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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Christie and NVIDIA team up for an interactive car-buying experience powered by augmented reality (hands-on video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/24/christie-nvidia-custom-audi-hands-on/

If committing the requisite funds for an Audi R8 coupe seems like a stressful ordeal, NVIDIA and Christie have created an augmented reality purchase experience to lend a hand with the selection process. Under the hood, the whole lot is powered by NVIDIA GPUs, Christie projectors and RTT DeltaGen software for car configuration. Using a 3D-printed, one-fifth scale model of the R8, a series of projectors and projection tiles utilize a 3D WARP mesh to outfit the car with paint, wheels and even headlamps. A tablet UI then allows the eager customer to toggle colors, rim options, side panels and turn the lights on and off. In addition to customizing the car itself, the system also shows how the R8 will look in different environments, from dusk by the water to the rural open road. For a quick video demo from the SIGGRAPH show floor, join us after the break.

Gallery: NVIDIA and Christie custom car configuration hands-on

Filed under: Misc, NVIDIA

First real world 'master key' exploit discovered sneaking malware into Android apps

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/24/master-key-exploit-in-the-wild/

Two apps have been discovered on unofficial marketplaces in China that might just be the first in-the-wild exploits of the massive bug found by Bluebox two weeks ago. The so-called "master key" vulnerability, or a least an extremely close relative of it, was the point of entry for malware in these two apps, which now carry code that allows an attacker to remotely hijack a device, harvest sensitive data and even disable a number of mobile security suites. The concern here, is that this particular security hole allowed these alterations to be made without invalidating the apps' digital signatures. So, the malware was able to sneak through filters, hidden as a Trojan Horse inside pieces of legitimate software. Google has already patched the vulnerability, preventing compromised apps from slipping in to the official Play store. Additional updates addressing the flaw have been issued to carriers and manufacturers, but we all know it could be quite sometime before everyone applies the patches to their products.

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google

Via: Ars Technica

Source: Symantec

This $200 Brute Force Bot Will Bust Your Phone's Pin in Hours

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-200-brute-force-bot-will-bust-your-phones-pin-i-894436635

This $200 Brute Force Bot Will Bust Your Phone's Pin in Hours

Your Android phone is not safe. This 3D-printed robot systematically tries all of the possible lock screen PINs for your phone until it gets in. With your standard four-digit number, your phone is compromised in under a day. If only you'd had an iPhone!

NVIDIA puts Project Logan on display at SIGGRAPH: Kepler gets cozy on a mobile chip (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/24/nvidia-project-logan-siggraph-2013/

We've known about NVIDIA's plans to bring Kepler to mobile for a few months now, but the component maker offered up an early glimpse of the SoC at SIGGRAPH this week. In terms of power usage, Logan's use of Kepler architecture translates to one-third the consumption of GPUs currently running in devices like the Retina iPad while wrangling the same renders. Of course, it does have a healthy amount of room to scale up from there for much beefier tasks. The silicon also supports the just announced OpenGL 4.4, OpenGL ES 3.0 and Microsoft's DirectX11. So, what does all of that translate to in terms of graphics? Project Logan enables the use of advanced rendering and simulation techniques to construct imagery -- things like tessellation, advanced lighting and physical simulation, just to name a few. For a look at chip in action, venture on past the break where the Ira demo that was unveiled earlier this year on GeForce GTX Titan GPU-packing desktop is now running on a Logan-equipped mobile device.

Filed under: Cellphones, Misc, Tablets, Mobile, NVIDIA

Source: NVIDIA (1), (2), (3)

Dell shows off the UltraSharp 32: a 32-inch Ultra HD display set to arrive in Q4 (eyes-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/dell-ultrasharp-32/

If you're looking to boost the resolution of your workflow, Dell took the opportunity to unleash one such display during the proceedings at SIGGRAPH this week. The UltraSharp 32 is a 32-inch Ultra HD unit that wields a 3,840 x 2,160 IGZO panel sorting 1.07 billion colors. An aluminum stand has replaced the plastic-draped one from previous models, but the same height adjustments reside around back. The UltraSharp 32 also houses both full and mini display ports (with the requisite cable included), HDMI jack, a built-in USB hub and an SD card reader along the left side. We had a chance to take a quick peek at the device and we can confirm the image quality -- especially when it comes to handling rich blacks. We also enjoyed gazing upon a matte finish rather than a glossy surface and we're told Dell has actually made some tweaks there to reduce any grainy results that may creep in. There's no word on pricing just yet, but the display is set to arrive during the fourth quarter of this year. A smattering of images from our brief eyes-on session await in the gallery.

