Apple TV update 5.1 brings shared photo streams and iTunes account swapping, available now

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/apple-tv-update-5.1/

Apple TVs of the second and third-gen variety are getting update 5.1 today, which brings two long-awaited features. Both shared photo streaming and iTunes account switching are now part of Apple's set-top box -- the combination of those two finally freeing parents from the potential nightmare of discovering their child's "not safe for parents" photo streams, of course. The update, spotted by MacRumors, also adds some new AirPlay functionality, enabling users to "send audio content from Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers and devices (including AirPort Express and other Apple TVs)." Beyond those two biggies, however, the rest of the update is rather nuts and bolts oriented -- head below for the full list.

Continue reading Apple TV update 5.1 brings shared photo streams and iTunes account swapping, available now

Filed under: Household, Software, HD

Apple TV update 5.1 brings shared photo streams and iTunes account swapping, available now originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's the Chip Apple Is Using to Stop You from Buying Cheap Cables [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5945889/some-third+party-adapters-might-not-work-with-your-new-iphone

If you bought yourself an iPhone 5, and are looking for a cheap, third-party lightning adapter to save a couple of bucks, you might want to hold off. There's an authenticator chip in the official adapters, and third-party adapters probably won't work without it.

Peter from Double Helix Cables found the obnoxious little chip while dissecting one of the new, official Lighting cables. Positioned between the cord's USB contact and the power pin on the Lightning plug, the chip seems to be the key to keeping Lighting cables and adapters proprietary. These kind of authentication chips aren't uncommon in more sophisticated accessories, but this is the first time one has shown up in something as basic as a charging cable, smack in the middle of the power line. According the Peter, the chip doesn't block the data lines, but you need data and power to connect by USB.

"There is basically no way [third-party adapters] are functional cables," Peter told Apple Insider. "You can't just build a Lightning cable by making something with the same shape and connectivity." That means that all those third-party connectors out there will fit the ports on your devices, sure, but they probably aren't going to actually work. What looks like a $10, $20, or $30 could very well wind up being a waste, so if you're in a hurry, official adapters are probably the best bet.

If you aren't, you can sit tight and see if someone can figure out how to fake those chips, but it could wind up being pretty difficult. Peter put it this way in an email to us:

If the chip has some code on board that makes it authenticate with the iPhone, then it may be hard to duplicate for sure. If it's doing a "smart" function like pin assignment or something crazy like that, then it definitely is going to be mandatory. Apple has said it's a "smart" connector but it is horrifying that just a basic power charging/sync cord like this requires additional complexity.

It could take some serious engineering brain-power to get to the bottom of what this chip is actually doing. Until then, first-party is the only surefire option. [Apple Insider, Peter (Double Helix Cables)]

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iPhone 5 camera gets tested in Iceland, panorama and low-light comparison with iPhone 4S included

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/iphone-5-camera-compared-iphone-4s-low-light-video/

Sure, we tested the iPhone 5's camera in the well-lit streets of New York City, but if you're wondering how Apple's latest functions when used primarily as a shooter, TREK has a pretty remarkable look. Photog Austin Mann and a few of his closest pals took a pair of iPhone 5s to Iceland following launch weekend in a bid to test the unit's durability, capability and image quality next to the 4S. After two days of geyser spray and admitted "drops in mud," the uncovered 5 seemed to be a-okay, and when it comes to output from the sensor, that's worthy of praise as well.

The low-light capabilities of the 5 are perhaps the most impressive upgrade compared to the 4S, with much less noise seen in shots from the former. He also gushed over the panorama mode, which admittedly churned out some pretty seamless results of the Icelandic countryside. As for shutter speed? That too has been "significantly" improved over the 4S. He interestingly noted that Snapseed was acting a bit wonky with iOS 6, but one has to wonder how much smoothing will be done by the Nik team now that Google's calling the shots. Hit the source link below for the full rundown, comparisons included, and a video that shows how the iPhone 5 reacts after sunset.

