Thursday, August 23, 2012

LG Display starts volume production of in-cell touch screens, we have a hunch as to who wants them

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/lg-display-starts-volume-production-of-in-cell-touch-screens/

LG Display 1080p 5-inch panel

Looks like we'll be finding in-cell touch displays in our devices sooner rather than later: LG Display has confirmed that it's been mass-producing the thinner LCDs since earlier in August. CEO Han Sang-beom also notes that manufacturing has been going as smooth as, well, glass. Despite the complexity of building touch input directly into a display, the company expects to keep the supply going "without any fail," according to the executive. As to who's making the orders? LG Display isn't naming its customers on the record, and production could be as much for its sister company's phones and tablets as anyone else's. It's hard not to pinpoint Apple as the 800-pound gorilla in the room, however. Apart from Apple representing one of LG Display's biggest existing customers, multiple rumors and component leaks point to an iPhone with an in-cell display being in the works. The timing raises a distinct possibility that we'll know more about the screen manufacturer's clients in less than a month.

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LG Display starts volume production of in-! cell tou ch screens, we have a hunch as to who wants them originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IRISNotes 2 looks to undercut Livescribe, digitizes your scribbles for $99

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/23/irisnotes-2-looks-to-undercut-livescribe/

IRISNotes 2 looks to undercut Livescribe, digitizes your scribbles for $99

IRIS is trying to make a big name for itself in the OCR world. But, top notch software alone isn't going to put its name on the tips of consumers tongues. For that they're gonna need something sexier, more... tangible. With its portable scanner line already on shelves the company is pushing out an update to its digital pen series IRISNotes. The IRISNotes Express 2 and Executive 2 are very similar to the intriguing Livescribe that, while compelling, never seemed to fly off the shelves. IRISNotes ditches the special paper required by its more popular competitor, and instead uses a small receiver that clips to the top of a standard sheet to record your scrawl in digitized form. IRIS hasn't specified how much storage is on board, only saying that it can save 100 pages worth of notes before you'll need to download its contents to a PC. The $99 Express undercuts Livescribe's cheapest offering by $20, but it's worth noting that it doesn't have support for voice notes or a stable of applications that tie into its ecosystem. The Executive model retails for $149 and sports a more elegant finish, befitting its name. It also comes with a 30-pin adapter that lets you dump your missives directly to an iDevice. Both are available now, and you'll find complete PR after the break.

Continue reading IRISNotes 2 looks to undercut Livescribe, digitizes your scribbles for $99

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IRISNotes 2 looks to undercut Livescribe, digitizes your scribbles for $99 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JBL's newest Jembe desktop speakers are Bluetooth-enabled, now on sale for $99

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/23/jbl-jembe-wireless-bluetooth-speakers/

JBL's newest Jembe desktop speakers are Bluetoothenabled, now on sale for $99

The Jembe wired speakers have been out on the market since late last year, but now JBL's finally introducing a cordless variant of these sleek desktop noisemakers. Aside from being Bluetooth-friendly at last, the pair's retaining its "stylish weave design" and adding a Harman TrueStream sound technology that wasn't found on the lesser-priced, cabled Jembe set -- this, naturally, while still utilizing a 3.5mm headphone jack as the main input source. JBL's pricing the new Jembe speakers at $99 in the US and £70 (about $110) for UK folks, with the company set to be taking orders as we speak. For that, however, you'll have to virtually land on either of the links below -- otherwise you can always go with those eccentric (and rather intimidating) Edifier Spinnakers.

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JBL's newest Jembe desktop speakers are Bluetooth-enabled, now on sale for $99 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VMware intros Fusion 5 virtualization software with support for Win 8, integration with Mountain Lion

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/23/vmware-announces-fusion-5-virtualization-software/

VMware announces Fusion 5 virtualization software with support for Windows 8, integration with Mountain Lion

With Mountain Lion newly available and Windows 8 on the verge of shipping, now was a pretty good time for VMware to update its Fusion virtualization software, dont'cha think? The company just announced Fusion 5 with 70-plus new features, including support for Win 8 and tight integration with OS X 10.8. For instance, you can now view Windows programs in Mountain Lion's Launchpad, while VMware software updates pop up in the Notification Center. Fusion also supports AirPlay for the first time, and you can also run either Mountain Lion or Mountain Lion Server as a virtual machine. The company also added support for Retina Display MacBook Pros, so that everything looks crisp on that 2,880 x 1,800 screen. Also of note: Fusion now supports USB 3.0, and Linux users get some love in the form of Open GL 2.1 graphics support.

The standard version of Fusion 5 is available now for $49.99, but people who bought Fusion 4 since the release of Mountain Lion can upgrade for free. There's also a professional version ($100 for one license), which includes all the above features, and also lets IT departments lock down settings for employees' virtual machines.