Gallery: Dell UltraSharp 32 eyes-on

Filed under: Displays, Dell

LG Optimus G Pro for Sprint makes a cameo at the FCC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/optimus-g-pro-sprint-fcc/

LG Optimus G Pro for Sprint makes a cameo at the FCC

With the Optimus G Pro already available on AT&T and a Verizon variant rubber-stamped by Uncle Sam, Sprint is bringing up the caboose. A smartphone bearing the model number LG LS980 has just passed through the FCC, and it's a dead ringer for a G Pro destined for Big Yellow. Not only does its model number jive with the other carrier-specific incarnations of LG's device, but it packs support for Now Network-friendly CDMA and LTE over band 25, alongside the usual GSM radio. There's no telling when the Now Network will start offering the phone, but federal approval means it's clear to arrive when LG pleases.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint, LG

Source: FCC

Acer Aspire S7-392 Ultrabook arrives in the US, starts at $1,450

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/acer-aspire-s7-392-ultrabook-us/

We first met Acer's Aspire S7 at Computex in 2012, and since then it's gone through a major overhaul to become the Aspire S7-392 -- a Haswell-equipped Ultrabook that's now available in the US. You can choose between two models up for sale at retail outlets and on Acer's online store, with the cheaper $1,450 package toting a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor and a 128GB SSD. The $1,700 variant comes with a more powerful 1.8GHz Core i7 processor and double the storage space, but their other specs are identical. Both Windows 8 Ultrabooks boast a 13.3-inch 1,920 x 1,080 touchscreen display, an HD webcam, an 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and a bigger battery that promises up to 7 hours of power. It's too bad the European version's 2,560 x 1,440 screen didn't make it stateside, but at least the US incarnations are a bit easier on the wallet.

Update: We've revised the post to reflect that the higher-end model comes with a Core i7 processor, and not a Core i5.

Filed under: Laptops, Acer

Source: Acer (1), (2)

Samsung starts making 3GB low-power memory for smartphones

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/24/samsung-starts-making-3gb-low-power-memory-for-smartphones/

We hope you weren't just getting used to having 2GB of RAM in a smartphone, because Samsung is already moving on. The company is now mass-producing 3GB LPDDR3 packages whose 0.8mm (0.03in) thickness can accommodate most device sizes. The capacious, 20nm-class memory should also be quick when there's a pair of symmetric channels to keep data flowing. The first smartphones with 3GB of RAM should ship in the second half of the year; Samsung isn't revealing which phones will have the honor, but it's not hard to make some educated guesses.

Filed under: Storage, Mobile, Samsung

Source: Samsung

NVIDIA announces 'fastest GPU ever' for pros, the 12GB Quadro K6000

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/24/nvidia-announces-12gb-quadro-k6000-gpu/

NVIDIA's just launched its latest flagship Quadro GPU for well-heeled graphics professionals, the Kepler-based Quadro K6000. The company claims it's "the fastest and most capable GPU ever built" with double the graphics capability of its Quadro 6000 predecessor. It also has 12GB of the "world's largest and fastest" DDR5 graphics memory, enabling companies like Nissan to load nearly complete vehicle models, for instance. Other niceties include 2,880 streaming multiprocessor cores, four simultaneous displays at up to 4K resolution, ultra-low latency video I/O and large scale visualization support. It'll hit the market this fall from workstation vendors like HP, Dell and Lenovo, along with system integrators and distribution partners like PNY. There's no pricing yet, but the current K5000 runs about $2,250 -- so, prime your budget expectations accordingly.

