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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

drag2share: HTC Zeta rendered, rumored to pack 2.5GHz quad-core CPU and Ice Cream Sandwich

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/htc-zeta-rendered-rumored-to-pack-2-5ghz-quad-core-cpu-and-ice/

Ready for today's grain of salt? We just got handed imagery and specs of a possible HTC device in the works codenamed the Zeta. It's a quad-core handset, much like the Edge that was leaked last week, but it has a much faster 2.5GHz APQ8064 CPU along with 1GB of RAM running the show, on a 4.5-inch 720p HD display. According to our source, the uniquely shaped smartphone will come with Ice Cream Sandwich pre-installed with Sense UI (version 4.0 wasn't specified, but we'd be surprised to see it any lower on an ICS device) and have 32GB of internal storage space, an 1,830mAh battery, Beats Audio, Bluetooth 4.0, an 8MP rear camera with dual LED flash, 1080p video capture and a 1.3MP front-facing cam. Dimensions? We have those, too: the Zeta is said to measure at 109.8 x 60.9 x 9.8mm (4.32 x 2.4 x 0.39 inches) and weigh 5.15 ounces (146g). Pricing and availability aren't known, and we're still digging for more info. It certainly has an intriguing look; the sharp corners would be a huge departure from HTC's recent design choices, though it appears to have HTC's signature unibody build in the back. So are we just looking at a cool concept or is this the next flagship phone? We're hoping it's the latter.

[Thanks, Wysiest]

HTC Zeta rendered, rumored to pack 2.5GHz quad-core CPU and Ice Cream Sandwich originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Google Voice for Android finally gets mass texting capabilities

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/google-voice-for-android-finally-gets-mass-texting-capabilities/

Google Voice for Android

Sweet jumpin' Jehoshaphat, it finally happened -- Google Voice for Android now supports sending text messages to multiple recipients. Being able to have a single, archived repository of texts is great, but it was always somewhat bewildering that while you could send a mass SMS from the website you were stuck sending out individual missives on the app. Today's update, version 0.4.2.38, finally gives Voice the power to spam your contacts -- a pretty basic feature that even the lowliest of feature phones enjoys. So what are you waiting for, head over to the Market to get the update now. How else are you going to let all 300 of your closest acquaintances know the next time you're DJing during happy hour?

Google Voice for Android finally gets mass texting capabilities originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Insert Coin: SeeMeCNC H-1 cuts entry price to the world of 3D printing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/insert-coin-seemecnc-h-1-cuts-entry-price-to-the-world-of-3d-pr/

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

Maybe it was the Turtle Shell racers, or the ability to crowdsource homes for crabs, but we're enthralled with the potential of 3D printers. Now, SeeMeCNC is looking to offer up its skeletal H-1 as "the most affordable" entry-level three-dimensional printer available. Its design roots come from the open source RepRap's latest self-replicating machine, the Huxley. However, there are a few differences here. SeeMeCNC has replaced several parts for injection molding, which apparently shaves a substantial chunk off the manufacturing costs. This includes using plastic roller bearings instead of metal bearings, while the machine has also been readjusted to inch measurements. Fans of the imperial system and 3D printing antics can peer beyond the break to judge whether the cut-price printer will still cut the mustard.

Continue reading Insert Coin: SeeMeCNC H-1 cuts entry price to the world of 3D printing

Insert Coin: SeeMeCNC H-1 cuts entry price to the world of 3D printing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Sony may be preparing an internet-based cable TV alternative

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/sony-may-be-preparing-an-internet-based-cable-tv-alternative/

We've officially entered the silly season of pre-CES rumors, so take this with a grain of salt, but the Wall Street Journal reports Sony has approached "several big media companies" about distributing their channels over the internet. This comes on the heels of its report on comments by CEO Howard Stringer about significant R&D efforts going into a "different kind of TV", and the four screen strategy Sony would like to implement. According to the report, Sony's idea is to offer small bundles of channels over the internet to its TVs, Blu-ray players, and the PS3. Still, cutting deals with companies like CBS, that doesn't want to jeopardize its cable and satellite TV-based revenue, could be difficult. As for the competition, similar rumors about Microsoft turned into an effort that mostly works with partners like Comcast, U-verse, and FiOS, while Google is also pursuing a route of adding to, but not necessarily replacing, cable TV. Sony has positioned itself well, adding IPTV services including sports to the PS3 and live TV tuning capability, and its tested the waters of going over the top before, but so far whether it will actually pursue this new plan is unknown.

