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Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Infiniti's EMERG-E Concept Is A Silent Supercar

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/infinitis-emerg-e-concept-is-a-silent-supercar-2012-3

Inifiniti just revealed its idea for the future of the sports car.

Dubbed the EMERG-E (yes, they used all caps), the twin engined electric car has the equivalent of 400 horsepower and will accelerate to 60 in just four seconds.

The battery will give the car a 30-mile range when it is fully charged.

But what if you want to go farther?

Luckily, like the Chevy Volt, the EMERG-E has a small three cylinder engine that will act as a generator to charge the batteries. The car will always be powered by the electric motor; the engine has no connection to the wheels.

The two seat car is sleek and has a design that is reminiscent of mid-engined supercars. We think it's quite handsome.

Right now, the Emerg-E (we're done with the caps) is just a concept. However, it is possible that a similar car could go into production sometime later this decade.

Check out a video below (via YouTube):

Now check out Lotus' latest roadster >

Please follow Getting There on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

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Acer: $799 Ultrabooks are Unprofitable, But We're Making One for $499 Anyway [Computers]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5891173/acer-799-ultrabooks-are-unprofitable-but-were-making-one-for-499-anyway

Acer: $799 Ultrabooks are Unprofitable, But We're Making One for $499 Anyway Loss leaders—products sold without a profit to generate interest—sometimes work. Acer tried it with its recent S3 ultrabook, but it isn't content with that; it has it sights set on cutting prices even further.

A report from The Verge explains that the S3 ultrabook is priced too low to make the company any money:

"The company is merely breaking even when selling its entry-level ultrabook model and the venture is only made worthwhile by the higher-specced SKUs pulling in a surplus."

While that doesn't sound like a sustainable strategy, Acer is actually planning to slash its prices even further. Their president, Jianren Weng, has been quoted as saying that Acer will push out ultrabooks as prices as low as $499 in 2013 to compete directly against Apple's iPad.

Not that we should complain: cost-price laptops aren't to be sniffed at. [The Verge]

Samsung details pricing and availability for its 2012 Smart TV lineup

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/samsung-details-pricing-and-availability-for-its-2012-smart-tv-l/

We've already seen pricing leak out for some models, but Samsung has today gotten official with the pricing and availability for its complete Smart TV lineup for 2012 (which includes more TVs than we can mention this post). On the LED side of things, those start out with the 26-inch EH4000 on the low-end, which runs $329.99, and top out with the company's 65-inch ES8000, which will set you back a hefty $5,099.99, although it's one of the few models that remains TBA in terms of availability. The company's plasma TV offerings for the year are comparatively fewer (but still include 16 different sets), and range from the 43-inch PN43E450 at $549.99 to the 64-inch PN64E8000 at $3,949.99. Those looking for a particular model can find the full rundown of prices and dates at the links below.

Continue reading Samsung details pricing and availability for its 2012 Smart TV lineup

Samsung details pricing and availability for its 2012 Smart TV lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square takes on New York taxis with new iPad-based payment system

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/square-takes-on-new-york-taxis-with-new-ipad-based-payment-syste/

Anyone who finds themselves in a New York taxi over the next few weeks stands a slim chance of getting their hands on Square's latest experiment. As The New York Times reports, the company will soon begin rolling out the first phase of its new mobile payment system for taxis, which will see 30 cabs equipped with an iPad encased in a metal housing that also includes a credit card reader. That will let folks swipe their card, sign their name on the screen with their finger, and then receive a receipt on their phone either by text or email; taxi drivers are also able to interact with the system, dubbed "Checker," using their own iPhone app. Unfortunately, details beyond that initial roll out remain a bit light, although Square is happy to point out that the system is completely silent and offers no other distractions.