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Mobile

iPhone 5 camera gets tested in Iceland, panorama and low-light comparison with iPhone 4S included originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon intros Device Targeting to help developers with new Kindle Fires

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/amazon-intros-device-targeting-to-help-developers-with-new-kindl/

Amazon's celebrating its new line of Kindle Fires with the announcement of Device Targeting, a feature aimed at helping developers create apps across its tablet line. Using the new program, app makers can offers up APKs for specific devices like the old Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD (different screen sizes included), without displaying "confusing" multiple versions of the app for consumers. The new feature ensures that customers who download an app get the proper version delivered to the right devices. More info on the program -- including an FAQ for curious parties -- can be found in the source link below.

Filed under: Tablets

Amazon intros Device Targeting to help developers with new Kindle Fires originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix extends new user interface experience to Android phones

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/netflix-ui-android-phones/

Netflix's new user interface experience popped up on Android tablets last year before progressing to the iPad and finally iPhones just last week, but now the company officially announced it's completing the circle by pushing it to Android phones. As seen on other devices, it's focused on larger artwork, and offers the ability to scroll through many more titles, as well as search its streaming library from anywhere within the app. Users can tap once on a title to see more info about it or double tap to start playing immediately. The new UI is available on hardware running Gingerbread and above. It may already be appearing on your device but if not, check out the video preview embedded after the break.

Continue reading Netflix extends new user interface experience to Android phones

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile

Netflix extends new user interface experience to Android phones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel reveals Quad-Core, LTE-capable Medfield chips are on the way

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/intel-medfield-lte-quad-core-news/

Intel's curious decision to shun the US and release Medfield-powered smartphones in India, China, Russia and the UK might be because of those countries' underdeveloped levels of LTE. Marketing chief Sumeet Syal told TechCrunch that its current-generation x86 system-on-chip won't support the standard, but a capable version will arrive at the end of the year -- with production ramping up in 2013. He also let slip to the site that dual-core versions will arrive shortly, claiming they'll benefit from Intel's hyper threading know-how. Syal said that Santa Clara is "comfortable" with its progress just months after entering the smartphone space but declined to discuss numbers -- for which we'll have to wait for the Q3 earnings call in October to find out how well (or not) Intel's mobile ambitions are going.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Intel reveals Quad-Core, LTE-capable Medfield chips are on the way originally appeared on E ngadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 07:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Globalfoundries unveils 14nm-XM chip architecture, vows up to a 60 percent jump in battery life

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/23/globalfoundries-unveils-14nm-xm-chip-architecture/

Globalfoundries wants to show that it can play the 3D transistor game as well as Intel. Its newly unveiled 14nm-XM (Extreme Mobility) modular architecture uses the inherently low-voltage, low-leak nature of the foundry's FinFET layout, along with a few traces of its still-in-development 20nm process, to build a 14-nanometer chip with all the size and power savings that usually come from a die shrink. Compared to the larger processors with flat transistors that we're used to, the new technique is poised to offer between 40 to 60 percent better battery life, all else being equal -- a huge help when even those devices built on a 28nm Snapdragon S4 can struggle to make it through a full day on a charge. To no one's shock, Globalfoundries is focusing its energy on getting 14nm-XM into the ARM-based processors that could use the energy savings the most. It will be some time before you find that extra-dimensional technology sitting in your phone or tablet, though. Just as Intel doesn't expect to reach those miniscule sizes until 2013, Globalfoundries expects its first working 14nm silicon to arrive the same year. That could leave a long wait between test production ! runs and having a finished product in your hands.

Continue reading Globalfoundries unveils 14nm-XM chip architecture, vows up to a 60 percent jump in battery life

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets

Globalfoundries unveils 14nm-XM chip architecture, vows up to a 60 percent jump in battery life originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 21:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Onkyo DS-A5 grafts AirPlay on to existing home stereos, docks older iOS gear

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/24/onkyo-ds-a5-grafts-airplay-on-to-existing-home-stereos/

Embracing AirPlay has usually involved a wholesale switch in hardware: years of speaker investment go out the window for the sake of skipping a wire. Onkyo doesn't have a problem if you bring your own equipment to the fray. Its new DS-A5 docking station brings Apple's WiFi media streaming to many home stereos, including those of rivals, as long as there's a wired or 802.11g-capable wireless router to feed the connection. Naturally, there's perks if you do live in an Onkyo universe -- any link using its Remote Interactive cable can both wake the stereo through AirPlay as well as control the dock from a traditional remote. About the only oddities are the vintage composite video output and a 30-pin dock for charging iPads, iPhones and iPods, neither of which will be much help if you live on the cutting edge. Onkyo brings the DS-A5 to American shores in October for $199; that's a lot to pay for playing songs from the couch, but it's a sight more affordable than replacing home audio equipment costing multiple times that amount.