Continue reading VMware intros Fusion 5 virtualization software with support for Win 8, integration with Mountain Lion

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VMware intros Fusion 5 virtualization software with support for Win 8, integration with Mountain Lion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red posts high frame-rate video demonstration to smooth out misconceptions

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/23/red-high-frame-rate-demonstration/

Red posts HFR demonstration to smooth out misconceptions

If you're still unsure about what you'll be getting into if you see the 48fps version of "Hobbit," Red has jumped into the fray with an article on its website and, most importantly, high quality HFR (high frame-rate) videos. It delves into all the aspects of the tech, starting with a primer on the minimum frame rate required to perceive motion, illustrated by a pair of clips to show the threshold. From there it details "judder" when panning at 24 fps versus 60 fps, motion blur, the possibility of brighter projection with HFR in 3D and of course, action at slower versus faster frame speeds. Finally, it demonstrates the hated "TruMotion" soap opera-esque interpolation method on modern TVs, and why that's different from true fast-frames. Sure, Red has a vested interest in seeing upcoming HFR films from its Epic camera succeed, but a little education might be what's needed to break old habits.

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Red posts high frame-rate video demonstration to smooth out misconceptions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 08:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Aspire V5 review: an 11-inch Ivy Bridge laptop for $550

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/23/acer-aspire-v5-review/

Acer Aspire V5 review an 11inch Ivy Bridge laptop for $550

Acer first took the wraps off its Aspire V5 series at CeBIT in March, teasing the line of notebooks with designs that are 30 percent thinner than other laptops in their category. A few months later, in June, the company officially unveiled the 14- and 15-inch Aspire V5s, with Ivy Bridge processors and prices starting at $630. Rounding out that family is the 11-inch the Aspire V5 171. We have a bit of an identity crisis on our hands with this guy: though it looks like a netbook and weighs a light three pounds, it packs a Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor befitting a full-fledged machine, but it costs a budget-minded $550 ($500 with Acer's current promotion). Many products in this price range are clunky 15-inchers, so where exactly does this Aspire V5 fit in? Join us past the break as we sort that out.

Continue reading Acer Aspire V5 review: an 11-inch Ivy Bridge laptop for $550

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Acer Aspire V5 review: an 11-inch Ivy Bridge laptop for $550 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

PayPal expands presence in US retail stores with new Discover partnership

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/paypal-expands-presence-in-us-retail-stores-with-new-discover-pa/

PayPal already has a partnership with MasterCard in place that lets you use its debit cards in stores, but the company has now expanded that retail presence even further with a new deal it's struck with Discover. Starting sometime next year, that arrangement will let PayPal customers use their charge cards at any of the 7 million retail locations that accept Discover cards, with funds drawn directly from their PayPal account. What's more, PayPal says that retailers won't have to make any hardware or software upgrades to accept the PayPal payments, noting that they'll simply have to let customers know of the new option with in-store signage. Of course, the deal also likely has implications beyond traditional plastic cards, as PayPal is now also pushing its mobile payments more than ever, not to mention its own triangular Square competitor. You can find the official announcement below.

Continue reading PayPal expands presence in US retail stores with new Discover partnership

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PayPal expands presence in US retail stores with new Discover partnership originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook Messages gets retooled layout, improved search

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/facebook-messages-gets-retooled-layout-improved-search/

Facebook Messages gets retooled layout, improved search

It looks like those who rely more on Facebook Messages than email these days will have a bit of adjusting to do. The company has just announced a new look for that key component of the social network, one that now sports a side-by-side layout and support for multiple inline images -- not to mention emoticons. It's also promising a number of other improvements that are less immediately evident, including the ability to search by a sender's name or keyword directly from the main messages view, and a number of new keyboard shortcuts.

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Facebook Messages gets retooled layout, improved search originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Padcaster SLR lens mount for iPad now available: priced at $149 or $189 for Lenscaster combo

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/the-padcaster-lenscaster-ipad-slr-lens-mount-now-available/

Padcaster SLR lens mount for iPad now available: priced at $149 or $189 for Lenscaster combo

Those who were quite amused by the revelation of that Padcaster back at this year's NAB might want to start prepping their wallets, as the creator's announced it's now shipping the filmmaking iPad companion. Notably, during our first encounter with the Padcatser, we were told it'd be selling for "about $200" once it was released -- but, as it turns out, the SLR lens-mounting peripheral is being priced at a decent $149, while $40 more gets you the Padcaster / Lenscaster combo. That being said, it's also worth noting the company's dubbing this as a "special pricing" and for "a limited time only," with no word on when such promo will be running out. Either way, you can grab one now at the source link below, though it appears you'll have to wait between 2-4 weeks for it to show up at your lovely doorstep.