Square takes on New York taxis with new iPad-based payment system originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon patents intelligent pen for adding annotations to digital and printed media (updated)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/amazon-patents-intelligent-pen/

We wouldn't call it a comeback, but the stylus is definitely enjoying a mini-renaissance of sorts in the world of phablets. So it should come as no surprise to see Amazon patenting an intelligent input device (most likely a Kindle Pen), as well as a "computer-implemented method" for that associated accessory which can read, write, search, print and email annotations and highlights made on digital (ebooks and video) and physically printed works. The theoretical service also has a social aspect to it, allowing a primary account holder to grant outside users access to notes, in addition to the ability to edit and create their own. With some well-sourced gossip already indicating the Bezos-backed company has a larger, more advanced tablet waiting in the wings, it's a strong possibility this handheld tech could be making its grand debut very soon.

Update: The lingo in these patents can sometimes be misleading, and it seems we may have misrepresented things a bit. While the drawings within the patent show an embodiment of the technology in stylus form, to be clear, Amazon's first patent is for an "electronic input device" that can record and analyze notations made by a user in multiple types of content. Should said annotations include electronically executable instructions, the device can also process and execute those instructions. The second patent also pertains t! o annota tion technology, but is for a method of authorizing and allowing multiple authors to annotate a single, digital work using multiple devices. Will either of these new inventions ever make it into an Amazonian tablet? Only a man named Bezos can say for sure, so the rest of us will have to wait and see.

Amazon patents intelligent pen for adding annotations to digital and printed media (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Office 15 revealed, simpler UI with touch-friendly features

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/microsoft-office-15-revealed-simpler-ui-with-touch-friendly-fea/

Microsoft Office 15 revealed, simpler UI with touch-friendly features

Microsoft started seeding its Office 15 technical preview to a select few partners earlier this year to get it ready for public consumption, and The Verge managed to get a sneak peek at some of the software's new features. As you would expect, the newest Office version got a dose of Metro style, and now has a cleaner interface and touch mode to make browsing documents and presentations as easy on a tablet as it is on a desktop PC. Word also received improvements, like double-click to zoom, smoother scrolling, video embeds and the ability to share documents online through a browser. Excel received some formatting controls and chart animations, among other improvements, while PowerPoint has made it easier to drop Excel charts into presentations without futzing with formatting. Outlook now has weather forecasts built in, in-line replies, and greater multiple email account support, and OneNote received improved tables support. So, it looks like the gang in Redmond is trying to stay a step ahead of its open-source competition, but we won't know for sure until Office 15 gets in the hands of the people this summer.

Microsoft Office 15 revealed, simpler UI with touch-friendly features originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe Lightroom 4 is a 'substantial upgrade' with a 50-percent price drop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/adobe-lightroom-4/

Adobe Lightroom 4

Still content with Lightroom 3.5? Check out Version 4, which has just emerged from public beta, and you may decide it's time for an upgrade. The revision brings a long list of new features, including improved highlight and shadow processing, better video support, geo-tagging and a Book Module for self-publishing photo books via the Blurb online service. Then there's the clement pricing: $79 as an upgrade or $149 new. Still not sure? DPReview has a detailed assessment at the link below, so don't be jumping to conclusions til you've read it.

Continue reading Adobe Lightroom 4 is a 'substantial upgrade' with a 50-percent price drop

Adobe Lightroom 4 is a 'substantial upgrade' with a 50-percent price drop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Develop Android apps from within Android using AIDE (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/develop-android-using-aide-video/

Develop Android apps from within Android with AIDE

Replication is a necessary survival technique in nature, and now Android apps have joined the self-preservation fray with a new piece of software known as the Android Java IDE (AIDE). An integrated development environment for -- don't you know it -- Android, the package provides would-be coders with a complete set of development tools that include code completion, formatting, refactoring, real-time error checking and more. It's said to be fully compatible with Eclipse projects, and best of all, it's entirely free. So, if you can appreciate this bit of Zen and the Art of Android Development, be sure to check out AIDE today -- and get yourself a keyboard for your tablet while you're at it. Those who'd like a visual introduction will find a video after the break.

