Friday, September 26, 2008

Samsung's Nabee Connects Cameras to PCs, Cables Not Required [Wireless]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/403866721/samsungs-nabee-connects-cameras-to-pcs-cables-not-required

Samsung's Nabee system is a way of adding Wi-Fi sync-up capabilities to simpler digital cameras that lack them. It uses the Alereon AL5000 wireless USB chipset that operates at 3.1 to 10.6 GHz over a 30-foot range and has two parts: a small dongle that goes into the camera's USB socket and one that goes into the PC. It's due out in December, though there's no info on pricing. [FarEastGizmos]


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Pandora, Nearing Survival Deal, Gets New Threat From NAB [Pandora]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/404216670/pandora-nearing-survival-deal-gets-new-threat-from-nab

CNet earlier today broke a story about how the National Association of Broadcasters—traditional broadcasting conglomerates and others who think HD Radio is more vital than the internet—is trying to kill a brand new bill that could save Pandora and other web radio services. We've done some reporting of our own, and the situation does indeed seem dire. If you love your Pandora, here's what's going on, and how you can help save its very existence:

Though we had previously feared the worst, Pandora honcho Tim Westergren told us today that he and other web broadcasters were about to reach a settlement with SoundExchange, the RIAA and the Copyright Royalty Board. They needed a bit more time, which would be granted by a new bill, HR 7084. Though the bill, introduced by Congressman Jay Inslee and others, only extends the negotiation period, Westergren told us that it's the clincher. "We've negotiating for over a year, but people on both sides are now feeling optimistic about getting a deal done," he says. "This bill is a signal of that. We need more time, but we're getting there."

Enter the NAB, who issued the following statement to us and others from Executive VP Dennis Wharton:

NAB has concerns related to Congress attempting to fast-track a bill introduced less than 24 hours ago that could have serious implications for broadcasters, webcasters, and consumers of music. NAB spent more than a year trying to work out an equitable agreement on webcasting rates, only to be stonewalled by SoundExchange and the record labels. We will continue to work with policymakers on a solution that is fair to all parties.

T he funny part about this, at least to Westergren, is that this bill and subsequent settlement would actually grant broadcasters lower fees on the internet, too. "If this falls apart, [NAB members] pay more for their webcasts, too," he says. "So there's only one interpretation, that they are trying to kill us."

Man, Pandora, why is everyone out to get you? If you feel like forming up in Pandora's defense, tell your congressperson that you support HR 7084, aka the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008. Congressional switchboard is (202) 225-3121, and you know your congressperson has a website, right? [Pandora]


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Security Hole in Adobe Software Allows Free Movie Downloads [Adobe]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/404216669/security-hole-in-adobe-software-allows-free-movie-downloads

An exploit has been uncovered in Adobe software that could be used to download free copies of movies and shows from Amazon's Video on Demand service (and other similar services). Apparently, Adobe sacrificed a "a stringent security feature" that protects the connection between Adobe software and its players in order in increase download speeds.

In tests using the Replay Media Catcher from Applian Technologies, Reuters successfully downloaded movies from Amazon and other sites that utilized Adobe software to deliver media. Amazon insists that their movies and TV shows cannot be pirated using video stream catching software, but it seems clear that Adobe's flaw combined with the way Amazon streams content makes it open season on thousands of movies and TV shows for anyone willing to shell out about $40. [Yahoo]


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Samsung's freakishly large Haptic 2 touchscreen phones

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/403665767/

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Forget everything you know about perspective, Samsung's Haptic 2 is clearly one huge-ass handset. Amazing that the jumbo-handed product waif on the left can even hoist the beast without so much as a grimace. Otherwise, Samsung's newest fullscreen device looks every bit the hot Korean cousin to the i900 Omnia. The Haptic 2 followup to the original Haptic features DMB television, 4GB (SCH-W550 or SPH-W5500, about $600) or 16GB (SCH-W555, about $690) of storage, integrated mobile banking, and improved (more sensitive) 3.2-inch touchscreen and an updated TouchWiz UI now sporting 50 widget applications (up from 15) and user defined vibration tones -- whoa, better beef up security for the Korean launch Sammy.

