Isis Mobile Wallet teams up with American Express for nationwide rollout

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/isis-mobile-wallet-american-express-serve/

Isis is gearing up to expand its Mobile Wallet service nationwide in the coming months, but its plans don't end there. The company has just announced that it's teaming up with American Express to bring the latter's Serve platform to Isis Mobile Wallet. Serve account holders will be able to make use of most of the features they already expect from Amex, like loading cash to their accounts, paying bills electronically and adding funds via direct deposit. By joining up with Isis, Serve is now unlocking the Mobile Wallet's capabilities, like NFC-powered payments at participating retail locations. Though Isis is currently limited to Austin and Salt Lake City, the company -- now with Amex on its side -- hopes to reach customers coast to coast before the year is out, though we don't have a specific date for availability just yet. For more info, check out the press release after the break.

Filed under: Software, Mobile

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NVIDIA CEO: 'We're going to bring it with the second generation Surface'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/nvidia-jen-hsun-huang-microsoft-surface-2/

NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang has confirmed to CNET that a followup to the Surface RT is in development, and that it will apparently continue to use NVIDIA hardware inside. Recently news concerning the ARM-powered version of Microsoft's tablet hasn't been good, with a $900 million inventory charge and price cuts for both the RT and Pro. According to Jen-Hsun Huang, the addition of an Outlook mail app in Windows 8.1 can be the killer app the platform has been missing, and the company hopes it will be a big success. Rumors for the next gen of Surface have hinted at Microsoft offering Qualcomm chips in some models as well a smaller 7-inch version. NVIDIA may have some Tegra 4-specific features to contribute on the latter, we'll see if its can take a bigger bite out of the tablet market on their second attempt.

Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft

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Source: CNET

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How Thomas Kinkade Helped Prove That Art Can Be Scientifically Bad

Source: http://gizmodo.com/how-thomas-kinkade-helped-prove-that-art-can-be-scienti-1066345777

What’s your favorite meal? Logically, your answer depends on the foods you’re familiar with. Now here’s another question: Who’s your favorite painter? Turns out the same logic doesn't apply. A new study that pits Thomas Kinkade against 19th century painter John Everett Millais has proven that some art actually is objectively good or bad—contradicting what scientists previously assumed about aesthetics.

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Is it really practical to live in all these awesome modern houses?

Source: http://roadtrippers.kinja.com/ferris-buellers-day-off-glass-house-on-market-again-1067053678/1068238416

The Rose House—the most important modernist building in the Chicago area, featured in John Hughes' movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off—is back on sale for just $1.5 million. That's three times in three years! Is this house haunted or just a mess to maintain?

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The Kindle Fire HD Is Cheaper Than It's Ever Been

Source: http://gizmodo.com/the-kindle-fire-hd-is-cheaper-than-its-ever-been-1070710709

In case you haven't noticed yet, Amazon's been hitting its Kindle Fire HD 7-inch with sale after sale, and right now, you can pick one up for the lowest price ever in its relatively short history—a cool $160 compared to the usual $200.

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The Intersection of Comic Books and Infographics in One Glorious Book

Source: http://gizmodo.com/the-intersection-of-comic-books-and-infographics-in-one-1070973118

Many comics aren't worth reading. Many infographics don't say anything at all. But when one of the keenest visual minds targets one of the most expansive visual mediums, wonderful things happen. Tim Leong's Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Comic Book Universe is the perfect collision. And I want it.

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Aereo continues expansion, plans service rollout in Miami, Houston and Dallas-Ft. Worth

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/aereo-new-market-expansion-dallas-houston-miami/

For a company's that's mired in legal red tape, Aereo's nationwide expansion isn't showing any signs of slowing. The streaming service, which uses an antenna / DVR system to deliver local broadcast stations, will soon launch in three additional major cities -- Houston and Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX; Miami, FL -- in a rollout scheduled to complete by the end of September. Interested parties can head to Aereo's site now to get a leg up on pre-registration for the service, with rates starting at $8/mo for 20 hours of DVR storage. Take note, the first month's gratis, but after that it's the same old subscription ball-and-chain just like any other. And, hey, at least this is one way to guarantee Moonves' content kingdom and his trusty Chenbot still have a home on your flatscreen or iPad or, you know, device.

Filed under: Internet, HD

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HTC One X+ gains BlinkFeed and Zoe Share in unofficial Android 4.2.2 leak (update)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/htc-one-x-leaked-android-jellybean-update-blinkfeed-zoe-share/

No, the global One X+ isn't getting an update to Android 4.2.2 and Sense 5 -- not yet, anyway. A round of recent reports have incorrectly stated that an OTA update for the global One X+ has begun rolling out to users' handsets. The purported update, which brings with it a host of HTC's newest features like Zoe Share and BlinkFeed, is in fact a leaked RUU and not an official software release, as HTC confirmed to us. That's not to say a true update isn't on the way -- it is -- but the company's not committing to a specific timeframe for that just yet. One X+ owners, you'll have to hold onto hope just a little bit longer.

Update: It appears HTC's Taiwanese site may have posted that update for users after all. A link on the company's site clearly outlines the Android 4.2.2 / Sense 5 update as available for users. We've reached out to HTC once again for clarification and will update this post accordingly.

