbed headlines for its recent wearable tech, Olympus is doggedly forging ahead with its own prototypes, seven years on. Unlike Project Glass, the MEG4.0 isn't a standalone structure and needs a glasses frame to hang on, although the sub-30g unit shouldn't tax it too much. The QVGA (320 x 240) display can connect to devices through Bluetooth 2.1, with Olympus pointing to a smartphone hook-up to provide both the processing power and internet connectivity -- which sounds different to what we're expecting from Google's effort. The current prototype can squeeze out eight hours of intermittent use, or two hours of non-stop projection. While the device is being pitched at everyday users, Olympus aren't offering any suggestion at launch dates or pricing, but you can check on what the company is willing to share in the (Google-translated) press release below.

Continue reading Olympus announces MEG4.0 wearable display prototype, skips the skydive

Olympus announces MEG4.0 wearable display prototype, skips the skydive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceOlympus Japan (translated)  | Email this | Comments

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Parrot Zik launching in August for $399, free app included for iOS and Android

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/05/parrot-zik-launching-in-august-for-399-free-app-included-for-i/

Parrot Zik launching globally in July with iOS app, Android to follow in August

Remember those cool-looking Parrot Zik wireless headphones we saw back at CES? Well, now we have a date and a price for you Philippe Starck fans out there. Announced at the Hong Kong launch event earlier today, these NFC-enabled, active noise cancelling Bluetooth cans will be available globally in August, with the US getting a price tag of $399 before tax (and for those who care, you'll be able to nab one in Hong Kong for HK$3,399 or US$440). During our brief ears-on, we certainly enjoyed the Zik's great audio quality, noise isolation and the intuitiveness of its swipe gesture input. While the battery is swappable, note that this expensive package only comes with one cell (accessible under the magnetic cover on the left can) that typically lasts for around five hours, so road warriors will need to chip in about $30 for a spare one. Alternatively, product manager Theodore Sean (whom we had the pleasure to interview at CES) pointed out a unique and handy feature that sort of bypasses this problem: you can still use the Zik as a pair of passive headphones using the included 3.5mm audio cable, but without any battery juice left, you obviously won't be able to enjoy the noise cancellation function (on a plane, for instance) or even make phone calls.

Continue reading Parrot Zik launching in August for $399, free app included for iOS and Android

Parrot Zik launching in August for $399, free app included for iOS and Android originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung announces 75-inch ES9000 smart TV for Korea, with similarly gigantic price tag (eyes-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/05/samsung-75-inch-%20es9000-smart-tv/

Samsung announces 75inch ES9000 smart TV for Korea, priced at $17,424 eyeson

Anyone looking to fill half of their lounge with Samsung LCD just got a new size to choose. The 75-inch ES9000 is the bigger brother of the ES8000 that we saw earlier this year and ahead of the official launch in Korea, we managed to get an early eyes-on at a Samsung event held yesterday in London. In short, if you loved the LED-backlit display of the 55-inch model, you're going to adore the ES9000, which features the same smart TV brains alongside a retractable webcam unit housed on the top edge. The picture was pleasingly rich and sharp -- presumably due to the aforementioned backlighting and the ES series' edge-to-edge design. The bezel is a mere 7.9mm and Samsung has decided to coat the frame in a gentle Rose Gold coating which, due to the TV's slightly shady location, was a little trickier to pick out. That premium finish is matched by a premium price tag, however, and will hit checkbooks for 19.8 million won (around $17,450). Despite the UK appearance, retailer John Lewis (which hosted the event) couldn't confirm whether retail models would be coming to its stores in the future. But if you can afford 75 inches of TV, you can also afford a quick flight to Seoul to pick one up.

