Samsung announces Windows 8-optimized Series 7 Touch monitor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/31/samsung-announces-series-7-touch-monitor/

Samsung is wrapping up 2012 by announcing two new monitors: the Series 7 Touch (SC770) and the Series 7 (SC750). The 24-inch Series 7 Touch is Sammy's first multi-touch display made for Windows 8, and it features a resolution of 1,920 x 1080 with 178-degree viewing angles. It also sports an adjustable stand that can tilt up to 60 degrees. The 27-inch Series 7 doesn't support touch input, but it boasts the same 1080p resolution and can pivot 90 degrees so users can view content in both landscape and portrait modes. Both models will hit the market in the first quarter of 2013 -- Samsung hasn't released pricing info for either, but both will be on hand at CES next week. You can check out the press release after the break.

Continue reading Samsung announces Windows 8-optimized Series 7 Touch monitor

Filed under: Household, Samsung

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Source: Samsung Tomorrow

Shocker: Samsung introducing new HDTV at CES, albeit with 'unprecedented new shape'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/31/samsung-new-hdtv-ces-new-form-factor/

How do you break the silence on one of the slowest news days of the year? Well, if you're Samsung, you tease the obvious. The Korean company has been counting down the days till CES with mini-previews of upcoming HD products -- first hinting at a refurbished Smart Hub on Christmas and today confirming that a new Smart TV will indeed be unveiled next week. But not just any TV; Samsung Tomorrow is drumming up anticipation for "an unprecedented new TV shape" to be unveiled in Vegas. From the photo, it looks like a monitor in the portrait form factor, -- and a transparent one, at that -- but we won't have to hold our horses too long before we learn more. In the meantime, you can check out the video below the break.

Continue reading Shocker: Samsung introducing new HDTV at CES, albeit with 'unprecedented new shape'

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

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Source: Samsung Tomorrow, Samsung Tomorrow (2)

Samsung Galaxy Note II reportedly coming in black, triggers monolithic memories

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/28/samsung-galaxy-note-ii-reportedly-coming-in-black/

Samsung gave Galaxy S III buyers a small rainbow of color choices in the summer, and there's signs that the Galaxy Note II might receive a similarly resplendent treatment. A supposed press image obtained by AndroidSlash shows the giant smartphone draped in a previously unavailable black that's potentially very striking -- and more than a little reminiscent of 2001's species-changing monoliths. There's no official word from Samsung on its authenticity, although we wouldn't be surprised knowing the company's history and the Note II's strong track record. When a theoretically niche device is selling like gangbusters, some added diversity could be in order. Just don't expect any Starchildren as a result.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

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Via: SamMobile

Source: AndroidSlash (translated)

Magnetically lifted graphite moves by laser, may lead to light-based maglev vehicles (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/28/magnetically-lifted-graphite-can-move-by-laser/

Magnetic levitation is central to the fastest trains we know today, but it's that dependence on electromagnets and rails that limits how and where it's used for transportation. Aoyama Gakuin University has a unique alternative: changing the material properties themselves. By floating graphite over a bed of circular magnets, taking advantage of its tendency to generate an opposing magnetic field, researchers can move the graphite just by blasting its edge with a laser. The heat skews the magnetic behavior of that area enough to unbalance the graphite, either in a specific direction or a spin. The research team believes it could lead to maglev transportation or even energy converting turbines that are steered solely by light, with no contact or outside guides: maglev vehicle pilots could have much more control over where they go. Getting to that point will require a much larger scale, but successful development could give technology a very literal lift.

Continue reading Magnetically lifted graphite moves by laser, may lead to light-based maglev vehicles (video)

Filed under: Transportation, Science, Alt

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Via: Phys.org

Source: JACS

How Much Do Americans Read? (And How Much of That is with eBooks?)

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5971608/how-much-do-americans-read-and-how-much-of-that-is-with-ebooks

New research from Pew Internet says that ebook readership is up (duh), and overall we own more tablets and ereaders. That's not all that surprising, really. Still, here's a look at how America reads.

According to data gathered from more than 2,000 participants in the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, the number of people who read ebooks increased to 23 percent of Americans 16 and older, from 16 percent last year. That's a big jump statistically, and coincides with the number of people who own a tablet or ereader going from 18 percent to 33 percent. And tablet owners actually passed ereader owners this year too, which makes sense given ereaders had a few-year head start, and this is the year inexpensive tablets actually got good with the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD.