[Thanks, Matt]

Continue reading Develop Android apps from within Android using AIDE (video)

Develop Android apps from within Android using AIDE (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Coffee Shop Buzz Is Good For Your Creativity [Working]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5890924/coffee-shop-buzz-is-good-for-your-creativity

Coffee Shop Buzz Is Good For Your Creativity Head over to your neighborhood coffee shop if you want to get that novel finished or make major headway on your project. A new study suggest the ambient background noise or buzz of conversation in public places can fuel creativity.

Many of us are more productive and focused at coffee shops because we're working in public. This new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research included several experiments and involved more than 300 people. It showed that those who had ambient noise in the background (70 decibels, the level that you'd hear in a bustling cafe) scored higher in objective word-association tests and their answers were rated more creative by other participants.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the study:

Adds to research suggesting that small doses of distraction - including hard-to-read fonts - prompt the mind to work at a more abstract level, which is also a more creative level. [...]There's a sweet spot between silence and din.

Do you feel more creative at the coffee shop or with conversations buzzing in the background?

A Creative Buzz | The Wall Street Journal via GigaOM

Photo by Kevin Harber

Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/zeiss-cinemizer-oled-head-tracking-hands-on/

The Carl Zeiss Cinemizer OLED has been a long time in the making -- we first heard about the video glasses at Macworld in 2008 -- but the company has yet to push the head-mounted display past the prototype phase. We stumbled upon Zeiss' booth here at CeBIT, where we found a version of the glasses that look mighty similar to the mock-up we saw in marketing materials from 2010, but are now equipped with a pair of head-tracking modules to expand the yet-to-be released marvel's practicality. With head-tracking now on board, the Cinemizer can theoretically appeal to gamers, architects, even educators, who can use the glasses in the classroom.

We took a look at an Inreal CAD app demo that lets the wearer navigate a yet-unbuilt house, walking through virtual rooms (a joystick is used for forward motion, so you won't be accidentally walking into physical walls) as you judge paint colors, furniture placement and try to convince your significant other that there really is room for a 65-inch HDTV. The tracking modules are located behind the ear rests on each side of the OLED glasses, which have seen a slight boost in resolution since we last heard about them, jumping from VGA to 870 x 500 pixels in each OLED panel. Tracking was responsive and accurate -- the experience of walking around a room felt almost lifelike. What's even more exciting than the device's performance is that we may finally see these hit stores in 2012, with a tentative summer ship date. And, while still a pricey addition to your display collection, the Cinemizer la! nds on t he inexpensive end of the Zeiss product scale, ringing up at €649 (about $850), plus another €100 for the tracking hardware. Jump past the break to see it in action.

Gallery: Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on

Continue reading Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video)

Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FTC: Western Digital and Hitachi must give assets and IP rights to Toshiba

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/ftc-orders-western-digital-share-assets-with-toshiba/

Thought everything was looking rosy for the hard drive hitch of the year? Well, it looks like Federal Trade Commission reckons the union of Hitachi and Western Digital isn't quite there just yet, ordering that the new company would have to shed some of its assets to Toshiba. The FTC wants to ensure a competitive climate in the 3.5-inch hard drive market and avoid Western Digital and Seagate -- the two largest HDD manufacturers -- carving up the whole sector between them. According to the FTC's proposals, Toshiba has to receive the production assets needed to equal Hitachi's current HDD market share, alongside access to Western Digital's research and development resources and licenses to its intellectual property. Regulators had previously stated that WD could expect to sell on some of its production assets in order to get the tie-up okayed. Western Digital now has 15 days to hand over these assets to Toshiba -- who, presumably, aren't complaining -- once the deal with Hitachi is finally inked.