Sony may be preparing an internet-based cable TV alternative originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:52:00 EDT. Plea! se see o ur terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Nook Newsstand getting CondÃ© Nast publications (except Vogue)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/nook-newsstand-getting-conde-nast-publications-except-vogue/

After all of our tablet stories, the first question people ask is "But will it run Vogue?" Fortunately for all of you who are desperate to strike a pose and let your bodies move to the music, it won't be long now. Condé Nast is bringing 17 of 18 titles to Nook Tablet, the only omission being Vogue; which is coming in early 2012. Until then, you'll be able to enjoy the rest of the publisher's stable including Glamour, GQ, Teen Vogue and The New Yorker from the end of November. You can purchase individual issues or an annual subscription, print subscribers will get the digital edition free of charge and anyone who does pay will get a fortnight's trial. The only downside to the trial is that it's significantly shorter than the three months offered by the same publisher on the Kindle Fire. There's plenty more details after the break, where we've got a press release all waiting for a closeup.

Continue reading Nook Newsstand getting Condé Nast publications (except Vogue)

Nook Newsstand getting Condé Nast publications (except Vogue) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Square adds customer loyalty and printable receipts to the mobile payment mix

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/square-adds-customer-loyalty-and-printable-receipts-to-the-mobil/

In case you haven't been paying attention, Square, the company that allows vendors to accept payments from various mobile devices, is starting to become a big deal. Now reporting days with over $11 million in transactions, the kids in San Francisco are looking to solve the pains of small business owners while driving repeat usage with a new opt-in customer loyalty system. Coming in the form of a software update, version 2.2 will empower merchants to track repeat visitors and offer sweet incentives to their regulars. For consumers, you'll be capable of seeing these discounts from within the Card Case app, along with letting your awesome presence be known to the shopkeeper -- so, don't be surprised when some owners come grovelin' at your feet. Not to become too futuristic, Square is also going old school with new features such as wireless control of cash drawers and receipt printing. After all, it's hard to look to the future without knowing from where you came.

Square adds customer loyalty and printable receipts to the mobile payment mix originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: HP Wireless Audio streams audio from your PC, arrives next month for $100 (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/hp-wireless-audio-streams-audio-from-your-pc-arrives-next-month/

Yep, HP's on a tear today. In addition to unleashing a trio of redesigned Envy laptops, a refreshed dm4 and one aggressively priced Ultrabook, it has some news to share on the accessories front. The outfit unveiled its Wireless Audio system, which lets you stream audio files from your PC to as many as four compatible speakers. In terms of setup, that photo up there says almost everything: you plug a thumb-sized dongle into your USB port and a larger receiver into the speaker. In the box, you'll also find a software CD to fill in the missing UI piece. The only caveat here (aside from the relative messiness of connecting two intermediary pieces of equipment) is that the system only works with speakers that are compatible with KleerNet's wireless audio technology, and it's likely yours are anyway. In all, the system uses three frequencies (2.4, 5.2 and 5.8GHz) to cut latency and interference, and also supports 5.1 audio. You can pair it with up to four speakers, as we said, so long as they're within 100 feet of your laptop. It'll go on sale next month for $100, with one receiver and transmitter per box. If you're curious, we've got the full PR after the break, along with a short promo video.

Continue reading HP Wireless Audio streams audio from your PC, arrives next month for $100 (video)

HP Wireless Audio streams audio from your PC, arrives next month for $100 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: HP refreshes the Pavilion dm4 with a subwoofer, unveils requisite Beats Edition

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/hp-refreshes-the-pavilion-dm4-with-a-subwoofer-unveils-requisit/

It's shaping up to be a wild day for HP: in addition to revamping its Envy laptops and announcing its first Ultrabook, the outfit went and refreshed the mid-range Pavilion dm4. While it has the same metal-heavy design that bowled us over in our review, it trades Altec Lansing audio for Beats and gains a subwoofer. Otherwise, its entry-level specs -- a Core i3 CPU, 6GB of RAM and a 640GB 5,400RPM hard drive -- closely match the starting config available today.