The study also said that 75 percent of Americans have read a book in the past year, which seems, weirdly, both surprisingly high and surprisingly low at the same time (the number was 78 percent for 2011). Here's how that breaks down by number of books:

7% of Americans ages 16 and older read one book in the previous 12 months
14% had read 2-3 books in that time block
12% had read 4-5 books in that time block
15% had read 6-10 books in that time block
13% had read 11-20 books in that time block
14% had read 21 or more books in that time block

Hey now! Literate Muricans! The one sad thing in all this is that printed books continue to fall. They went from being read by 72 percent of Americans to 67 percent this year. And unlike the drop from 78 percent to 75 for overall readership, Pew finds that statistically significant. So! Great year for ebooks, really great year for tablets, and one more depressing rung down for paper books. [Pew]

Secom offers a private security drone, serves as our eyes when we're away

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/27/secom-offers-a-private-security-drone/

Modern security cameras are rather limited: if an incident doesn't happen within a pre-defined field of vision, a company won't know what's happening until it's too late. Secom is giving anxious offices a rare solution in what's supposedly the first airborne drone for private security. Its customized Ascending Technologies quadrotor can take to the air if there's a break-in and record what's happening, even in areas that would normally represent blind spots. The automaton can also track moving subjects with a laser sensor and knows enough to keep its distance. Japanese firms wanting Secom's robot sentry will have to wait until after April 2014, when they can rent one at about ¥5,000 ($58) per month; the investment could be worthwhile just to freak out a few would-be burglars.

Filed under: Robots

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Via: Phys.org

Source: Secom (translated)

Westinghouse 110-inch 4K TV to ship alongside 65, 55 and 50-inch models in Q1

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/27/westinghouse-4k-tvs-at-ces/

Westinghouse has yet to become the premium HDTV manufacturer it one day hopes to be, and if the past is any indication, flooding the market with low-cost sets won't drive you to the top. But the promise of high resolution might at least yield a modest bump. The company's 2013 lineup is set to be dominated by 4K models, each packing 3840 x 2160-pixel panels for an "amazing" and "affordable" experience. The company's flagship rings in at a massive 110 diagonal inches and will be available for custom order beginning sometime in Q1. 50, 55 and 65-inch versions will also ship within the same timeframe, offering the same resolution and a modest 120Hz native refresh rate. We're still waiting to hear back on pricing and a hint of where you might be able to pick one of these UHDTVs up beginning early next year, but if the press release after the break is any indication, we're about to be inundated with high-res, low-cost televisions at next month's CES.

Continue reading Westinghouse 110-inch 4K TV to ship alongside 65, 55 and 50-inch models in Q1

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD

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ZTE Grand S should be just 6.9mm thick, wield a 13MP camera

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/27/zte-grand-s-should-be-just-6-9mm-inches-thick-wield-13mp-camera/

ZTE has been more than willing to spill the beans about the Grand S ahead of CES, and it's not stopping with the mention that the phone exists. The Chinese phone maker has confirmed that its 5-inch smartphone measures just 6.9mm (0.27in) thick -- that's a sight slimmer than the Droid DNA and Nubia Z5. There's also mention of a 13-megapixel camera that explains a slightly visible rear hump. While we don't yet have confirmation of the rumored quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro and 2GB of RAM, ZTE has left clues that the flagship could undercut typical pricing with a ¥2,799 ($449) off-contract cost in China. We may only know the full details in Las Vegas, but there's every indication that the Grand S hardware could justify a boast or two.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Via: Engadget Chinese (translated)

Source: ZTE (Sina Weibo), MyDrivers (translated)

LG Display is bringing Ultra HD TVs in multiple sizes, high res mobile screens and more to CES

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/26/lg-display-is-bringing-ultra-hd-tvs-in-multiple-sizes-high-res/

The manufacturing white label behind products from LG Electronics and many, many other companies, LG Display will have something new for us in Las Vegas as well. In a press release, the company announced it will show off Ultra HD (4K) panels in 55-, 65- and 84-inch sizes (shown above), complete with its FPR passive 3D tech built in. Since LG Display makes panels for quite a few of the HDTVs on shelves, it follows that we'll be seeing actual products shipping in those sizes in the coming year from several brands. It also will show off its work in other areas, with a 30-inch 4K monitor, a 5.5-inch 1080p screen for smartphones, a 1,920 x 1,200 7-inch tablet display, and a new QSXGA (2,560 x 1,700) screen destined for laptops that packs all of those pixels into just 12.9-inches.

PPI isn't everything however, and LG Display is bringing several displays notable for their tiny bezels as well, including a 23.8-inch monitor in its Neo-Blade Series, a 13.3-inch laptop screen with a 2mm bezel, and a 4.7-inch mobile screen with a 1mm thick bezel. Finally, the new year also brings tweaks to its OLED displays, which will show off an ultra light and thin design at just 3.5kg and 4mm thick --- and hopefully actually being released in the US this year. Check out the release after the br! eak for the full list of goodies, we'll be getting our own look at them in just a few days.