Filed under: Peripherals, NVIDIA

Via: Slashgear

Source: NVIDIA

Slingbox update lets you invite Facebook friends to watch your cable in a browser

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/24/slingbox-watch-update-facebook-integration-invitations/

If you're an inveterate placeshifter and have the internet bandwidth to spare, there's no longer any reason to keep your cable TV feeds all to yourself. A Watch update has arrived for the Slingbox 350 and 500 media streamers that includes Facebook integration, letting you invite your friends to view your Slingbox streams on a browser when you're not (only one connection is allowed at a time). Along with no doubt more "likes," the update also brings improved zoom controls to handle aspect ratios like anamorphic and letter box, a relocated pause button and advanced device search during setup. You can start inviting your pals on the social network now, but you may want to warn them: you can interrupt their viewing, but they can't interrupt yours. Check the More Coverage link to see which browsers are supported.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD

Source: Slingbox

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

How an Astronomical Mystery Was Explained by High-Tech Photography

Source: http://gizmodo.com/how-a-mysterious-sky-phenomenon-was-explained-by-high-s-880432593

How an Astronomical Mystery Was Explained by High-Tech Photography

They stretch 50 miles into Earth's upper atmosphere. They shower the night sky with shimmering bursts of light. They emit a crackling "ping" over radio. And because they're so fast, scientists have only known about them for a few decades. Today, Wired Science introduces us to the world of Transient Luminous Events—and the Sante Fe astronomer who has pioneered the art of photographing them.

Motorola Droid Ultra unveiled with unibody Kevlar design, reaches Verizon on August 20th for $199

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/motorola-droid-ultra-unveiled-with-unibody-kevlar-design/

As expected, the star of the show is here: Verizon has unveiled the Motorola Droid Ultra at its New York City press event. The 5-inch smartphone is "all about thin," according to Moto, and sports a glossy, unibody Kevlar shell that makes it thinner (7.18mm) yet stronger than its predecessors. It's also speedier: a new dual-core X8 Mobile Computing System delivers about 24 percent faster processing power than the previous generations, graphics that are twice as quick and dedicated chips for both contextual computing and language processing. It sports the software tricks we've seen in leaks of the Moto X, such as hands-free voice control, Active Display notifications and Quick Capture. Google's augmented reality game Ingress comes preloaded for more adventurous owners. The Droid Ultra ships August 20th for $199, and pre-orders are starting today.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, Verizon

Source: Verizon

Motorola Droid Ultra and Droid Maxx for Verizon hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/motorola-droid-ultra-and-ultra-maxx-for-verizon-eyes-on/

Like clockwork, Motorola and Verizon have refreshed their joint Droid lineup, and we're here to check out all three devices. The two premium handsets, the Droid Ultra and Droid Maxx, are the most promising of the bunch for advanced users, replacing last year's Droid RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD. Both of those smartphones were at the top of their game in 2012, and that trend appears to continue here -- the Ultra and Maxx are very similar, with the latter boosting the battery capacity, enabling power users to make it through a full day.

Like its predecessors, the Ultra (pictured above) and Droid Maxx sport Kevlar bodies, which both look sleek and feel sturdy. The Ultra we saw sported a glossy red finish, which Motorola suggested is "a lot like a sports car." The Maxx, on the other hand, has a soft-touch black finish. Both phones feature a 10-megapixel camera with a f2.4 lens. We prefer the Maxx's look; as we've said about Samsung's Galaxy lineup, a glossy, plasticky finish tends to look cheaper. What the Ultra's design does have going for it, though, is an extra-thin profile. At 7.18mm, it's already being touted as the "thinnest 4G LTE smartphone available." It packs a 5-inch HD display, which, while not quite as brilliant as the smaller Mini's panel, offers brilliant colors and wider-than-average viewing angles. The Ultra is priced at $199, 100 bucks higher than the Mini and 100 lower than the Maxx.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, Verizon

You Won't Believe These Images Are Just Renders

Source: http://gizmodo.com/9-of-the-most-photorealistic-renderings-on-the-web-823379988

You Won't Believe These Images Are Just Renders

It can be difficult to know what's real and what's fake when it comes to digital art these days. But don't torture yourself worrying about it now: Here are some of the most photorealistic 3D renderings on the web. Each one is completely synthetic; every single detail generated by madly talented 3D artists. Enjoy.

Alibaba develops Smart TV OS, will use it to sell you things

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/alibaba-smart-tv-platform/

As much as we enjoyed the decade we spent vegging out in front of the shopping channel, we had hoped that the internet had put such days behind us. Not so, thanks to Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, which has developed its own Smart TV OS, separate to Aliyun, in the hope of pumping even more cash out of our wallets. Developed in collaboration with Wasu Media, the duo will launch a set-top box later in the year, and are in talks with companies like Cisco, Haier and Allwinner to produce compatible devices. While customers will be able to use smartphones to stream media and control their TVs, they'll probably be strong-armed into buying apps, shopping at the Alibaba-owned Juhuasuan and even making utility payments via the company's Alipay platform. Looks like we've got no choice but to finally buy that noiseless karaoke microphone we've been avoiding all these years.