And, while the company was at it, HP also announced a red-and-black-spangled Beats Edition. An inevitable move, if you ask us: HP has been pushing its partnership with Dr. Dre so heavily that it went so far as to redesign its Envy laptops with a prominent Beats dial. Then again, this is the first time HP's given the Beats special edition treatment to anything other than a top-shelf machine. In any case, you better be pretty sweet on that red backlit keyboard -- the gussied-up, Dre-approved version starts at $900 (headphones not included). Then again, at least you get beefier specs for the money: a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive. If nine hundred bucks isn't what you had in mind, the classic dm4 starts at $630. Both will be available December 18th. If you're curious, find the full PR after the break, along with some rubbernecking hands-on shots below.

Gallery: HP Pavilion dm4 and dm4 Beats Edition

Gallery: HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition hands-on

Continue reading HP refreshes the Pavilion dm4 with a subwoofer, unveils requisite Beats Edition

HP refreshes the Pavilion dm4 with a subwoofer, unveils requisite Beats Edition originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: HP Folio 13 Ultrabook official: starts at $900 with a 128GB SSD and backlit keyboard (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/hp-folio-13-ultrabook-official-starts-at-899-with-a-128gb-ssd/

And just like that, HP joined the Ultrabook party. After announcing the Folio in Australia yesterday, the company went and made it official here in the states too. And man, do we get the feeling the outfit's been watching the competition very closely: this guy starts at $900 and comes standard with a 128GB mSATA SSD and a backlit keyboard. Provided it comes close to matching its promise of nine hours of battery life, it could give the identically priced Toshiba Portege Z830 a run for its money. Not to mention, it undercuts the MacBook Air ($1,299 and up), along with the ASUS Zenbook UX31 and Lenovo IdeaPad U300s, both of which start at $1,100 with a 128GB SSD and no backlit keyboard. Good on ya, HP.

What's that, you say? You want more specs? Rounding out the list, the Folio has a 13.3-inch (1366 x 768) display, optional TPM circuitry and comes standard with a Core i5-2467M processor, 4GB of RAM, a six-cell battery and HP's CoolSense technology. Additionally, it offers a fairly robust selection of ports, including HDMI, Ethernet, USB 2.0 and 3.0, a memory card reader and a combined headphone / mic socket. The trade-off, though, is a slightly thicker chassis than what other Ultrabooks are offering: 3.3 pounds and 18mm (0.7 inches) thick. It'll be available in the US starting December 7th, but we've already managed to snag a few minutes with it, which means we've got photos, video and impressions for you to peek now. So what are you waiting for? Meet us after the break for our hands-on preview.

Gallery: HP Folio 13 Ultrabook

Gallery: HP Folio hands-on

Continue reading HP Folio 13 Ultrabook official: starts at $900 with a 128GB SSD and backlit keyboard (hands-on)

HP Folio 13 Ultrabook official: starts at $900 with a 128GB SSD and backlit keyboard (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: WiFi Direct and DLNA get friendly, make streaming media a little bit easier

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/wifi-direct-and-dlna-get-friendly-make-streaming-media-a-little/

WiFi Direct

DLNA and WiFi Direct are both pretty sweet technologies on their own but, together, they offer the promise of simple, wireless media streaming without the need for that pesky router middleman. The Digital Living Network Alliance has officially incorporated WiFi Direct into its interoperability guidelines, which means you could soon be streaming movies and music between devices (like your laptop and smartphone) without connecting to a home (or public) network. And don't forget, only one part of the equation needs to be WiFi Direct certified -- so don't worry that your aging computer doesn't support it, as long as your smartphone does you're golden. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading WiFi Direct and DLNA get friendly, make streaming media a little bit easier

WiFi Direct and DLNA get friendly, make streaming media a little bit easier originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Researchers increase charging capacity, speed of lithium ion batteries by a factor of ten

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/researchers-increase-charging-capacity-speed-of-lithium-ion-bat/

It's not every day that we get to write about advancements in battery technology -- much less one as potentially groundbreaking as what a group of engineers at Northwestern University claim to have pulled off. In fact, Professor Harold Kung and his team say they've successfully managed to increase both the charging capacity and speed of lithium ion batteries by a factor of ten. The key, according to Kung, is the movement of the lithium ions nestled between layers of graphene. The speed at which these ions move across a battery's graphene sheets is directly related to how fast a device can recharge. To speed up this process, Kung decided to poke millions of tiny, 10-20nm-sized holes into a mobile battery's graphene layers, thereby providing the ions with a "shortcut" to the next level. As a result, Kung's perforated batteries were able to charge ten times faster than traditional cells, going from zero to hero in 15 minutes.