Continue reading LG Display is bringing Ultra HD TVs in multiple sizes, high res mobile screens and more to CES

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD, Mobile, LG

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New Toshiba camera sensor lets you refocus after the shot, plans 2013 launch in smartphones and tablets

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/27/toshiba-camera-sensor-refocus-photos-2013-launch/

Hoping for some after-the-fact focusing in your next smartphone camera? Well, you'll have to wait around a year, but Toshiba's planning exactly that with a new module that houses an array of 500,000 tiny lenses. Within a 1cm-thick unit, these lenses are layered in front of the camera sensor, which can capture slightly different images from each lens arrangement. Those picture can then be combined in a "complete" picture using Toshiba's own software. Apparently, the camera will also be able to measure the distance between objects in the shot -- similar to how 3D images are captured -- with the user then able to shift focus between close and distant detail, or even create images that are in-focus throughout. Toshiba says the module will also be able to capture video with a similar degree of focus management -- something that Lytro hasn't got around to just yet. The sensor is still a work in progress, but the manufacturer plans to commercialize the module before the end of 2013. Toshiba is looking to ally itself with multiple smartphone (and tablet) makers -- and here's hoping that it finds its way into a device outside of Japan.

[Thanks Franck]

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Source: Asahi Shinbun (Japanese), (English)

LG Unveils a Gigantor 100-Inch Laser Projector: You're Gonna Need Bigger Walls

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5969872/lg-unveils-a-gigantor-100+inch-laser-projector-youre-gonna-need-bigger-walls

Conventional video projectors have remained largely a niche market for dedicated home theater enthusiasts on account of their difficult installation. However, a new breed of "home projector" has developed over the past few years into an increasingly viable alternative to flat panel televisions. And if LG's new 100-inch class LG "HECTO" Laser TV is any indicator, the LED/Plasma debate may be moot.

The 1080p HECTO system uses a specially designed screen and an Ultra Short Throw (UST) projector that sits under it. The obvious advantage is that you can set up the system like a normal flat panel display rather than having to mount the projector on your ceiling or maintain a clear line of sight from the back of the room. The projector needs less than two feet of space from the screen to function and is bright enough to work in normally lit living rooms rather than darkened home theaters.

The projector itself is outfitted with dual 10W speakers, a trio HDMI ports, audio out, and a RS-232 interface. And like the rest of LG's premium device offerings this year, the HECTO will offer Smart TV functionality—including web browsing and VOD—as well as integration with the new Magic Remote and WiDi compatibility. Most impressive pehaps is the HECTO's Methusala of a bulb. It reportedly lasts five time longer than conventional mercury lamps—a stunning 25,000 hours.

Toshiba's New 20-Megapixel Image Sensor Is a Remnant of the Megapixel Wars

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5971212/toshibas-new-20+megapixel-image-sensor-is-a-remnant-of-the-megapixel-wars

Toshiba's new TCM5115CL 20-megapixel image sensor is the highest-resolution ever built for the tiniest point-and-shoot cameras. Uh oh, are the megapixel wars back?

For a while there, the wars over who could cram more pixels onto tiny image sensors seemed to have died off. Indeed, for years, megapixel counts were a showy and misleading spec used by camera manufacturers to entice buyers who don't know any better. But when it comes to the 1/2.3-inch image sensors used in bottom-of-the-line cameras, almost all manufacturers these days have settled on a 16-megapixel, backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. The spec is a nice compromise between resolution and light-capturing efficiency for the cheap point-and-shoot cameras these sensors are used in.

Well next year, Toshiba will roar onto the marketplace with a new 1/2.3-inch image sensor with 25-percent more pixels. Sure, this sensor could be a huge breakthrough in image quality that allows Toshiba to stuff more pixels onto the same space without losing quality.. But what a 1/2.3-inch sensor really needs is better performance out of the pixels it already has. Oh well, we'll reserve judgement until the new sensors ship next August. [Businesswire]

LG 'Hecto' laser TV projector to debut at CES 2013, promises a 100-inch screen from 22-inches away

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/26/lg-hecto-laser-tv-projector-to-debut-at-ces-2013-promises-a-1/

As LG continues its slew of CES 2013 pre-announcements, the latest is a new display technology it's bringing to the projection arena, an ultra short throw laser projector. Capable of creating a 100-inch screen from just 22 inches (56cm) away, the "Hecto" Laser TV a 1080p shooter that can change the way owners design their home theater. If you'd like to use it as an all-in-one home theater to go (the screen is included, picture after the break), it also has a digital tuner and 10w speakers built-in, with three HDMI inputs, an RS-232 port and Smart TV capabilities controlled by LG's Magic Remote. As you can see above, it follows LG's "Dynamic Arc Design" with a max height of just 5.7-inches. It carries a 1,000,000 to 1 contrast ratio with WiDi and Miracast compatibility and LG claims the laser system will run for up to 25,000 hours without replacement. There's no word on pricing or release date, although it likely won't be value priced. We expect to get a few more details when we see it in Las Vegas, check the press release after the break for all the information currently available.