Update 2: HTC has confirmed that only the Taiwanese version of the One X+ is currently receiving the update. Still no word as to when that OTA will hit the global model, but it sure can't be far off now.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Software, Mobile, HTC, Google

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Source: HTC

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LG G2 confirmed to arrive on Three and O2 in the UK

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/lg-g2-uk-availability/

Following the formal reveal of the LG G2 yesterday, UK network Three was quick to report its plan to offer the handset "soon," so we thought we'd follow up with all the other major providers to see where else you'll eventually be able to find one. O2 is also on board, although it would only commit to a vague release window of "later this year." Vodafone said it currently has no plans to offer the G2, and while EE has "nothing to announce," we couldn't get any assurance that it wouldn't show up on its 4G network, or on the Orange or T-Mobile brands. Retailer Carphone Warehouse has put a tentative October arrival date on its website, and although we're still waiting on a response from Phones 4U, you'll more than likely be able to find it there, too. So, if you've developed a particular taste for the slim bezel design and quirky button placement, you'll have at least a few options come launch time.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG

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Via: CNET

Source: Three, Carphone Warehouse

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Acer to expand its Android and Chromebook lineup, offer fewer Windows devices

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/acer-android-chromebooks/

Historically, most of Acer's device lineup has been focused on Windows products -- it's the fourth-largest PC maker, after all -- but a less-than-pleasant second quarter seems to have given the company reason to switch its strategy up a bit. According to the Wall Street Journal, Acer is looking into expanding its Google-centric efforts; although it will continue a strong partnership with Microsoft, the Taiwanese manufacturer aims to offer more Chromebooks and Android products, while pushing fewer laptops or tablets sporting Win8. Chairman J.T. Wang told the Journal that smartphones, tablets and Chromebooks are expected to make up 10-12 percent of the company's revenue by the end of this year, while that number should bump up to 30 percent in 2014.

Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops, Tablets, Mobile, Microsoft, Google, Acer

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Source: Wall Street Journal

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Dell unveils Latitude 7000 series Ultrabooks with Haswell inside

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/08/dell-unveils-latitude-7000-ultrabooks/

Dell's Haswell-based Latitude laptops have been a tad on the chunky side so far, but the company is making amends by quietly launching its new Latitude 7000 series Ultrabooks. Both the 12.5-inch E7240 and 14-inch E7440 fit Intel's new low-voltage, 1.7GHz Core i3 CPU into an aluminum shell that's about 0.8 inch thick, yet meets military standards for resistance to dust, water and shock. They also support Dell's WiGig Wireless Dock and WiDi. Neither will come close to the Precision M3800 in features, however. The two Latitudes both start with 4GB of RAM and a 1,366 x 768 display, and there's no way to upgrade the performance or screen quality. They're also expensive -- the E7240 is launching at a $1,169 sale price with a 128GB SSD inside, while the E7440 with a 320GB hard drive isn't much cheaper at $1,049. Still, we wouldn't complain (much) if an IT manager plunked either of these Ultrabooks on our desks.

Filed under: Laptops, Dell

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Via: Liliputing

Source: Dell (E7240), (E7440)

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This Simple Chart Is a Brilliantly Minimal Perpetual Calendar

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-simple-chart-is-a-brilliantly-minimal-perpetual-ca-1057709528

Designer Ilya Birman has come up with what has to be one of the most elegant, minimal perpetual calendars we've ever laid eyes on—at least compared to other creations which tend to look like hideous sudoku puzzles.

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MixBit: A New Vine-Like Video Sharing App by YouTube's Co-Founders

Source: http://gizmodo.com/mixbit-a-new-vine-like-video-sharing-app-by-youtubes-1064157000

You might think Vine and Instagram have captured the market with social video, but now the pros are getting involved: Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, the co-founders of YouTube, have just launched a new video app called MixBit, and you can get it now.

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Infuse 1.3 for iOS adds AirPlay video streaming, web-based WiFi transfers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/07/infuse-1-3-for-ios/

FireCore's Infuse app is already handy for iOS users who want to play less common video formats; with the 1.3 release, it might prove vital. The new version brings AirPlay, letting viewers push any of 14 video codecs to their Apple TV. Transfers should also be simple now that users can use a web browser or FTP client to copy videos over WiFi. There's even a social aspect to 1.3 -- Infuse now sends play counts and ratings to trakt.tv, and users can advertise what they're watching through Facebook and Twitter. If VLC for iOS isn't quite your cup of tea, you can spend $5 at the App Store to try FireCore's take on mobile movie playback.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, HD, Mobile

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Via: FireCore Blog

Source: App Store

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Netflix SuperHD, 3D streaming options pop up on Comcast, Verizon (update: gone)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/07/netflix-superhd-3d-comcast/

Ever since Netflix introduced its SuperHD streaming with higher quality 1080p video and 3D support at CES in January, it's been restricted to only ISPs participating in its OpenConnect CDN program. Tonight, either there's some kind of glitch or that participation has been expanded, because users with previously unsupported ISPs are seeing SuperHD buttons on Netflix as well. We've been able to confirm it and even stream SuperHD and 3D video on previously unsupported ISPs like Comcast and Verizon. There are several reports on Twitter of people suddenly seeing the option as well, and we've contacted Netflix to see what's going on. So far the company has not responded, but if you've been waiting for some higher quality streaming options, hit the test page to see if you have the green light then try it out on a SuperHD-ready device (PS3, Roku, Apple TV, Wii U, Windows 8 and some others).

Update: And just like that, they were gone. We're getting reports from readers and seeing ourselves that the green light ha gone back to red and SuperHD streaming is no more on our Comcast connection. We have yet to hear from the company but right now a glitch or accident of some kind is the most likely explanation -- luckily it lasted just long enough for us to get through a 3D highlight reel from Art of Flight.

[Thanks, Tim]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Netflix

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