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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Sonos Controller for Android with voice search will blow you away (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/sonos-controller-for-android-with-voice-music-will-blow-you-away/

You can exhale Sonos fans, it's finally happening. The Sonos Controller for Android is official. After almost a year in development, the free WiFi music remote finally gives Sonos owners control over their whole-home audio system from any Android 2.1 and above device with a screen size of HVGA 320 x 480, WVGA 480 x 800 or WVGA 480 x 854. At least it will when it hits the Market at the end of March. Better yet, it trumps the Sonos iOS controller with music controls mapped directly to the buttons on your Android hardware. As such, you can control the volume of your Sonos system with the physical volume rocker on your Desire Z or use the search button on your Droid X to forage for that certain artist, track, or album. Oh, and the Sonos Controller for Android also supports voice search -- take that iOS app. Sorry, Sonos isn't announcing anything related to an Android tablet-equivalent of the Sonos controller for iPad today as the company is waiting to see how that market develops and which screen sizes and resolutions gain the most traction. Nevertheless, we'll be getting our first hands-on opportunity of the handset controller at Mobile World Congress next week. So, until then, why not wipe the tears from your $349 Sonos CR200 controller and watch the video preview after the break.

Continue reading Sonos Controller for Android with voice search will blow you away (video)

Sonos Controller for Android with voice search will blow you away (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Th u, 10 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RunCore USB 3.0 Express SSD offers 64GB of storage and two ports in one killer device

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/runcore-usb-3-0-express-ssd-offers-64gb-of-storage-and-two-ports/

RunCore USB 3.0 Express SSD stores 64GB of birds with one, USB 3.0-having stone

Let's say you have a laptop. It has an ExpressCard slot but, because it's a little old, it doesn't have USB 3.0. Also, it just doesn't have enough storage to suit your needs any more. Oh, and the keys are kind of worn and shiny, especially H for some reason. RunCore can't help with that last problem, but it certainly has a tidy solution for the other two, a solution with a highly appropriate name: the USB 3.0 Express SSD. It offers 64GB worth of SSD storage plus a pair of cerulean USB 3.0 ports poking out the side just waiting for something -- like maybe another SSD. No word on price or availability, but we're hoping for soon, because this ExpressCard slot here isn't going to fill itself.

RunCore USB 3.0 Express SSD offers 64GB of storage and two ports in one killer device originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pelican Imaging's prototype array camera could make your pictures better, phones thinner (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/pelican-imagings-prototype-array-camera-could-make-your-picture/

Pelican's prototype array camera could make your pictures better, phones thinner (video)

If you want to look for life on another planet you don't build one radio telescope that's miles wide, you build a bunch of smaller ones and create an array out of them. As it turns out that basic idea works for capturing visible wavelengths as well. It's called a plenoptic camera, using an array of very small lenses that, when combined, can create an image as good as a larger one. Pelican Imaging is largely interested in the slim factor this kind of system could offer, potentially allowing for thinner phones, but this could also open the door to some interesting effects. Check out the video after the break for an example of the dynamic aperture control this sort of setup can allow, where you can change the focal plane of an image after it was taken. Given the small size of the array here you probably couldn't do anything too crazy, like take a picture through a tree, but the days of poorly focused cameraphone shots might finally be at an end -- whenever this actually comes to market.

Continue reading Pelican Imaging's prototype array camera could make your pictures better, phones thinner (video)

Pelican Imaging's prototype array camera could make your pictures better, phones thinner (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Qualcomm gets official with TouchPad-powering Snapdragon APQ8060 processor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/qualcomm-gets-official-with-touchpad-powering-snapdragon-apq8060/

HP already put out the first official word about Qualcomm's new Snapdragon APQ8060 processor yesterday when it revealed that its TouchPad was based on it, but Qualcomm's now also come out and properly announced the new processor itself. That's, of course, a dual-core processor, and comes paired with an Adreno 220 GPU that Qualcomm says helps to deliver "unprecedented processing and 3D graphics performance." What's more, while the TouchPad is the first device to use the processor, it obviously won't be the last, and Qualcomm has now also given us an idea of what sort of capabilities those devices (including smartphones in addition to tablets) might have -- namely, cameras up to 16 megapixels, and the ability to capture and display 1080p stereoscopic 3D video or 8 megapixel stereoscopic still images. Head on past the break for the complete press release.

