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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

drag2share: LaCie ships Little Big Disk Thunderbolt, promises 240GB SSD variant in mid-October

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/lacie-ships-little-big-disk-thunderbolt-promises-ssd-variant-in/

It's taken its sweet time, but folks who weren't exactly keen on the Promise Pegasus finally have a compact option for putting their Thunderbolt port to good use. LaCie has just announced that it's Little Big Disk Thunderbolt external drive -- a first for the outfit -- is available to purchase. For those keeping count, it's only the second overall T-bolt drive to hit the scene, with this 1.4-pounder boasting a pair of 2.5-inch drives, support for JBOD / RAID 1 / RAID 0 and a typically metallic chassis that measures 1.6- x 5.5- x 3.3-inches. We're promised speeds as high as 480MB/sec (for SSD arrangements) and 190MB/sec (for HDD models), and users can daisy chain several of 'em to hit transfer rates of around 800MB/sec. These guys should be available starting today (though Apple's online shop currently has a "one to two week" wait), with the 1TB 7200RPM edition retailing for $399, and the 2TB 5400RPM model listing for $499. We're still awaiting word on the specifics surrounding the October-bound 240GB SSD variant, but those who'd rather press their luck for a free one can enter the ongoing contest in the More Coverage link below.

Gallery: LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt press photos

Continue reading LaCie ships Little Big Disk Thunderbolt, promises 240GB SSD variant in mid-October

LaCie ships Little Big Disk Thunderbolt, promises 240GB SSD variant in mid-October originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Huawei gives October shipping date for MediaPad in Malaysia, US and China by year's end

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/huawei-gives-october-shipping-date-for-mediapad-in-malaysia-us/

Huawei MediaPad

Been wondering when you were gonna get a chance to smear fingerprints all over 7-inches of Android 3.2, courtesy of Huawei's MediaPad? Well, if you happen to live in Malaysia, it should be by the middle of October. The rest of you shouldn't fret though -- the company plans to have it on shelves in the US, China, Hong Kong and Thailand before the end of the year. Meanwhile, folks in Singapore can already place pre-orders for $598 SGD, roughly $473 USD. It's a bit later than the Q3 ship date we were originally told but, as they say, better late than never. Though, we're more apt to cry "gimme, gimme, gimme."

Huawei gives October shipping date for MediaPad in Malaysia, US and China by year's end originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Samsung Epic 4G Touch gets torn down, confirms its epic crendentials

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/samsung-epic-4g-touch-gets-torn-down-confirms-its-epic-crendent/

The Samsung Epic 4G Touch is a triumph of engineering, jamming oh-so-very-much into an oh-so-little frame. What better way to celebrate its wonderous design, than to tear it all down to its constituent parts, and then reassemble it? Thank the guys at iFixit, because they've already done it -- again. Interesting points include just a single EMI shield -- unlike some competitors -- which is great news for those looking to emulate a tear-down of their own Sprint-specific GSII. It could still prove to be a challenge, with both the glass panel and LCD apparently fused to the middle of the phone, meaning a replacement for that sumptuous 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen could prove costly. Click below for a pictorial blow-by-blow of the teardown, let's keep the drooling to a minimum, shall we?

Samsung Epic 4G Touch gets torn down, confirms its epic crendentials originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Introducing Engadget Distro!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/introducing-engadget-distro/

Say hello to Engadget Distro. At its most molecular level, it's nothing more than a series of ones and zeros, cobbled together in a compiler and made to look like words and images on Apple's iPad. But in reality, it's something far greater -- something that the entire Engadget staff couldn't be more proud to have their names on. Distro is the week in technology news, distilled down and reformatted into a beautiful, offline view that can be enjoyed anywhere. You know, like one of those regional jets still awaiting their rightful Gogo injection. We've got a team of designers and editors toiling around the clock to assemble our best long-form feature content and reviews, re-wrapping it in a fashion that takes full advantage of a little thing called "multitouch."