Samsung announces 75-inch ES9000 smart TV for Korea, with similarly gigantic price tag (eyes-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNewswire Korea (translated)  | Email this | Comments

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Fujitsu starts build-it-yourself PC service, lets you go homebrew without the electrical shocks

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/05/fujitsu-starts-build-it-yourself-pc-service/

Fujitsu starts buildityourself PC service, lets you go homebrew without the electrical shocks

Big PC companies are often seen as being at odds with the concept of custom-built computers: apart from letting us ticking a few checkboxes before we order, they'd rather we not fiddle with the internals. Fujitsu is breaking the mold and embracing some of that DIY culture with its upcoming Hands-on Custom PC Assembly Service. The Japanese can take classes that teach them how to install their picks (from a limited range) of processors, hard drives and RAM. While the program doesn't start completely from scratch -- the motherboard is already installed -- it takes would-be assemblers through many of the experiences of building their own PCs from the ground up. Builders can choose how many components, if they're not quite so ambitious, and learn smart practices like wearing anti-static wristbands. While there won't be as many unintentional jolts of electricity as the real deal, the courses should help PC owners feel comfortable working inside a computer -- not to mention save Fujitsu a few technical support calls. The variable-price courses start in Japan on August 9th for multiple Esprimo desktops and a LifeBook portable. We can only hope that American PC vendors take a few hints and encourage everyone's inner technician.

Fujitsu starts build-it-yourself PC service, lets you go homebrew without the electrical shocks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 10:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Bit-tech  |  sourceFujitsu  | Email this | Comments

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Huawei Ascend D Quad release set for late August in China, October for European markets

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/05/huawei-ascend-d-quad-august-and-october-release/

Huawei Ascend D Quad release set for end of August

Been holding onto the hope that Huawei's quad-core flagship would bow relatively soon? Well, it's time to swallow an extra dose of patience because it appears the Ascend D Quad is slated for an eventual late summer / early fall launch. As confirmed to the The Inquirer, the Chinese market will get first crack at the device this August, with a Western European debut to follow sometime after in October of this year. Originally outed at this past Mobile World Congress, the well-specced handset was scheduled for a summer release before technical issues revolving around the company's custom K3 Balong CPU set back mass production. When it finally lands on retailers' shelves, the one-time dynamo device won't look nearly as spectacular, given its now dated ICS OS, the glut of existing Android überphones (i.e. Galaxy S III and One X) and those to come. Does it risk becoming yesterday's mobile news? Only time and your dollars can say for sure.

Huawei Ascend D Quad release set for late August in China, October for European markets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceThe Inquirer  | Email this | Comments

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Olympus's Google Glasses Competitor Is Really Nothing Like Google Glasses [Google Glasses]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5923601/olympuss-google-glasses-competitor-is-really-nothing-like-google-glasses

Olympus's Google Glasses Competitor Is Really Nothing Like Google Glasses If you thought Google Glasses looked bad, Olympus's augmented reality specs will make you want to drop dead. The company today announced an awkward, wearable display prototype called Meg 4.0, although it's nothing like Google's version.

Weighing in at 30g, the Olympus model has a 320 x 240 floating screen on the lenses that connects to the wearer's smartphone or tablet using Bluetooth. Google's, meanwhile, are meant to be largely self-contained, not dependent on a tether to an existing device.

The Meg 4.0 supposedly boasts eight hours of battery life, though that's kind of a technicality—Olympus actually expects people to use the glasses in 15 second spurts about every three minutes, which according to someone's math, amounts to eight hours total. It also looks kind of like a Praying Mantis Olympus wants you to wear on your face. The glasses also have an accelerometer, so they can tell which way the person sporting them is facing. But they don't have a camera, which has been one of the main features Google thus far has used to advertise its nerd shades.

The Olympus and Google glasses do have two things in common though; no real release date, and they're both ugly as sin. [Olympus via SlashGear]

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Would Apple iGlass Be Better Than Google's Glasses? [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5923321/would-apple-iglass-be-better-than-googles-glasses

Would Apple iGlass Be Better Than Google's Glasses?Apple just got awarded a new patent that may become the wearable version of the iPad one day: eyeglasses that would display apps, video, images, and overlay information on the world around you in realtime—something like Schwarzenegger's vision in Terminator.

Or, you know, be just as stupid as Google's Project Glass, only prettier.

Like Google's thingamajig, Apple's eyeglasses would—in theory—project all this information directly into the user's eyes using LCD projectors.

But unlike Sergey Brin's pet project, Apple's iGlass would not have the projector in front of your eyes. The projectors would be located on the side of the eyeglasses, looking into the glass, not the user's eyes.

Apple's patent describes a method in which the image travels through a special glass to land directly into the user's pupils. This, in theory, will provide with an illusion of total immersion.