FTC: Western Digital and Hitachi must give assets and IP rights to Toshiba originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Play replaces Android Market, new source for apps, books, movies and music (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/google-play-replaces-android-market/

Google Play replaces Android Market, your new source for apps, books, movies and music

The Android Market has morphed significantly since its inception, which now allows users to purchase books, music and rent movies, all from within a hub that was originally designed for just apps. To recognize this fundamental shift -- and emphasize the availability of content for sale -- Google is launching a new platform known as Google Play. The move hints at a strategy shift from just Android to the cloud as a whole, and establishes an umbrella brand for the diverse content sold by Google. For example, its Books, Music and Videos apps will now become Play Books, Play Music and Play Movies, while the Android Market itself will take on the moniker of Play Store. Users of Android 2.2 (and above) should notice the software update within the next few days, although other than the new name, initial changes should be minimal. We're also to be on the lookout for a new "Play" tab within the top toolbar of Google's website. To mark the occasion, the company has announced a promotional "Seven Days to Play" sale, which will tease would-be shoppers with discounted apps, books, movies and music throughout the week. For an additional peek at what's in store, you'll find the gallery below and a video after the break.

Gallery: Introducing Google Play

Continue reading Google Play replaces Android Market, new source for apps, books, movies and music (video)

Google Play replaces Android Market, new source for apps, books, movies and music (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell XPS 13 review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/dell-xps-13-review/

Dell XPS 13 review

Dell's XPS 13 Ultrabook

Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook shipping now, starts at $999

HP Folio 13 review

You don't have to be a marketing skeptic to agree that "Ultrabook" is a somewhat hyperbolic term for a class of devices designed a little thinner, a little lighter and maybe a little quicker than those notebooks that have come before. From a pure hardware standpoint there's nothing particularly "ultra" about them when compared to a standard Wintel lappytop, but manufacturers are, thankfully, using this as an opportunity to raise their game on another front that's becoming increasingly important in the world ! of porta ble computing: aesthetics.

Compared to clunky laptops of yore, many Ultrabooks mark a truly massive step forward when it comes to purity of design and Dell is showing some impressive chops with the new XPS 13. But, when you're buckled in to coach class and it's time to get to work, looks are less important than having a solid laptop that performs. Does the new XPS have the brawn to match its beauty? Let's find out.

Gallery: Dell XPS 13 review

Continue reading Dell XPS 13 review

Dell XPS 13 review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Full List of Verizon Phones Getting Ice Cream Sandwich [Android]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5890956/the-full-list-of-verizon-phones-getting-ice-cream-sandwich

The Full List of Verizon Phones Getting Ice Cream Sandwich Verizon has finally let a bunch of smartphone and tablet owners exhale, giving up the full list of current devices that will be getting the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update. There's 14 devices in all. See if yours made the cut.

Currently the Galaxy Nexus is the only Verzion phone with Ice Creamy goodness, but that's about to change. The full list is as follows:

HTC:
HTC ThunderBolt™
DROID Incredible 2 by HTC
HTC Rhyme™
HTC Rezound™

Motorola:
Motorola XOOM
DROID BIONIC™
DROID RAZR™
DROID RAZR™ MAXX™
DROID 4 DROID
DROID XYBOARD 8.2
DROID XYBOARD 10.1

Samsung:
Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1
Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.7

LG:
Spectrum™ by LG

Probably not as long as list a some would have hoped for, but that does take care of the majority of the headline devices from the last year or so. No word on timelines yet (cue angry fist-shaking), but "sometime" is better than "never." [Verizon]

Now You Can Install a Second Hard Drive in Your Mid-2011 iMac [IMac]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5890851/now-you-can-install-a-second-hard-drive-in-your-mid+2011-imac

Did you know iFixit was good for something other than posting galleries of new gadgets they've torn apart? Well they are, and their latest good deed involves devising a kit so that you can install a second hard drive in your mid-2011 iMac.

When iFixit tore down the iMac after the last refresh, they found mounting points which were completely unused. So they built a kit that lets you place an additional hard drive in that spot. For $70, each kit comes with the necessary SATA cables, mounting tape, suction cups (for removing the screen), a driver kit, and a spudger.

iFixit recommends adding a smaller, cheaper SSD and using that as your boot drive while using your HDD for media files and things of the like. Hard to go against that advice. [iFixit]

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