As of now, we've got plans to launch Distro on the iPad soon (as in, super soon!), but you can bet we're already hammering away on versions for the other major tablet platforms. Rest assured, we're as eager to finish them as anyone, and yes, they'll all be absolutely free of charge. For those who find themselves a touch overwhelmed with the sheer torrent of news that occurs in this space each and every day, Distro offers a relaxing, peaceful alternative. Sort of like morphine, but available sans a prescription. We'll be showing off a sneak peek during tonight's live Engadget Show (tune in here!), and we'll be sure to keep you abreast of our launch date as it draws closer. For now, have a look at what Distro will bring in the video after the break. We hope you enjoy.

Gallery: Engadget Distro

Continue reading Introducing Engadget Distro!

Introducing Engadget Distro! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Comcast and FCC partner to give low-income families access to internet, Nyan Cats

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/comcast-and-fcc-partner-to-give-low-income-families-access-to-in/

Like a giant warlock guarding the gates of the interwebs, financial barriers all too often block our young people from accessing the plethora of awesomeness found in front of those iconic triple-Ws-and-a-dot. In a bid to spread the love more evenly, the FCC and Comcast's promised Internet Essentials platform is going live -- giving low-income families $9.99 / month web access and "discounted" (read: $149.99) computers. The platform that we first heard about in August will also include a Norton Security Suite and computer training for youngsters and their parents alike. The cable provider is accepting participants until 2014, honoring the contract dependent on the child's status and family income. Like other heavy hitters involved in similar initiatives, the goal is to bridge the education gap and to provide a more level playing field for kids. To get more details on the program, direct your attention to the source link.

Continue reading Comcast and FCC partner to give low-income families access to internet, Nyan Cats

Comcast and FCC partner to give low-income families access to internet, Nyan Cats originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Yale demos NFC-enabled residential locks, germaphobes rejoice (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/yale-demos-nfc-enabled-residential-locks-germaphobes-rejoice-v/

Assa Abloy has already brought NFC-based door locks to some Swedish hotel rooms, but one of its subsidiary companies is now looking to bring them to your doorstep, as well. Earlier this month, Yale Locks & Hardware unveiled what it hopes will be the first NFC-enabled residential lock to hit the US market. With this system, all you'll need to do is wave your smartphone in front of one of Yale's Real Living line of motorized locks, which will then automatically open (as long as you've been authorized to do so). Demoed at this year's CEDIA Expo, these revamped locks are also compatible with either Zigbee or Z-Wave home automation technologies and support Assa Abloy's Mobile Keys software, which allows users to securely load all of their digital keys on their handsets. Pricing and availability remain unclear, but you can unlock more details in the brief demo video and full press release, after the break.

Continue reading Yale demos NFC-enabled residential locks, germaphobes rejoice (video)

Yale demos NFC-enabled residential locks, germaphobes rejoice (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Desk Pets' TankBot rolls out with Android and iOS support, is the tiny racer in your hand

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/desk-pets-tankbot-rolls-out-with-android-and-ios-support-is-th/

Lonely and living in the city, but don't have the patience or maturity for Man's Best Friend? Well, you could always take a TankBot under your wing. Desk Pets' palm-sized four-wheeler first whirred into our hands earlier this year at the International Toy Fair, promising a variety of play modes and iOS control. Now, the team behind the roving gizmo has finally released it to retailers' shelves, tacking on a $25 price tag and adding Android compatibility. The mini-bot operates in a trio of configurations: an autonomous mode that makes use of its infrared sensors to navigate obstacles, a free-roaming option that'll have it wandering aimlessly and, most importantly, a free mobile app that puts dual joystick control on your Apple device's screen or universal remote (connected via headphone jack) for steering on an Android phone. Don't expect to squeeze hours of fun out of this little tchotchke, though, as its retractable USB port only gets you about 15 minutes of gee whizzery. Skip past the break to watch a video demo of the lil' guy en vivo.