Also unlike Google's Project Glass, the theoretical iGlass would use two heads up displays, not just one. Apple's patent says the dual projectors would provide with that total immersive experience which, in addition, would avoid motion-sickness because it would use stereoscopic projection.

The patent claims this method will also enable the specs to greatly fill the user's field of view and increase the quality of the image.

But as cool as this may sound, a product like this would suffer from the same problem as Project Glass: it will require users to change their habits and wear something on their heads. People will really need to get an actual benefit out of them, beyond the novelty of taking photos and video. Or just seeing Yelp ratings on top of restaurants and storefronts.

The fact is that we don't need to see Yelp ratings at all times, or take photos and video at all times, or see the world through a computer. That's why we have smartphones that can be easily used and put away.

But maybe Apple's method can at least make these useless face-invaders look better. Perhaps people will feel less like douchebags wearing glasses that don't have weird attachments that make you look like a character from the original Star Trek series.

For now, however, Apple just has a patent. At least Google has some hardware, even if it's just beta-quality, ultra-expensive and only does a tiny fraction of all the magical things the company initially told us it would do. [USPTO via TNW via Redmond Pie]

Would Apple iGlass Be Better Than Google's Glasses?

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Most Popular Android Keyboard: SwiftKey [Video]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5923106/most-popular-android-keyboard-swiftkey

Typing on your Android phone shouldn't feel like a hassle or a chore. If it does, it means you haven't found the right alternative keyboard for you yet. Thankfully there are dozens of great options, for all types of typists, with features like word prediction, multi-language support, special keys and characters, and voice input. Last week, we asked you which ones you thought were the best of breed. Then we took a look at the five best Android keyboards based on your nominations, and put them to an overall vote. Now we're back to crown the winner.

Most Popular Android Keyboard: SwiftKey Predictive text pioneer SwiftKey picked up a lot of early momentum in the voting, and carried it through to take the top spot with over 45% of the votes cast.

Right behind it in second place was the gesture-based powerhouse Swype, bringing in close to 32% of the overall vote. In third place was the Android Stock Keyboard with 16% of the overall vote, cast by those of you who said that the stock keyboard works just fine for you, thanks. In fourth place, the Hacker's Keyboard picked up close to 4% of the votes cast, and bringing up the rear in fifth was Smart Keyboard Pro, which brought in 3% of the overall vote.

The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it's not because we hate it—it's because it didn't get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it's a bit of a popularity contest, but if you have a favorite, we want to hear about it. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at tips+hivefive@lifehacker.com!

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Carnegie Mellon smart headlight prototype blacks out raindrops for clearer view of the road

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/04/carnegie-mellon-smart-headlight-prototype/

DNP Carnegie Mellon headlight prototype blacks out raindrops for clearer view of the road

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon have developed a prototype smart headlight which blots out individual drops of rain or snow -- improving vision by up to 90 percent. Made with an off-the-shelf Viewsonic DLP projector, a quad-core Intel Core-i7 PC and a GigE Point Grey Flea3 camera, the Rube Goldberg-esque process starts by first imaging raindrops arriving at the top of its view. After this, the signal goes to a processing unit, which uses a predictive theory developed by the team to guess the drops' path to the road. Finally, the projector -- found in the same place as the camera -- uses a beamsplitter like modern digital 3D rigs. Used in tandem with calculations, it transmits a beam with light voids matching the predicted path. The result? It all stops light from hitting the falling particles, with the cumulative process resulting in the illusion of a nearly precipitation-free road view -- at least in the lab. So far, the whole process takes about a hundredth of a second (13 ms) but scientists said that in an actual car and with many more drops, the speed would have to be about ten times quicker. That would allow 90 percent of the light located 13 feet in front of the headlights to pass through, but even at just triple the speed, it would give drivers a 70 percent better view. To see if this tech might have a snowflake's chance of making it out of the lab, go past the break for all! the vid eos.