Filed under: Software, HD

Via: The Next Web

Source: Alizila

Google's Street View takes you up Mount Fuji, crampon free

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/googles-street-view-takes-you-up-mount-fuji-sans-crampons/

In contrast to its happy visits to the Eiffel Tower and Burj Khalifa, Street View's exploration of Dead Island may have given you the wrong impression of Japan. Luckily, one of the country's most picturesque symbols, Mount Fuji, was recently scaled by what must be some of Mountain View's most athletic trekkers. The fruits of the 12,400-foot climb and incessant photo stops are 14,000 separate panoramas, including many sunrise shots only available to diligent night climbers. They're now live on Maps, so hit the source or panorama after the break for a far less taxing peek.

Filed under: Software, Google

Via: TNW

Source: Google Maps (Blog)

AMNH 3D-Printing Camp: Let's Make Some Dinos

Source: http://gizmodo.com/amnh-3d-printing-camp-lets-make-some-dinos-868773820

AMNH 3D-Printing Camp: Let's Make Some Dinos

At the American Museum of Natural History's two-week camp Capturing Dinosaurs: Reconstructing Extinct Species Through Digital Fabrication, a group of teens learned the processes and tools used by paleontologists for studying dinosaur bones and digitally reconstructing them. And we got to tag along for some of it.

AMNH 3D-Printing Camp: Let's Make Some Dinos

Glasses.com for iPad: Test Glasses on Your Virtual Head Before You Buy

Source: http://gizmodo.com/glasses-com-for-ipad-test-glasses-on-your-virtual-head-872558168

Glasses.com for iPad: Test Glasses on Your Virtual Head Before You Buy

We've become a lazy, lazy people. If there's two things that really bring us together, it's an irrational demand for instant gratification and a desire to have as little face-to-face interaction as is humanly possible. Now on the one hand, this is probably the beginning of society's grand demise. But on the other, doing things sucks! So we might as well give in to fate and enjoy sweet, sweet laziness while we can. Which, thanks to glasses.com's new app, now included eyewear shopping.

Powerful New MIT Computer System Can Make the Internet 3x Faster

Source: http://gizmodo.com/powerful-new-mit-computer-system-can-make-the-internet-872658937

Powerful New MIT Computer System Can Make the Internet 3x Faster

The Transmission Control Protocol is like a crossing guard for the internet, regulating traffic to keep things flowing. Sure, engineers are constantly working to improve it, but it's manmade, so there's always room for human error. But researchers at MIT have created a computer system that could fix all that—and make the internet two to three times faster.

Disney's New Algorithm Turns Any Photo Into a 3D Wonderland

Source: http://gizmodo.com/disneys-new-algorithm-turns-any-photo-into-a-3d-wonder-872804707

Disney Research, a partnership between the mouse-eared entertainment juggernaut and universities around the globe, is on a virtual reality roll. Its latest development, an algorithm that turns 2D photographs into 3D landscapes, can transform a regular photo into a video game-style environment, using consumer-grade computer hardware.

Nokia's Lumia 625: A 4.7-Inch Windows Phone on the Cheap

Source: http://gizmodo.com/nokias-lumia-625-a-4-7-inch-windows-phone-on-the-chea-878218682

Nokia's Lumia 625: A 4.7-Inch Windows Phone on the Cheap Nokia’s follow up to the mid-range-to-budget Lumia 620 has gone bigger than ever, taking Windows Phone to an Android-like 4.7-inches. Shame about the resolution.