Continue reading Qualcomm gets official with TouchPad-powering Snapdragon APQ8060 processor

Qualcomm gets official with TouchPad-powering Snapdragon APQ8060 processor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama announces plan to free up 500MHz of spectrum, invest in 4G for rural areas, and build out nationwide public safety network

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/10/obama-announces-plan-to-free-up-500mhz-of-spectrum-invest-in-4g/

We knew the White House was on board with the FCC's desire to free up an additional 500MHz worth of spectrum over the next decade from private and federal holders, as announced last year, and now Obama has announced the plan to do it. The plan is to incentivize the current spectrum squatters with a share of the revenue gained from auctioning off the spectrum -- mostly for mobile broadband use -- which only seems fair, and for now it seems those auctions will be voluntary. But that's just the tip of the iceberg: the plan also includes a $5 billion investment in constructing 4G networks in rural areas (with a goal to reach at least 98 percent of Americans with the service), a $3 billion fund for 4G R&D to help the rollout, and $10.7 billion for a wireless public safety network. The beauty of this plan is that all these proposed costs are offset by the spectrum auction, which is estimated to raise $27.8 billion, of which $9.6 billion will be dedicated to deficit reduction. Oh, and the best news? The government has already found 115MHz worth of Federal spectrum that it can free up by using its other spectrum more efficiently, and has another 95MHz worth in its sights. Hit up the source link to see President Obama's speech on the subject, which has just begun, or check it out embedded after the break.

Continue reading Obama announces plan to free up 500MHz of spectrum, in! vest in 4G for rural areas, and build out nationwide public safety network

Obama announces plan to free up 500MHz of spectrum, invest in 4G for rural areas, and build out nationwide public safety network originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclude Spammy Sites from Google with This Custom Search Engine [Search Tip]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/#!5756869/exclude-spammy-sites-from-google-with-this-custom-search-engine

We've shown you how to create site-specific search engines in Chrome and Firefox, and reader isaaclyman reminds us you can also use that to exclude spammy sites from your search results.

Many of you have noticed that Google's search results have become less useful lately, and while Google's working on that, there are a few other things you can do yourself. We've mentioned search page, Firefox Add-on, and bookmarklet Give Me Back My Google before, but reader isaaclyman presents another solution: just make a custom search engine using this URL:

  {google:baseURL}search?{google:RLZ}{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q=%s%20-spamsite1.com%20-spamsite2.com%20-spamsite3.com%20-spamsite4.com

Where spamsite1, spamsite2, and so on are spammy sites that seem to keep cluttering up your Google search results. He recommends using the super-simple keyword !, since you may end up using this search engine a lot. Got any of your own tips for filtering out the spam? Share them with us in the comments.

[via #tips]

There Are Tablets Better Than the iPad. They're Just Not Out Yet [Tablets]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5756255/there-are-tablets-better-than-the-ipad-theyre-just-not-out-yet

The HP TouchPad and Motorola Xoom are legitimate threats to the iPad. And if they were available now, I'd buy them over an iPad. Here's why:

Hardware

It's been over a year since the iPad was first announced and in that year, its age is starting to show. The shine is off, the wrinkles are deepening and when you compare it spec for spec to the TouchPad and Xoom, it's no contest. Think about it, the TouchPad will have a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of ram. The Xoom? A dual core 1 GHz processor and 1GB of RAM. The iPad has a single core 1GHz processor with a wimpy 256MB RAM. Those are specs fit for the convalescent home. The TouchPad has a front facing camera. The Xoom has a front facing and back facing camera. The iPad? None. You get the idea.

Software

The Pre may have failed but webOS was great. Not only is it a beautiful OS to look at, it's a great one to use. Its true multitasking is the main attraction and obviously works (well, with a limited number of cards open), but don't forget that because webOS apps are built using web standards, it scales wonderfully to different screen sizes too. That means webOS will be just as lovely on the bigger screen of the TouchPad. WebOS will never be mistaken as Speedy Gonzalez but I imagine it'll be able to utilize the extra tablet screen space a little better than iOS' rather elementary app launching homescreen.

Limitations of iOS are well known at this point: a terrible notification system, multitasking that doesn't feel like it's capable of doing more than one thing at once, the lack of Flash, etc., but it's still a pleasure to use in tablet form because hardware limitations or not, it's fast. There's little slowdown to ruin the experience. Responsiveness is perfect. And don't forget the billion or so apps designed specifically for the iPad.

The Xoom is the wild card here. On one hand, it feels just like what an Android tablet should feel like. Fast, responsive, customizable, widget-ed, and has the only OS designed strictly for tablets. But on the other hand, the weird Wi-Fi rumor is troubling and brings questions on if the carriers will find someway to ruin it.

Remember, the experience of using a tablet isn't as demanding as using a phone. As much as tablets are all the rage, people still view them as luxury items to be enjoyed, not something you use to get shit done. Biases that come from personal phone usage shouldn't really apply here. You're not going to use them the same.