Continue reading Padcaster SLR lens mount for iPad now available: priced at $149 or $189 for Lenscaster combo

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Padcaster S! LR lens mount for iPad now available: priced at $149 or $189 for Lenscaster combo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boost Mobile to launch Samsung Galaxy S II 4G on September 6th for $360

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/boost-mobile-galaxy-s-ii-4g/

Boost Mobile launches Samsung Galaxy S II 4G September 6th for $360

Boost Mobile is cranking out a trio of Samsung devices today, and the headliner is the Galaxy S II 4G. Essentially a prepaid version of Sprint's ever-popular Epic 4G Touch, the device will be all yours starting on September 6th for $360. As expected, it sports a 1.2GHz dual-core Exynos chipset, 8MP rear camera with 1080p video capture, 2MP front-facing cam, a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 1,800mAh battery and WiMAX and EVDO rev A connectivity. Fortunately, it will run Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, and comes in both white and black options. Read on below for the full press release.

Continue reading Boost Mobile to launch Samsung Galaxy S II 4G on September 6th for $360

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Boost Mobile to launch Samsung Galaxy S II 4G on September 6th for $360 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virgin Mobile reveals Samsung Galaxy Reverb for $250, available for pre-order August 29th

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/virgin-mobile-reveals-samsung-galaxy-reverb/

Virgin Mobile reveals Samsung Galaxy Reverb for $250, available for preorder August 29th

In addition to the new Samsung smartphones for Boost Mobile, Sprint's other subsidiary, Virgin Mobile has also made a reveal for this fall with the Galaxy Reverb. Like its cousins, the phone offers Android 4.0, which is complemented by a 1.4GHz CPU, a 5-megapixel camera and a 4-inch touchscreen. Virgin Mobile's latest is set to hit stores in September for $250, but you can claim your place in line through the pre-order process, which is set to kick off on August 29th. We've already managed to grab some hands-on pics of the Galaxy Reverb, so if you're curious to see what's in store, be sure to hit up the gallery below.

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Virgin Mobile reveals Samsung Galaxy Reverb for $250, available for pre-order August 29th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel brings Medfield to Russia with the MegaFon Mint

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/intel-brings-medfield-to-russia-with-the-megafon-mint/

Intel brings Medfield to Russia with the MegaFon Mint

The Intel-powered mobile machine has been slowly picking up pace this year. Now, the chip-maker has signed up a new partner in the form of Russian operator MegaFon. So, it looks like we might see another (and we must say familiar looking) network-branded Android Medfield phone in the form of the MegaFon Mint. The spec-sheet, again, poses no surprises, with the same 1.6GHz Z2460 chip 1GB of RAM, 4-inch screen and 8-megapixel camera only further enhancing the sense of deja vu. What will be unique, however, is the price, which looks set at 17,990 Rubles (about $565), available from today.

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Intel brings Medfield to Russia with the MegaFon Mint originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos 101 XS review: a tablet that puts the keyboard center stage

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/archos-101-xs-review/

Archos 101 XS review a tablet that puts the keyboard center stage

Archos has had its hand in the slate game since the early days of "internet media tablets," and while its products don't have quite the same brand recognition as, say, Samsung's, we've found the French company's devices to be some of the best-value tablets available. Budget-minded prices and innovation don't usually go hand in hand, but in the case of its new 101 XS Android 4.0 tablet, Archos has a few tricks up its sleeve. The slate boasts a keyboard cover and kickstand, along with a magnetic hinge allowing the lid to attach to the display. Arriving in November for $400, the Archos 101 XS is a productivity-minded take on slates, complete with a full set of keys and a bundled copy of OfficeSuite Pro. Do the hardware and software add up to a killer combo? Read on to find out.

Continue reading Archos 101 XS review: a tablet that puts the keyboard center stage

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Archos 101 XS review: a tablet that puts the keyboard center stage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vizio Co-Star teardown supplies the tech specs we never had

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/vizio-co-star-teardown-supplies-the-tech-specs-we-never-had/

Vizio CoStar teardown supplies the tech specs we never had

Vizio's Co-Star Google TV hub has been public knowledge for more than half of 2012, but it might as well have been a black box as far as its internals were concerned. It's mostly been a mystery beyond the acknowledgment of a Marvell ARM chip inside. The teardown gurus at iFixit certainly weren't content to let that riddle go unanswered. Their exploration of the box shows that Vizio is very much clinging to the initial Marvell vision of using a dual-core, 1.2GHz Armada 1500 to handle 1080p video at that $100 price -- albeit with just 4GB of flash to store everything the Android OS demands. What may interest hobbyists is simply the accessibility of the set-top box: just about every board and component comes out easily, which could lead to some cheaper DIY surgery. The full parts list is waiting at the source if knowing how your Google TV box operates is as important as catching up on Netflix.

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Vizio Co-Star teardown supplies the tech specs we never had originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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