Continue reading LG 'Hecto' laser TV projector to debut at CES 2013, promises a 100-inch screen from 22-inches away

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Nubia Z5 unveiled in China with quad-core chip, 5-inch 1080p display and 7.6mm thickness

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/26/nubia-z5-launch/

Much like many Chinese smartphone brands these days, ZTE sub-brand Nubia had prematurely given away the main selling points of its Z5 ahead of its Beijing launch today, but there were still some surprises. As you probably already know, here's yet another five-inch 1080p Android phone featuring Qualcomm's 1.5GHz quad-core APQ8064, 2GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage, along with a 13-megapixel F2.2 main camera (with five-element optics by Konica Minolta, plus separate touch focus and touch exposure in the app) and a two-megapixel front-facing camera. For multimedia consumption, the Z5 supports WiFi Display and MHL output should you wish to beam content to a larger screen; whereas on the audio side you are spoiled with either Yamaha or Dolby Digital Plus. But wait, there's more!

Gallery: Nubia Z5 hands-on

Gallery: Nubia Z5 press event

Continue reading Nubia Z5 unveiled in China with quad-core chip, 5-inch 1080p display and 7.6mm thickness

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Source: Nubia

Spin Magazine Is Finally Dead, Long Live Spin Online

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5970548/spin-magazine-is-finally-dead-long-live-spin-online

Subscribers to Spin Magazine got a letter in the mail yesterday informing them that the print version of the magazine had ceased publication. We knew this was coming when the rag was put on hold over the summer, and now it will officially never be published again, we couldn't be happier to see Spin be relevant again.

The Daily Swarm reports that that Spin subscribers are receiving letter informed that the magazine was dead and that the rest of their subscription would be fullfilled with—wait for it—issues of Car and Driver. Ew. Car and Driver, really? Here's the letter:

Shortly after acquiring Spin over the summer, Buzzmedia did a round of layoffs and announced that there would be no November/December issue of Spin, while it figured out what the hell to do with the struggling property. But while the demise of Spin might have been sealed right then, Buzzmedia was downright cryptic about it.

Sad as we are to see the mainstream music monolith go the way of Newsweek and countless other magazines, this really is the best way for this type of information to be served. If music blogs have taught us anything it's that culture news and reviews should be read instantly when they're most relevant. General interest magazines like Spin and Rolling Stone just can't keep up with the speed and niche expertise of blogs.

For all its history, Spin spent the last decade one-step behind the story, and its voice was too general for anybody to really care. At the same time, Spin online has been getting constantly better—if you haven't, go check it out. [The Daily Swarm]

HP EliteBook Folio 9470 review: a business Ultrabook turns out to be one of our favorites

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/21/hp-elitebook-folio-9470-review/

More Info

• HP unveils second business Ultrabook, the EliteBook Folio
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon review
• HP Folio 13 review

It's sort of wild to think that at this time last year we had only reviewed a handful of Ultrabooks. So few, in fact, that we could count them on one hand: Acer, ASUS, Lenovo and Toshiba. HP made five, with the Folio 13, an ultraportable that was aimed at the business market, but that ended up being our top all-around pick thanks to its stellar battery life, comfortable keyboard and wide port selection. Since then, of course, HP's gone a little overboard with the ultraportables, with glass ones, metal ones, expensive ones, budget ones. Ultrabooks that aren't actually Ultrabooks! It's a vast, sometimes confusing selection.

Now, though, almost a year after we reviewed the Folio 13, HP is back where it start! ed with another business offering. The EliteBook Folio ($1,049 and up) has a 14-inch screen this time, and is the first Ultrabook in HP's high-end EliteBook line, typically aimed at corporations and other businesses with IT departments. We know, we know: "pre-boot authentication" aren't exactly the sexiest words in the English language, and indeed, we usually just review laptops aimed at consumers. The thing is, though, the EliteBook Folio isn't your typical corporate box: with a magnesium frame and soft-touch finish, it's attractive enough that it could pass for your personal laptop. So does it perform well enough to use as a work-play machine? Read on to find out.

Gallery: HP EliteBook Folio 9470 review

Continue reading HP EliteBook Folio 9470 review: a business Ultrabook turns out to be one of our favorites

Filed under: Laptops, HP

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NimbleTV Lets You Stream Your Cable Anywhere Without a Box (In New York Only for Now)

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5970449/nimbletv-lets-you-stream-your-cable-anywhere-without-a--box-in-new-york-only-for-now

If you pay for cable or satellite you should be able to watch it anywhere on any device. You paid for it! That's already possible by using a Slingbox, but NimbleTV wants to let you do it without a box. Disruption.