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment

Onkyo DS-A5 grafts AirPlay on to existing home stereos, docks older iOS gear originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 04:13:00 EDT. P! lease se e our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell releases new S Series monitors with edge-to-edge glass, IPS panels

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/22/dell-releases-new-s-series-monitors-with-edge-to-edge-glass-ips/

Dell's built quite a reputation for delivering solid monitors at reasonable prices, and it's now expanded its offerings in a fairly big way with no less than five new S Series models, some of which boast edge-to-edge glass and/or IPS panels. On the top end is the 27-inch S2740L, which has the most connectivity options of the lot (DVI, VGA, HDMI and a pair of USB ports) and, of course, the highest price tag at $400. From there, things drop to $300 with the 24-inch S2440L (the only non-IPS model of the lot), and go all the way down to $200 for the 21.5-inch S2240M -- the three lower-end models ditch the edge-to-edge glass but still retain minimal bezels. Unlike some of the company's higher-end UltraSharp models, though, all five monitors have a 16:9 aspect ratio instead of 16:10, and you'll get a standard 1920 x 1080 resolution regardless of the size you choose. Complete specs for each can be found at the links below.

Filed under: Displays

Dell releases new S Series monitors with edge-to-edge glass, IPS panels originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Sep 2012 08:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptina unveils 1-inch sensor with 1080p video at 120FPS, we suspect Nikon wants 1

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/23/aptina-unveils-1-inch-sensor-with-120fps-1080p-video-likely-for-nikon/

Part suppliers sometimes telegraph their customers' plans months in advance: when you're the only provider for a key piece of technology, it's not hard for others to read the tea leaves. Aptina might have just given us one such peek into the future by unveiling its 1-inch AR1011HS camera sensor this week. As the Nikon 1 series is one of the few current, mainstream camera lines to use Aptina's 1-inch sensors, it's quite possible that we're looking at a template for one or more of Nikon's tiny interchangeable-lens shooters. The 10-megapixel CMOS sensor and low-light sensitivity aren't surprises. We're more interested in the wild levels of video capture support -- the AR1011HS can record 1080p footage at 120 frames per second, oversample movies at that resolution or scale up to quad HD. There's no guarantee any or all of the features will make the cut, especially given a dearth of 4K TVs, but it's not hard to imagine Nikon playing to the 1's high-speed strengths with an even quicker upgrade. Mass production starts in the first quarter of 2013, and while neither Aptina nor Nikon has confirmed any plans, Aptina's emphasis on top-tier companies in the "performance-oriented" mirrorless camera world leaves few other choices for a partnership.

Continue reading Aptina unveils 1-inch sensor with 1080p video at 120FPS, we suspect Nikon wants 1

Filed under: Cameras

Aptina unveils 1-inch sensor with 1080p video at 120FPS, we suspect Nikon wants 1 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA to offer up documentation for Tegra graphics core to prove its commitment to open-source (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/23/nvidia-to-offer-up-documentation-for-tegra-graphics-core/

There's nothing like a little smack talk to light the fire under certain derrieres. It's been a few months since Linus Torvalds got verbal about NVIDIA's support for the semi-eponymous OS, prompting the chip-maker to say "supporting Linux is important to us." Proving that its word is good, NVIDIA will be releasing programming documentation for its Tegra architecture graphics core. The news comes from a talk given by Lucas Stach of the Nouveau project (who develop free drivers for the NVIDIA platform) at the XDC2012 conference. The focus will initially be on Tegra's 2D rendering engine, but it's hopes the 3D will soon follow. So, while Torvalds' approach might have been a little bit brusque, you can't fault its effectiveness. Video of the XDC talk after the break.