[Via Telecoms Korea]
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BenQ's 3G-enabled, Atom-powered MID Aries2 (S6) boots up in Italy

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/403814508/

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Is it really time to shine, BenQ, or are you just foolin' again? Judging by a product page at Italy's TIM website and a fresh report from the Italian branch of Tom's Hardware, the S6 (or MID Aries2, or BenQ MID... gosh, we're so confused!) is finally ready to order. The Atom-based MID impresses with built-in 3G capabilities, 512MB of RAM, a 2GB SSD, 4.8-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, WiFi / Bluetooth 2.0 and -- just to really pound the message home / incite jealously -- 7.2Mbps HSDPA. The current asking price sits at €429 ($626), and while the value proposition may be debatable, the amount of possibilities packed into a frame this small (6.2- x 3.5- x 0.86-inches) definitely isn't. Let's get these out to other nooks and crannies of the wide world, eh BenQ?

[Via UMPC Portal]
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MIT gurus dream up self-sustaining sensor network for preventing forest fires

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/403889285/

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Thanks, MIT. Why don't you just make the rest of the world feel a little more useless. Every week or so, we're forced to stare at yet another amazing invention coming from your doors; to be frank, it's just downright unfair. All childish angst aside, the latest idea to come from the institution is one that could certainly be put to good use: a self-sustaining sensor network that taps into trees for power in order to continuously monitor forests for threats of fire. Moreover, the concept could be applied in other scenarios as well -- to detect potential threats such as smuggled contraband along a nation's borders, perhaps. Testing of the wireless sensor network (developed by the appropriately named Voltree Power) is scheduled to begin next spring, and we're hearing that pot-sniffing turtles may even be brought in to create a completely natural self-policing environment.

[Via Inhabitat]
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Nanoradio fesses up to world's first 3G UMA phone: Samsung P270

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/403956696/

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We must say, we didn't really expect Samsung's P270 to get official in this manner, but we'll take what we can get. Nanoradio has today unveiled that its "Always On WiFi" solution has been "commercially launched inside the world's first 3G UMA phone." The tech was already available in the 2.5G P250, but its inclusion in the 3G-capable P270 makes it a world's first. For those unaware, this creates a dual-mode cellular / WiFi mobile which doesn't require WiFi to be toggled on or off in order to save battery life. Sadly, that's about it for details, but hopefully Sammy will come along soon and flesh things out.
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Alps Electric shows off longer-life, printable OLED panel

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/404040718/

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Printable OLED panels are hardly the rare occurrence they once were, but Alps Electric seems to think it's worked enough magic with its latest prototype to stand out from the pack, even if it may not wind up in actual product form anytime soon. The key bit with this one, it seems, is a so-called "getter" layer that's used in addition to the usual electrodes and emission layer, which helps to seal the area around the cathode electrode and compensate for minute defects. According to the company, that effectively triples the life of the OLED panel, which is especially useful considering that the same technology is also increasingly being used for lighting systems in addition to displays.
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Samsung's 8MP Pixon gets real, more mysterious

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/404112415/

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Right, so we were already pretty sure that Pixon we were eying earlier wasn't a KIRF of some sort, but just in case you still had your doubts, Samsung has stepped in to wash them away. The 8-megapixel Pixon is for real, as evidenced by a teaser site with an absurdly long URL name. As for confirmed specs, we're looking at a 3.2-inch touch panel, 13.8-millimeter thin enclosure, 8MP camera (with Auto Focus, twin LED flash, face detection, and shake reduction), a built-in accelerometer and 7.2Mbps HSDPA. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the linked site is going to spill any other details until October 2nd, but you can still kill some serious time there just rolling your cursor on and off the lens.
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