Instead, the service records your pay TV for you remotely and then beams it to the web for your viewing pleasure—no hardware required. AllThingsD reports that the service goes to beta today and will add 250 users for starters. If all goes well the company hopes to open up the service to the public for a $20 subscription fee.

Those 250 trial slots are going to go to folks who've already signed up for information, which you should go ahead and do if you want to know when the service goes live. Expect some delays, though, if the cable/sat/tel-cos sue, which is very likely. As with Aereo, which provides a similar service for free TV, the whole "not-having-a-box" thing is legally fraught. [NimbleTV via AllThingsDigital]

Image via dean bertoncelj/Shutterstock

Pi-to-Go: a Raspberry Pi, screen and keyboard stuffed into a 3D-printed case

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/20/pi-to-go-portable-raspberry-pi/

Gaming consoles are the usual candidates to go under a screwdriver for miniaturization into portable packages, but Nathan Morgan set out to do something different: transform the hacker-friendly Raspberry Pi into a mobile rig. Thus, the Pi-to-Go was born. The portable's custom 3D-printed case packs a model B revision 1 Raspberry Pi, a 640 x 480 LCD screen and a QWERTY Keyboard with a built-in touchpad. Other internals include a Samsung-made 64GB SSD (with a 1GB swap partition), a rechargeable battery that provides more than 10 hours of juice, a 4GB SD card and support for WiFi and Bluetooth. Morgan's even published build instructions, 3D printer files and a parts list necessary for replicating the box. Not accounting for the 3D-printed case, cobbling together your own Pi-to-Go setup should ring up at just shy of $400. For the entire build breakdown and more images of the rig, hit the bordering source link.

Comments

Source: Parts-People Blog

Possible Asus ME172V tablet images leak out, give credence to earlier benchmark results

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/21/possible-asus-me172v-images-leak-out-lend-credence-to-earlier-b/

Sometimes, all a good rumor needs to bolster its street cred is a couple of images, and thanks to Notebook Italia and a Russian retailer, the 7-inch Asus ME172V has transformed from mere benchmark figures into a solid possibility. A site called oro1.ru is showing the device up for pre-order at 6,990 rubles (about $225) for a 16GB version, complete with 16GB, 1,024 x 600 screen, Android 4.1 and 1GB RAM. We espied the device earlier on GLBenchmark, which validates those specs while also showing a 1GHz CPU and Mali 400 GPU. Notebook Italia also scoped a photo on Picasa from an apparent 7-inch Asus ME371MG tablet, which allegedly sports a 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2420 chip, 1,280 x 800 IPS display, 1GB of RAM, 3G and 16GB of storage. Considering the slim evidence, that slate's more doubtful, though, and we can't vouch for the Russian vendor's credibility either -- so you may wanna cool your jets until there's official word from the Nexus 7 maker.

[Thanks Daki X]

Filed under: ASUS

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Via: Notebook Italia

Source: ogo1.ru

Hisense Pulse with Google TV priced at $100, now available from Amazon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/20/hisense-pulse-google-tv-available-amazon/

It's been a while since we saw it at IFA, but it looks like the Hisense Pulse with Google TV is finally available for purchase a month after its promised release date. You can finally snag the Google TV set-top box from Amazon for $100 -- it misses that "under $99" mark mentioned in its initial announcement, but it's certainly close enough. The compact entertainment box supports 1080p output and has WiFi, HDMI, USB and Ethernet ports, letting you pump in content through a host of connections. Much like other Google TV products, the remote that ships with the device is double-sided -- there's a QWERTY keyboard on the bottom and more traditional controls (along with a trackpad) up top. We didn't think much of the touchpad's small size at the initial hands-on, so hopefully the manufacturer's solved that in the final product. Hisense is certainly cutting things close with this late-December release, but if you click "add to cart" now, it may just arrive in time to make its way underneath a tree.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Google

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Via: Phandroid

Source: Amazon

Best Buy's CinemaNow opens home disc-to-digital program, makes cloud copies of DVDs for a fee

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/20/best-buys-cinemanow-kicks-home-disc-to-digital-program-gives-d/

One interesting development of the UltraViolet program has been Walmart / Vudu's in-store disc-to-digital program, and now Best Buy is apparently ready to offer similar functionality, but within the comfort of one's own home. The Best Buy-owned CinemaNow is flashing a Disc to Digital beta page that offers downloads of a player for Windows or Mac PCs that not only allows access to one's UltraViolet library both online or offline, but also insert any DVD (no word on Blu-ray support yet) and convert it to an SD or HD UltraViolet copy. Forum posters report the pricing is equivalent to Walmart's, although the list of supported titles is not exactly identical. Ultraviolet's morass of logins and passwords hasn't gotten any less complicated for digital copies from different studios yet, but in this case linking your account should be relatively simple. Hit the source links to download the apps and check out a list of movies available for conversion, assuming a cloud HDX copy of 2 Fast 2 Furious for $5 is something you find appealing.