Parallella 'supercomputers' headed to early backers, 16-core boards up for general pre-order

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/parallella-production-boards-shipping-pre-orders-open/

Following its successful Kickstarter campaign, Adapteva flashed the production versions of its Parallella "supercomputer" boards in April, penning in a loose summer delivery date. Today, the company reports that the first "beta" units have begun winding their way to backers who pledged at the DEVELOPER, 64-CORE-PLUS and ROLF levels. Other backers should receive their boards by summer's end "after some final refinements." For those who missed the crowd-funding window, you too can get a Parallella, as Adapteva has now opened up general pre-orders for the 16-core version on its website. While all Kickstarter-bought boards will bear a Zynq-7020 SoC, new pre-orders are configured with a 7010 as standard, though you can upgrade to the 7020 should you lay down more dough. However, newcomers will be treated to "Gen-1" boards, which will offer slight improvements over earlier versions, such as reduced power consumption and an added serial port three-pin header. You'll find the basic 16-core board going for $99 over at Adapteva's store, with an expected October delivery date. The company tells us the 64-core version will also be available for public consumption, with pre-orders beginning in Q4 this year.

Filed under: Misc

Source: GitHub (Gen-1 board specs), Adapteva store

New Exynos 5 Octa: 20 percent more CPU power, over twice the 3D graphics oomph

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/22/exynos-5-octa-5420/

Samsung couldn't help itself last week when it teased a new Exynos 5 Octa system on a chip, and now it's dishing out the full details. The fresh 5420 variant of the SoC is based on Mali-T628 MP6 silicon, packs a quartet of ARM Cortex-A15 cores running at 1.8GHz and four 1.3GHz Cortex-A7s in an ARM big.LITTLE configuration. Seoul claims that the package packs 20 percent more CPU processing punch, and has two times greater 3D graphics power than its predecessor. Dual-channel LPDDR3 at 933MHz gives the processor a screaming memory bandwidth of 14.9 GBps, which lends it full HD WiFi display support. Baked inside is an image compression solution that makes for energy efficient multimedia loading, and squeezes out more hours of use with high-res displays. There's no word on which devices might use the new SoCs, but the chips are already being sampled by Samsung's customers, and mass-production is slated for August.

Filed under: Mobile, Samsung

Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 Bluetooth in-ears: sweat resistance, six-month sleep

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/plantronics-intros-backbeat-go-2-bluetooth-headphones-promises/

Plantronics was proud to present its BackBeat Go Bluetooth in-ear headphones last year, but it's also aware improvements are always welcome. To that end, the company's ready to show off its second iteration: BackBeat Go 2. P2i moisture resistance and reworked internals for improved sound back up the sporty wire-behind-the-ear design and fit stabilizers -- look out, Jaybird. Not only does the hardware remember up to eight devices, but a DeepSleep mode shuts it down if you walk out of range without turning the power off, allowing it to sleep for up to six months. The internal batteries squeeze out about 4.5 hours of playtime for music, and an optional microUSB recharging case ($20) can provide about two and a half juice refills. As you'd expect, an inline remote keeps you in control of your playlists and calls, while DSP enhances incoming and outgoing sound. Ears perked? The headphones will be available starting today at various retailers in your choice of black or white for $80.

Gallery: Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 (press images)

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video

OpenCL 2.0 provisional spec gets outlined, OpenGL 4.4 released

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/opencl-2-0-opengl-4-4-specifications/

SIGGRAPH has only just begun, but the Khronos Group is already giving folks of the graphics programming persuasion some fresh APIs to talk about. Yesterday marked the release of the OpenCL 2.0 provisional specification, and it's boasting an Android installable client driver extension, along with improvements to image handling, shared virtual memory and more. It's expected that the new version of OpenCL will be finalized in six month's time, and feedback regarding the changes are being welcomed. The fresh OpenGL 4.4 spec revamps everything from shaders to asynchronous queries while keeping full backwards compatibility, and includes additional functions to make porting Direct3D apps a smoother process. If parallel programming and cross-platform graphics are your thing, hit the break for the full feature breakdown in the press release.

Source: Khronos Group (1), (2)

Donate your Android device's processing power to science with BOINC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/dnp-use-your-android-devices-processing-power-to-discover-stars/

If you've ever wanted to help out with a scientific research project but lack the PhD credentials, there's now a much simpler way: all you need is a decent Android device and a new app called BOINC. Similar to projects such as Folding@Home for laptops and desktops, the app harnesses your mobile device's extra CPU cycles to help crunch data for scientific studies. Don't worry, it'll only work if you're on Wi-Fi, so it won't eat up your data plan. You can choose which research endeavor to support from within BOINC, including Einstein@Home and FightAIDS@Home that seek to discover pulsars (stellar remnants) and AIDS treatment, respectively. The app, which you can install from Google Play, was designed to be as unobtrusive as possible and will work as long as you're running Android 2.3 or higher. Generous (and envious) iOS users, sit tight -- the developer is mulling over the possibility of creating an iOS app next.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Alt, Google