Continue reading NVIDIA to offer up documentation for Tegra graphics core to prove its commitment to open-source (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Mobile

NVIDIA to offer up documentation for Tegra graphics core to prove its commitment to open-source (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 13:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You Can Now Slap a Quarter Terabyte of Storage In Your Camera [Storage]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5945345/you-can-now-slap-a-quarter-terabyte-of-storage-in-your-camera

It took a few months longer than its 256 GB compact flash card, but Lexar has finally announced a matching 256 GB SDXC card that makes it oh-so-easy to lose or misplace a quarter terabyte of photographs. To put that in perspective, if you were shooting full resolution, full quality JPGs with the Sony RX100, you'd be able to snap just under 80,000 shots before needing to swap out your card.

The Professional 400x 256GB SDXC UHS-I is a Class 10 card that boasts a guaranteed sustained transfer speed—at least when reading data—of 60 MB per second. Just make sure you're using it with a card reader that can keep up. And, not surprisingly, when it's available next month Lexar expects you to cough up $900 for the privilege of rarely having to delete photos off your camera. [Lexar via PetaPixel]

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Vizio's CinemaWide 21:9 HDTVs hit physical store shelves, price slides below $2k

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/21/vizio-cinemawide-21-9-sams-club-costco/

While Philips is backing out of the ultrawidescreen game, it appears Vizio is still trying to move at least a few more units. The company announced that its 58-inch CinemaWide HDTVs have moved from being available exclusively online, to the physical store shelves of Costco and Sam's Club stores. If the prospect of watching most movies without any black bars (although standard 16x9 TV programming won't quite fit without side bars, zooming or app/menu filler) hasn't quite moved you to buy, there is also the news that its price has dropped another $500 to a shade below $2,000, which puts it closer to the 46-inch HDTVs it's size resembles when watching regular widescreen video. When they initially started shipping our friends at HD Guru were told it was a limited one time only run of 1,000 units -- we'll see if any more sets show up or if this the last gasp for HDTVs in this format.

Filed under: HD

Vizio's CinemaWide 21:9 HDTVs hit physical store shelves, price slides below $2k originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon iPhone 5 is unlocked, able to accept GSM SIMs right away

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/21/verizon-iphone-5-unlocked-att-t-mobile-video/

Great news for those waiting anxiously at the door for their UPS / FedEx delivery... well, for those awaiting a Verizon iPhone 5, anyway. We've already broken down the differences between the trifecta of iPhone 5 models, and it seems that the one VZW is hawking is a real gem for travelers. Aside from handling Verizon's LTE waves just fine, the nano-SIM slot will also accept cards from any other GSM carrier worldwide. In other words, AT&T nano-SIMs will get you onto its HSPA+ network, and T-Mobile nano-SIMs will play nice as well. If you're heading overseas, you can pick up a local nano-SIM on arrival and plug it straight in -- no unlocking code necessary. To confirm, this even applies to Verizon iPhone 5 units that were purchased under contract. You can hit the video after the break for proof, but heed one word of advice: wait until you find a legitimate nano-SIM to throw in there. It looks as if the cut-and-stuff approach leaves a bit to be desired.

Continue reading Verizon iPhone 5 is unlocked, able to accept GSM SIMs right away

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Verizon iPhone 5 is unlock! ed, able to accept GSM SIMs right away originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 16:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD Piledriver CPU pre-order pricing leaks out

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/21/amd-piledriver-cpu-pre-order-pricing-leaks-out/

It's always just been a matter of "when" and "how much," but it looks as if PC gamers looking to score a powerplant upgrade can start planning on specific amounts. AMD's impending FX Piledriver CPUs are now up for pre-order at ShopBLT, an outlet that has proven reliable in the past when it comes to nailing down processor pricing. For those in need of a refresher, these are built using the Vishera design, with the range including between four and eight CPU cores. We're expecting 'em to best the Bulldozer family, and if all goes well, they could be available to the earliest of adopters in October. Presently, the FX-4300 ($131.62), FX-6300 ($175.77), FX-8320 ($242.05) and FX-8350 ($253.06) are listed, but CPU World seems to think launch day quotes will actually be a bit lower. Only one way to find out, right?

Filed under: Desktops

AMD Piledriver CPU pre-order pricing leaks out originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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