Design

They're all 10-inch slates, so they all have a similar core design: a big screen and a thinnish body. The iPad gets bonus points for using better materials. The TouchPad gets docked off a bit for using all plastic. The Xoom is right in the middle.

But really, a tablet's design is probably the least important aspect (certainly less important than a phone's design, for example). A successful tablet is one whose form factor disappears when you're using it, a device with an invisible, yet immersive experience. We know the iPad does that, I expect the other two should too.

Price

Price of the TouchPad is unknown. The Xoom is rumored to ridiculously cost $800 which would guarantee failure. Comparatively, an iPad at $500 is a steal.

One Problem

The TouchPad and Xoom aren't available yet and don't have confirmed prices. If either are significantly more expensive than a $500 iPad, it becomes a lot harder to justify when the iPad is already such a great tablet. If they can manage a similar price, they both offer better hardware and more versatile software.

However. The iPad 2 is coming soon. If the iPad 2 improves on its specs, which is a given, that will change everything. Exciting times in tablet land! But, really, completely unknown. It'd be best to wait until the TouchPad and Xoom get priced and the iPad 2 is announced to make your final decision.

Is This the Future of Cameraphones? [Cameraphones]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5756549/is-this-the-future-of-the-cameraphone

Imagine a phone with a camera that's better and a body that's than any other phone currently available. And imagine that instead of a single camera, the module carried an array of 25 micro-cameras. Pelican Imaging promises just that with their camera module, and they think they have what it takes to revolutionize cameraphones.

GigaOM says the secret behind Pelican's technology isn't unlike the HDR feature found on the iPhone. the hardware captures multiple images (or sets of data), and then uses post-processing software to assemble it all into one high-quality photograph. Pelican is less obsessed with cramming more megapixels into the phone, and more interested in finding the best way to pair a sensor with a lens (or lenses, in this case).

Pelican plans to license their technology component manufacturerers and handset makers, similar to what ARM does with their processors. Can't wait to see this pop up in an actual phone. [Pelican via GigaOM]

University's "Mega Touchscreen" Can Sense Over 100 Simultaneous Touches [Video]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5756783/universitys-mega-touchscreen-can-sense-over-100-simultaneous-touches

This is a 33-foot-long curved touchscreen, hacked together by the University of Groningen. Three computers handle the touch detection, one processes it all. It uses six cameras and 16 infrared emitters, plus two or three men to poke around awkwardly in front of it for your amusement. [YouTube via PC World]

iPad vs. TouchPad... Fight!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/ipad-vs-touchpad-fight/

Spec sheets are one thing, but we know what you really want to see -- two tablets going mano-a-mano in the ring. Here they are, your Apple iPad and HP TouchPad slates, sized up side-by-side each with their own sizable black bezel and 9.7-inch screen -- and incredibly similar in both size and weight. See how they literally stack up in the gallery below!

Gallery: iPad vs. TouchPad... Fight!

iPad vs. TouchPad... Fight! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP TouchPad first hands-on! (updated with video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/hp-touchpad-first-hands-on/

By now, you know how HP's new slate compares to the crowd -- now, see how it looks up close and personal. We just got our hands on that dual-core Palm webOS tablet here in San Francisco, and it's a beaut, with a slim black profile that highlights the brilliant 9.7-inch screen. We'll be back in a jiffy with some impressions of that newfangled Tap to Share and card-based multitasking, but for now, simply feast your eyes on our gallery below.

Update: Video time! Check it after the break.

Gallery: HP TouchPad first hands-on!

Continue reading HP TouchPad first hands-on! (updated with video!)

HP TouchPad first hands-on! (updated with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 2.3.3 announced with more developer-friendly access to NFC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/android-2-3-3-announced-with-more-developer-friendly-access-to-n/

The Android versions keep on rolling today with the introduction of a new build in the 2.3 Gingerbread line -- 2.3.3 this time -- that improves developer access to the platforms newfound NFC capabilities as first seen on the Nexus S. What's new, exactly? Well, there's a new NFC read / write API that Google alleges will let you access pretty much any NFC tag on the market today, better control over what happens when a tag comes within range of the device, and "limited support" for peer-to-peer NFC communication -- something Stanford cobbled together for the Nexus S not long ago. The new build is available now to developers using the Android SDK; no devices have received an update yet, but we'd imagine the Nexus S is queued up to get it before too long.