[Thanks, @Starkenator]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: CinemaNow, D2D titles (PDF)

Aptina intros 8MP sensors that bring 60FPS, pro-grade video to phones, action cameras

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/21/aptina-intros-8mp-mobile-sensors-that-bring-60fps-pro-grade-video/

Smartphones and action cameras are no strangers to high-speed video: devices like the HTC One X make it a selling point. They've usually had to crop the frame from a much larger sensor, however, cutting into the final image quality and the field of view. Aptina's new AR0835 and AR0835HS sensors might be the ticket to no-compromise, fast footage. Both 8-megapixel, backside-lit CMOS imagers occupy as much of the sensor as they can when capturing widescreen video at 60 frames per second, oversampling HD video at 6 megapixels; the result is supposedly professional-level video sharpness and viewing angles without the professional-level pricing. Either sensor can also capture 6-megapixel stills mid-video, and they can combine pixels to record 720p video at an even brisker 120FPS. Aptina won't have the action camera-focused AR0835HS in production until first quarter of 2013, but it's already mass-producing the smartphone-oriented AR0835. As such, it shouldn't be long before there's brag-worthy, high-speed home movies sitting in our pockets.

Continue reading Aptina intros 8MP sensors that bring 60FPS, pro-grade video to phones, action cameras

Filed under: Cellphones, Cameras, Mobile

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Source: Aptina

Samsung reveals its first 14nm FinFET test chip, should offer substantial power improvements in future silicon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/21/samsung-first-14nm-finfet-test-chip-/

Samsung shows no signs of slowing down in 2013 and after confirming plans to expand its chip-making plant in Austin, Texas, the company's also taped out its first 14nm FinFET test chip. The new design (which is being compared with Intel's 'Tri-Gate' found on its Ivy Bridge hardware) promises to offer substantial power and performance improvements compared to existing designs, with low-leakage often mentioned in the same breath as the new silicon. Samsung's new test chip also involved ARM and Synopsis, and is a good sign that we'll be seeing its next-gen chips sooner rather than later.

Continue reading Samsung reveals its first 14nm FinFET test chip, should offer substantial power improvements in future silicon

Filed under: Misc, Samsung

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Source: Yonhap news

Netflix streaming pal eyeIO brings more pixels with 4K, 10-bit StudioRes video

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/21/netflix-streaming-pal-eyeio-brings4k-10-bit-video/

Remember eyeIO? Its software took over the encoding chores for Netflix awhile back, reducing the required bandwidth enough that it no longer needed the "X-High" option for 1080p video. Now, the company has launched its second-generation of that technology with a new StudioRes option that'll stuff 4k, 10-bit, 4:2:2 video onto the latest UltraHD screens like Sony's $25k 84-inch XBR model. eyeIO also claims its software creates StudioRes and existing HDRes H.264 files 45 percent zippier now, while using 26 percent less bandwidth for "super-fast playback and even clearer, crisper images" in both 2D and 3D on TVs, computers and mobile devices. The company also announced the forthcoming eyeOS UNIX OS for enterprise level 4k video coming next Spring, along with support for the upcoming H.265 standard through its eyeIO.265 product. Now, we're just crossing our fingers for a flood of new UltraHD screens at CES 2013 so we can see all those extra pixels in style.

Continue reading Netflix streaming pal eyeIO brings more pixels with 4K, 10-bit StudioRes video

Filed under: Home ! Entertai nment, Internet

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Vocre for Android Translates Your Speech into Another Language in Almost Real Time

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5970067/vocre-for-android-translates-your-speech-into-another-language-in-almost-real-time

Android: We discussed Vocre when it launched for the iPhone last year. Now, the app has also landed on Android with more features, like a tabletop mode that translates and displays what you're saying and what the person you're speaking to is saying so you both can read, and a slimmer price tag.

Vocre has always been a great translation tool, but the launch of the Android app brings 39 different languages with it, and the ability to translate into them much faster than in previous versions of the iPhone app. The new "desktop" conversation mode is the real draw here though: put the phone on the table, select your language and the language of the person you're speaking with, start talking. The app will translate what each of you you say into the other's native language and display it on the phone's screen so you both can read it. Check out the video above to see what we mean, but it's really cool in action.

Vocre now has a set $2.99 price at Google Play, and no longer forces you to pay per-translation like the old version of the app did. Some astute commenters and reviewers note that some of the languages aren't perfect—for example languages with highly gendered syntax may only reflect one gender (for example, Arabic is currently male-only) but the developers are constantly improving Vocre, and it's a great investment if you're planning a trip.