Continue reading Desk Pets' TankBot rolls out with Android and iOS support, is the tiny racer in your hand

Desk Pets' TankBot rolls out with Android and iOS support, is the tiny racer in your hand originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: ASUS' U46SV-DH51 goes up for pre-order, ships to bezel haters on October 1st (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/asus-u46sv-dh51-goes-up-for-pre-order-ships-to-bezel-haters-on/

Do you despise thick bezels, yet harbor an unnatural aversion to portables from LG and Samsung? We're not here to psychoanalyze, but ASUS' U46SV-DH51 might be more to your liking. The "Brushed Champagne" notebook is notable for its diminutive bezel, which, like Sammy's smaller Series 7, allows for a 14-inch display to exist in a 13-inch chassis. It's got some punch too, packing a Core i5-2410M, 4GB of RAM, NVIDIA's GeForce GT 540M and a DVD burner (remember those?). Not bad for a 4.85-pound laptop that'll supposedly go 10 hours between charges and set you back $879. You'll find a pre-order page at the source below, but before you go, why not hop past the break and indulge in a video?

[Thanks, Danijel]

Continue reading ASUS' U46SV-DH51 goes up for pre-order, ships to bezel haters on October 1st (video)

ASUS' U46SV-DH51 goes up for pre-order, ships to bezel haters on October 1st (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: GeeXboX LiveUSB HTPC Linux distro hits v2.0, adds ARM support for multi-core video decoding

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/geexbox-liveusb-htpc-linux-distro-hits-v2-0-adds-arm-support-fo/

Last time we heard about GeeXboX, Palm was ushering out its first webOS phone, Google was putting the traditional navigation model in the grave and unlimited Skype calling over LTE was but a figment of our imagination -- two years later, and the aforesaid distro is finally reaching version two dot oh. Like version 1.2.2, the HTPC-centric Linux distribution allows users to decode media on dual- and quad-core systems, with added support for devices running ARM SoCs (like the TI OMAP4 Pandaboard and Tegra 2). The new 72MB version ditches the unique ISO generator tool, legacy HDD installation, support for V4L Analog and DVB Digital TV cards (although the manufacturer promises the last digital feature "will come back shortly"). Check out the source for full upgrade deets, and save us a seat on the couch, will ya?

GeeXboX LiveUSB HTPC Linux distro hits v2.0, adds ARM support for multi-core video decoding originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Kazaa rolls out music streaming app for iOS devices

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/kazaa-rolls-out-music-streaming-app-for-ios-devices/

Kazaa may not have exactly caught fire since it ditched its shady past and went the legit route back in 2009, but the company is still around, and it's now finally released its first mobile app. That comes on the form of an iOS app initially (compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch), which itself is completely free and includes a seven-day trial of the Kazaa music service (including unlimited streaming and downloads of "millions and millions of songs"). Once that's up, however, you'll have to fork over $9.99 a month to keep the service (US-only, for now), which places it in direction competition with the likes of Spotify and Rdio. Hit the link below to try it out for yourself.

Continue reading Kazaa rolls out music streaming app for iOS devices

Kazaa rolls out music streaming app for iOS devices originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Nikon unveils V1 and J1 mirrorless cameras: 10.1MP CMOS, 1080p video, ships in October for $650+ (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/nikon-unveils-v1-and-j1-mirrorless-cameras-10-1mp-cmos-2-7-inc/

Rumors of a Nikon mirrorless camera have been floating around the web since the middle of last year, and recent leaks have made us wonder not if the company would release a compact ILC -- only when such an announcement would be made. Well, we finally have our answer. We journeyed to a secret location in midtown Manhattan tonight, with nary a peep from Nikon about what to expect until just before the clock struck midnight -- and only after more than two hours of laptop-free house arrest and live Counting Crows. Only the rumored mirrorless cam seemed worthy of such unusual precautions, so we were relieved to discover that Nikon had managed to justify this late night adventure. The company has finally announced not one, but a pair of compact "1 System" mirrorless cameras, and the company seems totally fine with putting the focus speed up against the self-proclaimed champ. Head on past the break for more details!