Continue reading Carnegie Mellon smart headlight prototype blacks out raindrops for clearer view of the road

Carnegie Mellon smart headlight prototype blacks out raindrops for clearer view of the road originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PhysOrg  |  sourceCarnegie Mellon  | Email this | Comments

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Belkin WeMo Switch and Motion home automation system for iOS hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/04/belkin-wemo-hands-on/

Belkin WeMo Switch and Motion home automation system for iOS handson video

Proper home automation systems can cost upwards of $10,000, and while budget alternatives can't touch the level of integration you'll enjoy with a behemoth rig, all but the most sophisticated of homeowners can squeak by with a simple timer setup -- or the modern equivalent. Belkin's WeMo duo utilizes two types of plug-in modules paired with an iOS 5+ app, which you'll use to set macros, control lights and schedule on/off times. A Switch module can turn on and off a lamp, fan, coffee maker, television or heating appliance from a connected iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. You can also set a seemingly unlimited number of detailed schedules for each device, all from the comfort of your WiFi-equipped touchscreen handheld. You can integrate the optional Motion device with a set of macros as well, configuring your lights to turn on once you step through the foyer, or your coffee maker to launch a brew as you walk through your bedroom door.

We wired up a lamp in a New York City apartment to give WeMo a go, and things generally worked as advertised. Setup is fairly straightforward -- simply plug in a module, select its corresponding SSID broadcast from iOS then launch the free app to force the device onto your home WiFi network. You'll need to repeat the process to add each gadget or sensor, but once you do, you'll be able to config and control any connected gadget from anywhere on the network, or beyond. The system theoretically supports remote access without any additional setup (modules are registered to the app) but we weren't able to power up the ! lamp whi le on 3G during multiple attempts. That detail aside, we'd be happy to welcome WeMo into our home, though the absent Android app throws in a speed bump for sure. You have two options for adding WeMo -- there's a Switch + Motion kit available for $100, which includes a power control and motion sensor, or you can opt for the Switch solo for $50. Then, simply add as many outlet controllers as you wish, at 50 bucks a pop. You can see that first combo in action in our hands-on video after the break.

Continue reading Belkin WeMo Switch and Motion home automation system for iOS hands-on (video)

Belkin WeMo Switch and Motion home automation system for iOS hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:26:! 00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBelkin  | Email this | Comments

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Samsung Galaxy S III LTE with quad-core Exynos comes to three Korean carriers July 9th

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/05/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-lte-korea-launch-date-july-9th/

Samsung Galaxy S III LTE with quadcore Exynos comes to three Korean carriers July 9thWhile in the US our LTE-equipped Galaxy S IIIs are packing dual-core Snapdragon S4 processors, the (so far) Korean-only Galaxy S III LTE that combines the quad-core Exynos processor of the international model with high speed data finally has a release date -- July 9th. Samsung's post indicates three carriers (SK Telecom, KT and LG U+) are lined up for the launch and confirms that the battery will remain at 2,100 mAH along with 2GB of RAM and DMB TV tuning. Having everything will likely come at a price of battery life since the quad-core CPUs are not as well integrated with LTE so far, but those willing to compromise for more cores (despite the dual-core Krait's not-at-all shabby performance) will likely look on with envy.

Samsung Galaxy S III LTE with quad-core Exynos comes to three Korean carriers July 9th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 01:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSamsung Tomorrow  | Email this | Comments

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University of Calgary's Fat Thumb trick allows one-handed phone use, jugglers are thankful (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/05/university-of-calgary-researchers-devise-fat-thumb-one-handed-phone-use/

University of Calgary researchers devise Fat Thumb trick for onehanded phone use, jugglers are thankful video

Everyone's let it happen at some point -- that moment where we're desperately trying to use our smartphones in one hand while juggling groceries or coffee in the other. There'll be no way to recover those social graces, but six researchers at the University of Calgary have developed a software technique, Fat Thumb, that should at least keep the contortions and dropped phones to a minimum. As the name implies, it's all based around pressure: a light touch performs the usual commands, while squishing the thumb's wider surface area against the screen allows the equivalent of a multi-touch gesture, such as a pinch to zoom. The advantages for comfort and grip virtually speak for themselves; what's surprising is that Fat Thumb may well be faster than other one-handed gestures. Work on the project is so far confined to a research paper stemming from experiments with an iPhone, although it's easy to see this spreading to other platforms and real products before too long. Catch a glimpse of the cleverness in action after the break.

Continue reading University of Calgary's Fat Thumb trick allows one-handed phone use, jugglers are thankful (video)

University of Calgary's Fat Thumb trick allows one-handed phone use, jugglers are t! hankful (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 04:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceUniversity of Calgary  | Email this | Comments

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