Vocre ($3) | Google Play via Android Police

Continental gets automated vehicle approved for Nevada roads

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/20/continental-highly-automated-vehicle-approved-nevada/

Google isn't the only outfit puttering around Nevada roads with its hands off the wheel -- German automotive supplier Continental has the state's approval to let the computer take the wheel, too. Earlier this week the Silver State signed off on the German company's safety, employee training, system function and accident reporting plans, granting Continental a testing license and adorning its vehicles with red license plates. It's the very same treatment Mountain View received back in May -- but Continental's cars aren't exactly direct competitors to Google's fare.

The company's "highly automated vehicles" are more of an advanced cruise control system than a self driving car -- capable of navigating stop and go traffic on a freeway, for example, but still requiring the driver to take control as their exit draws near. Continental sees the partially autonomous vehicle as a stepping stone to fully automated cars, and plans to offer the partial solution between 2016 and 2020, switching up to fully automated driving systems by 2025. The company hopes refine its testing to meet this goal in Nevada, putting its stereo camera and sensor equipped vehicle through freeway and rush-hour trials in real traffic. The company's ultimate goal, of course, is to eliminate accidents and fatalities on the road. Check out the firm's official PR after the break.

Continue reading Continental gets automated vehicle approved for Nevada roads

Filed under: Transportation

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Via: Verge, Wired

Source: Continental

Imo's iPad app augmented with free voice calling, enhanced photo sharing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/20/imo-im-ipad-update/

When Imo crammed free voice calling into its iPhone application, it neglected to port the functionality to its large-screened counterpart. Now, the iPad version of Imo.im is catching up -- adding VoIP support over 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi to other Imo users across iOS and Android. The latest version of the instant messaging aggregator boasts revamped photo tools too, featuring group photo sharing and real-time image uploads. These tweaks accompany a slew of design changes, including a color-coded status indicator bar and similar hue-based notifications for contact availability. Standard stuff, really, but that shouldn't stop iPad-toting chatterboxes from heading to the source link and giving the app a whirl.

Continue reading Imo's iPad app augmented with free voice calling, enhanced photo sharing

Filed under: Tablets, Mobile

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Source: iTunes

Flipboard lands on Android tablets, now supports Nexus 10

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/20/flipboard-lands-on-android-tablets-now-supports-nexus-10/

It's no secret that we're big fans of Flipboard here at Engadget, but there's one thing we've been longing for: a tablet-optimized Android version. Until now, running the app on the Nexus 10 (by sideloading the APK) or even the Nexus 7 (officially supported) meant living with a scaled-up phone experience. Today, Flipboard is getting updated in the Play Store to supports a variety of Android tablets such as Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1, the Galaxy Tab series and the Nexus 10. A setting lets you chose between phone and tablet modes, which is useful for mid-size devices like Amazon's Kindle Fire, the Nook and the Nexus 7. Flipboard worked closely with Samsung to optimize the app and take advantage of larger, higher resolution displays. This means more of your favorite tiles, larger story snippets and landscape support (at last). We spent a few hours using Flipboard's new app for Android and came away suitably impressed -- anyone familiar with the iPad version will feel right at home. PR after the break.

Continue reading Flipboard lands on Andr! oid tabl ets, now supports Nexus 10

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google

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Source: Flipboard (Google Play)

Forrester report finds US tablet ownership doubled this year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/20/forrester-2012-report/

Forrester Research has come out with its annual report on technology consumption in the US, and tablets are certainly gaining popularity. Although slightly lower than Pew Research's figures, Forrester deduced from its nigh 60,000-strong survey that 19 percent of 'mericans over the age of 18 own at least one tablet -- double the number the research outfit noted last year. While tech penetration is lowest among adults aged 47 and up, 14 percent of this demographic now have slates, which again is twice the figure recorded in 2011. Another notable stat that's risen is daily internet use, with 84 percent of adults hopping online every day (up from 78 percent last year), and approximately half of those owning a smartphone of some variety. TVs are pretty well connected also, as 43 percent of the plugged-in population has accessed the net from their living rooms, with games consoles being by far the most popular intermediary. The whole report isn't available to the public, but why not use the time you would've spent reading it inspecting what's under the tree, and hoping you'll be responsible for upping those tablet stats in next year's report.