Not satisfied with that achievement alone, Kung and his squad then set about increasing their battery's charging capacity, as well. Here, they increased the density of lithium ions by inserting small clusters of silicon between each graphene slice. This approach allows more ions to gather at the electrode and, by taking advantage of graphene's malleable properties, avoids some of the silicon expansion problems that have plagued previous attempts at capacity enhancement. The result? A battery that can run on a single charge for more than a week. "Now we almost have the best of both worlds," Kung said. "We have much higher energy density because of the silicon, and the sandwiching reduces the capacity loss caused by the silicon expanding and contracting. Even if the silicon clusters break up, the silicon won't be lost." There is, however, a downside, as both charging capacity and speed sharply fell off after 150 charges. But as Kung points out, the increase in charge retention would more than make up for this shortcoming. "Even after 150 charges, which would be one year or more of operation, the battery is still five times more effective than lithium-ion batteries on the market today," he told the BBC. For more technical details, hit up the links below.

Researchers increase charging capacity, speed of lithium ion batteries by a factor of ten originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: University gets $188 million AMD-based supercomputer, free copy of Norton

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/university-gets-188-million-amd-based-supercomputer-free-copy/

It used to be that you only needed a bachelor's degree and elbow patches to be taken seriously as an academic, but now it's all about that 50-petaflop supercomputer with 500 petabytes of storage whirring away in the basement. The University of Illinois used to shop with IBM, but it's just about to have a brand new Cray XK6 installed instead, so it can continue providing computing power to the National Science Foundation's Blue Waters project. It's not all about inciting gadget envy, of course: the machine's unlikely truce of AMD Opteron 6200 16-core processors and NVIDIA Tesla GPUs will help more than 25 teams of scientists to model and understand real-world phenomena, from the damage caused by earthquakes to the way viruses to break into cells. Breakthroughs from these projects will -- hopefully, one day -- make the $188 million total cost of Cray's products and services seem like a bargain. Full details in the PR after the break.

Continue reading University gets $188 million AMD-based supercomputer, free copy of Norton

University gets $188 million AMD-based supercomputer, free copy of Norton originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Vizio's M-Series Theater 3D TVs are officially available, at last

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/vizios-m-series-theater-3d-tvs-are-officially-available-at-las/

Last CES Vizio announced a slew of new LCD HDTVs with its passive glasses-compatible Theater 3D capabilities and Vizio Internet Apps built in, and now it's finally ready to announced the M-series midrange lineup is shipping nationwide. M3D models in various 40- and 50-inch sizes have been popping up over the last few weeks, featuring edge LED backlighting for between $1,039 (42-inch) and $1,649 (55-inch). Need something bigger on your wall? There's also a 65-inch version on the way in 2012, with a pricetag of $2,099. As usual, Vizio's displays bring a rather complete line of features without an ultra-high price tag, but there'd be more reasons to share the included four pairs of 3D glasses with friends if the NBA season would just ever start. As is, buyers will have to make do with whatever videogames and college sports they can find for now -- check after the break for more specs and prices.

Continue reading Vizio's M-Series Theater 3D TVs are officially available, at last

Vizio's M-Series Theater 3D TVs are officially available, at last originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: This 3D Display Actually Works In All 3 Dimensions

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/burton-3d-laser-display-2011-11

Check out this "true 3D" display reported on by Popular Science.

This system focuses lasers in three-dimensional space instead of tricking your eye while you look at a 2D surface. There's not even a screen -- images appear in the air and you can walk 360 degrees around an image to see all sides of it.

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

drag2share: Google Programming Language is Go for 2012 launch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/google-programming-language-is-go-for-2012-launch/

Compared to the gamut of conversational languages, the programming variety shifts at lighting-fast speed. And next year, a new language will get the official nod from Google, which first introduced Go in 2009. With its new language, Mountain View set out to create a programming environment that's easier and faster to use, without sacrificing efficiency. Programmers may need to wait until early 2012 for Go to launch out of experimental status, but you can buy that cute Gopher mascot (in furry plush form) over at the Google Store today.

Google Programming Language is Go for 2012 launch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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