Via: CNET

Source: BOINC, IBM

Monday, July 22, 2013

Fresh Paint finds its way to Windows Phone 8 devices

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/22/fresh-paint-windows-phone-8/

Fresh Paint, the digital art app born on Windows 8, has finally migrated to mobile devices, and starting today, aspiring artists running Windows Phone 8 can fiddle with its brushes to their hearts' content. This new, simplified version doesn't make any major departures from the Windows 8 application; you can still mix pigments to create custom hues, share your creations via text, e-mail and SkyDrive and add filters to your photos to make them look like paintings or sketches. It's worth noting that WP8 doesn't support styluses, so you'll have to make do with finger painting or a capacitive stylus without pressure sensitivity. To download the free app, head over to Windows Phone store, linked below.

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Microsoft

Source: Windows Phone Store, Windows Phone Blog

Samsung's Beautiful Curved OLED TV Comes to the USA for a Mere $15,000

Source: http://gizmodo.com/samsungs-beautiful-curved-oled-tv-comes-to-the-usa-for-868113547

Samsung's Beautiful Curved OLED TV Comes to the USA for a Mere $15,000

Back at CES we were floored by Samsung's crazy/beautiful 55-inch curved OLED television. They were an eyegasm of light-emitting diodes with a subtle but enticing cinematic bend. Secretly, we never thought we'd ever see one in real life since they just reek of CES flashiness that never turns into real-life anything. We were so wrong.

Ubuntu Edge smartphone announced with $32 million Indiegogo campaign, aims to hit market in May 2014

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/22/ubuntu-edge-smartphone/

Ubuntu's plan to merge the desktop computer and mobile device is taking shape today in form of the Edge, which it's aiming to bring to market in May of next year for $830 outright. True to Canonical's community driven roots, the company is turning to crowd-funding to get the device on its feet. It's aiming to raise $32 million, and to that end, Canonical's launching a campaign on Indiegogo today, which provides early backers the opportunity to snag the phone for $600. According to company founder, Mark Shuttleworth, the Indiegogo route isn't meant to compete with its strategy of courting carriers for its mainstream smartphone project. Rather, it's meant to solve an "innovation gap" that's arisen during talks with manufacturers over its grander vision.

The Ubuntu Edge is a very ambitious smartphone that'll be capable of running a full-fledged Ubuntu desktop operating system alongside Android. While specs are currently tentative, the company is aiming to outfit the Edge with a quad-core CPU, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Meanwhile, the phone itself will sport a 4.5-inch, 1,280 x 720 display that's constructed of sapphire crystal glass, an 8MP rear / 2MP front-facing camera and stereo speakers. As for connectivity, Canonical's eyeing LTE, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC, along with MHL support.

If the converged device strategy strikes your fancy, you'll find good incentive to be among the early backers. According to Shuttleworth, the Edge will only come to market if backers make it happen, as "none of the phone manufacturers are yet ambitious enough to try to put both things in one package." Regardless of whether the Indiegogo campaigns succeeds -- it'd be a record, if so -- Canonical will continue pursuing its strategy to bring a more basic Ubuntu smartphone to market. Recently, the company announced the first of its partner carriers, which includes Verizon, Deutsche Telecom, EE, SK Telecom, China Unicom and others. We're still waiting to see what type of smartphone might be offered through the carriers, but it's now clear that if you believe in the open source / converged device philosophy, you'll need to vote with your wallet.

Gallery: Ubuntu Edge

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Source: Indiegogo

Verizon FiOS rolls out 500/100 Mbps broadband, its highest speed tier yet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/22/verizon-fios-quantum-500-mbps/

The broadband speed wars continue to rage, and today, Verizon announced that it's throwing down with its fastest tier yet. With a download speed of 500 megabits per second (and an upload speed of 100Mbps), the leap forward marks the latest evolution of the company's fiber-optic Quantum Internet Service, which rolled out last summer. To put those numbers into perspective, you'll be able to download a 5GB HD movie in 1.4 minutes or upload a 100MB file in eight seconds, assuming you're operating at full speed. Verizon is hoping to gradually introduce its newest speed tier to all FiOS markets by 2014, with limited availability starting today. To hear what Big Red has to say about it, check out the video after the break.