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Lap! tops , Tablets, Internet

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Via: TAUW

Source: TechCrunch, Forrester Research (1), (2)

Acer eases mystery Iconia B1-A71 Tab past FCC, GLBenchmark shows modest specs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/20/acer-eases-mystery-iconia-b1-a71-tab-past-fcc-glbenchmark-shows/

Acer looks ready to launch an entry-level tablet into the market judging by an FCC application that popped up today along with an earlier GLBenchmark leak. The test site's report shows a likely 7-inch or so tab with a 1,024 x 600 display, Android 4.1.2 Jellybean, 1.2GHz dual-core processor and PowerVR SGX 531 GPU along with distinctly non-barnburning test results. Those specs now look quite credible when combined with the new FCC document, which shows it sporting WiFi radios but no other wireless radios like 3G or LTE. The company has been mum so far about when or where such a device would arrive and at what cost, but judging by the above, it's unlikely to break any banks. Check the source if parsing radio reports is your bag.

Filed under: Tablets, Acer

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Source: FCC, GLBenchmark

MetroPCS intros 4-inch ZTE Avid 4G, brings LTE and ICS for a mere $149

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/20/metropcs-zte-avid-4g/

Despite announcing a couple of budget-friendly handset options in recent months, it's clear MetroPCS doesn't plan to stay put, as the company today let it be known that it's making yet another addition to its affordable Android lineup. And while the newfangled Avid 4G will come on the cheap, it could still be seen as a much better choice than that other pricier ZTE offering on MetroPCS -- albeit the former is carrying a slightly smaller 4-inch, 800 x 480 display, though it does come with a similar (unspecified) 1.2GHz dual-core CPU and a much fresher version of Google's OS (Ice Cream Sandwich). In addition, ZTE's Avid 4G also features a 5-megapixel camera on the back (VGA on the front), the ability to turn into a mobile hotspot with a few extra bucks per month and, naturally, LTE connectivity. For the relatively small amount of $149, and without any contracts attached, it wouldn't surprise us if the new Wireless for All smartphone on the block ends up gift wrapped in some places come next week's festivities. Speaking of which, folks interested can snag the Avid 4G now from the carrier's site, otherwise a quick trip to the nearest MetroPCS retail store should suffice.

Continue reading MetroPCS intros! 4-inch ZTE Avid 4G, brings LTE and ICS for a mere $149

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Source: MetroPCS

Deezer, Eurosport and Napster coming later this month to LG Smart TVs in the UK

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/19/lg-smart-tv-apps/

Over the past few months, we have seen LG slowly but surely increase the amount of entertainment content in its Smart TV platform, with apps such as Verizon FiOS (in the US) and Disney rentals among the latest inclusions. Today, the Korean outfit announced there are more of applications coming to its 2012-range television ecosystem, although these newcomers won't be available worldwide -- that said, owners in the UK will soon be able to enjoy what Napster, Deezer and Eurosport have to offer from the comfort of their own couch, which should make a nice addition to LG's current app repertoire. All three new applications are said to be available in "mid-December," so you should expect 'em to show up on that sleek TV of yours any moment now.

Continue reading Deezer, Eurosport and Napster coming later this month to LG Smart TVs in the UK

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Software, HD, LG

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Source: LG

5-inch ZTE U887 enters the low-end phablet fray

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/19/5-inch-zte-u887-low-end-phablet/

Hot on the heels of the Samsung Galaxy Grand, a lower-end Galaxy Note II alternative announced yesterday, ZTE is trotting out a dual-core phablet of its own: the U887. According to Gizchina and the TENAA certification database, the device sports a 5-inch 800 x 480 display and runs a dual-core 1.2GHz MT6577 chip with 512MB of RAM. It's also dual-band for China, sporting support for both TD-SCDMA and GSM networks. Looks-wise, the U887 isn't a far cry from ZTE's higher-end Nubia Z5 -- at least based on the image we've seen -- although it packs a 5-megapixel rear camera rather than the 13MP shooter on the quad-core Z5. As with the upcoming Galaxy Grand, pricing and availability info for the ZTE U887 remains MIA, but that's sure to surface in the coming months.

Filed under: Cellphones

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Via: Mobile Magazine

Source: Gizchina, TENAA

Sceptre teases 2013 lineup that includes near-borderless TVs, WiFi sound bar

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/19/sceptre-teases-2013-lineup-that-includes-near-borderless-tvs/

Sceptre isn't waiting for CES to give a peek at what its home theater roster will bring. This year, the budget-focused company is hoping to take on the extra-minimalist TVs we've seen from Samsung and LG. Its 32- to 55-inch Rimless series wraps an LED-backlit LCD with a 4mm-thick bezel. Some of its overall TV line should also have MHL-capable HDMI ports to take video from mobile devices or a Roku Streaming Stick. Scepter's audio focus may be the most unique part of its lineup, however: it should have the first compact, 2.1-channel sound bar with WiFi, turning older TVs into connected models. There's more coming, including a 1080p in-car camera, so check after the break for the lineup we know so far.

Continue reading Sceptre teases 2013 lineup that includes near-borderless TVs, WiFi sound bar

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Sceptre