Gallery: Nikon 1 System hands-on

Continue reading Nikon unveils V1 and J1 mirrorless cameras: 10.1MP CMOS, 1080p video, ships in October for $650+ (video)

Nikon unveils V1 and J1 mirrorless cameras: 10.1MP CMOS, 1080p video, ships in October for $650+ (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Switchable graphics solutions duel it out, AMD ends up looking like a chump

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/switchable-graphics-solutions-duel-it-out-amd-ends-up-looking-l/

AMD Dynamic Switchable Graphics

At this point, NVIDIA's Optimus switchable graphics are old hat, but AMD is relatively new to the game of packing dual GPUs in a single laptop. AnandTech decided to pit the two solutions against each other and, well, lets just say AMD doesn't come out looking so great. The biggest problem appears to be stability. While performance is acceptable (though, not quite as good as it should be) the site had trouble getting four of the supposedly 16 supported games to switch between the integrated and discrete GPUs as advertised. Regular driver updates, not to mention a bit more testing, could solve the issues, but for now NVIDIA's Optimus simply outclasses its AMD counterpart. Check out the video after the break and don't forget to hit up the source link for all the details.

Continue reading Switchable graphics solutions duel it out, AMD ends up looking like a chump

Switchable graphics solutions duel it out, AMD ends up looking like a chump originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: dockBoss+ adapter brings iOS speaker dock compatibility to Android, BlackBerry and WP7 handsets*

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/dockboss-adapter-brings-ios-speaker-dock-compatibility-to-andro/

A while back, you probably splurged for that insert-iPod-sound-system-here thinking you'd get some pretty good mileage out of it. If you also jumped ship at some point along the way (read: switched to Android), CableJive can help keep your bookshelf system cranking for a little while longer. The dockBoss+ adapter features micro-USB and audio plugs opposite a 30-pin connector, the latter of which fits nicely in one of the eight quadrillion iOS-compatible sound systems currently on the market. Now, you can port that valuable charging action to your existing handset -- plus, the accessory also features a built-in charge converter for FireWire-enabled cables and docking stations, if needed. Not only that, but the dockBoss+ will also work in tandem with your iOS-centric car or home stereo -- unless you're still clinging to the factory head unit in your VW Beetle... bummer. Those looking to pick one up can do so starting September 28th for $30; a handful of Lincolns is much easier on the ol' wallet than a brand new one of these, that's for sure.

*Assuming, of course, that you're cool with a few cables hanging out, and that your handset actually uses micro-USB.

[Thanks, Gregor]

dockBoss+ adapter brings iOS speaker dock compatibility to Android, BlackBerry and WP7 handsets* originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Google Voice enters internal testing across Europe, international launch on the horizon?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/google-voice-enters-internal-testing-across-europe-internationa/

Lather up your vocal cords, Europe, because it looks like Google Voice is on its way over. That's according to the company's European Director of Business Development, Jens Redmer, who told The Next Web yesterday that Google is taking "concrete action" to expand the service to the Old World. Redmer later confirmed that he's currently conducting internal tests with Voice, adding that its voicemail transcription feature has performed particularly well within Europe. He stopped short, however, of offering a precise launch date, saying only that the service's release would hinge upon legal and regulatory issues, rather than any technical obstacles. Now that the train has rolled into the testing phase, though, it may only be a matter of time before it arrives at the station.

Google Voice enters internal testing across Europe, international launch on the horizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Microsoft and Casio enter cross licensing agreement, world wonders if Casio actually makes Linux-based devices

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/microsoft-and-casio-enter-cross-licensing-agreement-world-wonde/

If you happen to be making devices that run on Linux -- of which Android is a subset -- odds are pretty good that you'll be getting a phone call from Redmond at some point. And that's just what happened to Casio, who's joining existing licensees TomTom and Amazon in signing a cross license agreement with Microsoft for patents pertaining to the Tux-approved OS. Covering Linux on "certain Casio devices," the joint statement was equally vague about how many greenbacks exchanged hands, simply stating: "[both] parties acknowledge that Microsoft is being compensated by Casio." There ain't much more to it, but folks looking to humor themselves can do so after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft and Casio enter cross licensing agreement, world wonders if Casio actually makes Linux-based devices

Microsoft and Casio enter cross licensing agreement, world wonders if Casio actually makes Linux-based devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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