Filed under: Internet, Verizon

LG's 55-inch curved OLED TV hits Best Buy for $14,999

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/22/lgs-curved-oled-tv/

Remember that curved OLED HDTV that LG was teasing way back at CES? Well, it's just begun shipping here in the US. A Best Buy store in Richfield, Minnesota is the first retailer to stock the 55-inch set, which is available beginning today for just shy of 15 grand. It's due to hit Magnolia stores at select Best Buys in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle and San Antonio over the next few weeks. The curved design is intended to provide a more immersive experience for viewers, though $14,999 is a bit too steep any way you look at it. Samsung, meanwhile, has a curved 55-incher of its own -- that OLED screen arrived in Korea late last month, and is rolling out to (very) select US retailers this week, too.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD, LG

Belkin ships WeMo Light Switch for $50, launches matching Android app

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/22/belkin-ships-wemo-connected-light-switch-for-50/

Belkin promised a simple approach to connected lighting when it unveiled the WeMo Light Switch back at CES, and the company is making good on its word by releasing the switch today. The WiFi-based controller is now available both online and at retail shops for $50. It isn't arriving alone, either -- Belkin is simultaneously launching the finished version of its free WeMo app for Android to complement the existing iOS release. If you'd rather have smart switches than smart light bulbs, the new WeMo hardware awaits at the source link; the companion Android app should be available shortly.

Filed under: Household

Source: Belkin

SanDisk Connect is a new series of wireless storage and streaming devices starting at $50

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/22/sandisk-connect-wireless-storage-streaming/

Flash drives these days, no matter how fast, are a dime a dozen. A jump drive that does double duty as a wireless streaming dongle? Not so common. SanDisk's new Connect lineup can pull off the streaming trick whether it's the flash drives with 16 or 32GB sizes for $50 and $60, respectively, or the Media Drives that pack 32 or 64GB of storage for either $80 or $100. Both sets of devices can stream movies, music or other data to PCs, Macs, iOS and Android devices or even Kindle Fires. All you need to do is grab the SanDisk Connect app for your device, and transferring files is a drag-and-drop affair.

Where the Flash and Media Drives differ, however, is that the latter can serve up to eight devices at a time with regular data, or send out five simultaneous streams of 720p video. Plus, it's got an SDHC/SDXC slot for further storage expansion, should 64 gigs be insufficient. Sound good? Folks in the US can pre-order either drive today from Amazon, and if you aren't a Bezos fan, Newegg and Micro Center are taking Flash Drive preorders, too. Save that, you can always go pick one up from Best Buy in August.

Filed under: Storage, Mobile

This Arduino hackaphone was never going to be pretty, but it does the job

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/22/arduino-hackaphone/

Okay, we'll admit that it looks a bit like a baby monitor. But in contrast to those over-engineered pieces of parenting paraphernalia, this DIY cellphone can actually make calls and send texts over GPRS. More importantly, Hackaday claims it was put together by a lone hacker ("Victorzie") from an assortment of off-the-shelf and modded parts, including a TFT touchscreen, lithium ion battery, charging circuit, GPRS module and shield. These components were hooked up to an Arduino Uno microcontroller running a barebones UI and then jammed into a 3D printed case, which makes the device look far more pocketable than some previous hackaphone efforts. The end result inspires big respect for the creator, but also, more grudgingly, for the pro engineers at places like Nokia, who can pull all this stuff together and even get it FCC-approved for just a few dollars.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Source: Hackaday

Freeze Half-Cooked French Fries For Extra Crunch

Source: http://lifehacker.com/freeze-half-cooked-french-fries-for-extra-crunch-844089555

Freeze Half-Cooked French Fries For Extra Crunch

Nothing beats a french fry that's crispy on the outside, and still soft and warm on the inside, but it's tough to get it just right when you cook them at home. Oddly enough, the secret to that restaurant-style crunch might be your freezer.

MiniFlux is a Secure, Minimal News Reader

Source: http://lifehacker.com/miniflux-is-a-secure-minimal-news-reader-850246201

MiniFlux is a Secure, Minimal News Reader

If you still haven't settled on a Google Reader alternative, or you're concerned about security on any of the popular offerings, MiniFlux is worth checking out.

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