Android 2.3.3 announced with more developer-friendly access to NFC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon successfully completes first VoLTE call on commercial network in the world, plans 2012 availability

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/verizon-successfully-completes-first-volte-call-in-the-world-pl/

Verizon has just announced that it has completed the first voice over LTE (VoLTE) call on a commercial network anywhere in the world today, a 33-second dialogue between employees on LG Revolutions in the company's headquarters in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, following it up with a number of other calls where staffers were able to talk and use data services simultaneously -- thanks in no small part to the fact that LTE treats voice just as it treats any other type of data. We'd initially gotten the impression yesterday that Verizon would be starting to roll out voice over LTE (VoLTE) with the Revolution in mid-2011, but the company's press release today is saying that they'll be working to "enhance" the VoLTE experience in 2011 with commercially availability now expected next year. High-fidelity calls are expected to be part of that experience, so it'll be harder than ever to hold a call when you've got a bad cold. Remember the throat lozenges, alright? Follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Verizon successfully completes first VoLTE call on commercial network in the world, plans 2012 availability

Verizon successfully completes first VoLTE call on commercial network in the world, plans 2012 availability originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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INQ launches Facebook-focused Cloud Touch and Cloud Q phones

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/inq-launches-facebook-focused-cloud-touch-and-cloud-q-phones/

We've been hearing a fair bit of buzz about INQ and Facebook getting all cozy-like and creating a Facebook phone. Well, that's only half right: INQ has made its first Android 2.2 device, really focused on Facebook integration, and seem to have really nailed it. The two devices are the INQ Cloud Touch (pictured above) and a QWERTY device with exactly the same specs -- but, with a QWERTY keypad, of course -- named the Cloud Q. Features include triband HSPA for the European folks, 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display, 5 megapixel autofocus camera, all manner of mail support including Exchange, what appears to be legendary Facebook support, and Spotify onboard as the de facto music app with a dedicated key.

INQ's two Cloud devices are apparently the first mobiles to use the Facebook Social Graph API, which will see all your most important Facebook content appear on your set's homescreen. Another bonus in here is the keyboard tech -- based on SwiftKey -- which will not only predict what word you're typing, but what words you may type based on some AI wizardry, science, and your writing tendencies. The Cloud Touch is set to launch in April at Carphone Warehouse and BestBuy in the UK with the Cloud Q landing sometime in Q3. We're just about wheels-up for Barcelona to check out the haps at MWC next week, and you can be sure we'll be all over these sets as soon as we land.

Gallery: INQ launches Facebook-focused Cloud Touch and Cloud Q phones

INQ launches Facebook-focused Cloud Touch and Cloud Q phones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple TV gaming hinted strongly in iOS 4.3 beta code

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/apple-tv-gaming-hinted-strongly-in-ios-4-3-beta-code/

Let's not jump to any conclusions, but a trusted tipster has uncovered evidence that's suggests some folks in Cupertino have learned a thing or two from Xbox Live. New code in the iOS 4.3 beta 3 firmware hints that Apple TV may soon support online gaming. Several references have been found pertaining to "ATVGames" and "ATVThunder" that point to a controller of some sort, leaderboards (think Game Center), a way to schedule games (multiplayer?), and a store front (think App Store, iTunes). We're particularly intrigued by two strings -- "com.apple.appletv.play.live.thunder" and ".play.archive.thunder" -- but what those actually mean in the grand scheme of things is ultimately ambiguous. Apple TV's minimum storage capacity (about 8GB) suggests the company might look to streaming not entirely unlike how OnLive works; as our tipster speculates, the OpenGL is mature and thoroughly implemented enough that streaming low bandwidth data and computing locally could happen, but that's just theoretical with nothing in the code to back it up.

Additionally, there are two more codenames and a handful of other strings that popped up relating to Apple TV: Sedona and Flagstaff. Based on references to director, episode, season, and the like, we reckon Sedona is all about video merchandising and streaming, something tightly integrated into the traditional iTunes experience. As for Flagstaff, aside from a nod to Account Types and Merchants (i.e. iTunes merchandising), there's really nothing else to say. Think of it as a mystery wrapped in an enigma hung on a, erm, flag staff. Our tipster found numerous other little goodies, but the only other one really worth bringing up is feature_remote_screensavers, which suggests that you can use screensavers from other devices -- like, say, your Mac.

Finally, elsewhere in the world, Alex Hisrbrunner used a Harmony remote to find hidden Apple TV commands that resemble iOS functions not normally possible with the standard ATV remote -- namely, wiggling icons that can me resorted using the directional pad. Video of that is after the break.

Continue reading Apple TV gaming hinted strongly in iOS 4.3 beta code

Apple TV gaming hinted strongly in iOS 4.3 beta code originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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