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

Comments

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

Google Apps for Business users receive Quickoffice for iPad as a freebie

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/19/google-apps-for-business-receive-quickoffice-for-ipad/

If Google recently caught you off-guard with its announcement that Google Apps would move to a $50 per user model, perhaps some free software will help restore balance to your world. Today, the company announced a free version of Quickoffice for the iPad, which is an exclusive perk for users of Google Apps for Business. The software suite allows users to view, edit and create Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, and as proof that integration isn't lost on Google, all files are stored to Google Drive. For the moment, only iPad users will be treated to this free version of Quickoffice, but Google insists that iPhone and Android versions are on the way. If you'll recall, this is the same bit of software that Google purchased earlier this year. Nice to see it's being put to good use.

Filed under: Software, Google

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: App Store

Samsung to release Verizon developer edition Galaxy Note II

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/19/samsung-verizon-developer-edition-galaxy-note-ii/

Samsung gave devs an unlockable version of its Verizon flavored flagship, the GSIII, mere months ago, and now the Korean firm has seen fit to do the same for its phablet. That's right, folks, you'll soon be able to get a dev edition 16GB Galaxy Note II with all that amazing VZW branding you know and hate love. Of course, while the product page is live on Sammy's site, it hasn't announced availability or pricing for this freed Note II, but we do know it'll have that beautiful 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED screen and come with Android 4.1. So, it appears we won't be getting everything we wanted for Christmas this year, but it's nice to have something to look forward to.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, Verizon

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Via: Phandroid

Source: Samsung

Automatically Send Starred Google Reader Articles to Pocket or Instapaper

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5969460/automatically-send-starred-google-reader-articles-to-pocket-or-instapaper

Bookmark and Read Later apps like Pocket, Instapaper, and Readability are awesome ways to store and catch up on the interesting articles you find online, but if you use Google Reader, saving those articles is a multi-step process. Here's an IFTTT recipe that will send articles to your favorite service in one keystroke.

IFTTT, our favorite webapp-automating service, has actions for Pocket, Instapaper, and Readability built-in. All you need to do is create a recipe (like this one from user masemase) that adds an item to Pocket, Instapaper, or Readability whenever you star it in Google Reader. That way, as you're flying through your RSS feeds, you can star anything that looks interesting and check it out in your favorite app later on.

Read your starred items from Google Reader in Instapaper | IFTTT via @IFTTT

A Stunning Two Billion Pixel Photo Is the Safest Way To Explore Mount Everest

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5969706/a-stunning-two-billion-pixel-photo-is-the-safest-way-to-explore-mount-everest

Not only has filmmaker David Breashears climbed Mount Everest on five different occasions, he's visited the world's tallest peak 15 times in his career as he works to document the effects of climate change on the mountain. And fortunately for those of us who will never have the chance to see Everest in real life, let alone climb it, Breashers created a stunning gigapixel photo of the mountain and the Khumbu glacier earlier in the year.

The final composite, which can be panned, zoomed, and viewed on the GlacierWorks website, was assembled from almost 400 separate shots taken with a 300 millimeter zoom lens. It's so detailed you can apparently even see climbers making an ascent, and one of the base camps full of tents, all from the comfort and warmth of your couch. [GlacierWorks via NPR via Washington Post]

Image by David Breashears/GlacierWorks

Samsung ATIV S review: the Galaxy S III, repackaged for Windows Phone 8

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/19/samsung-ativ-s-review/

Samsung was one of the first to join the Windows Phone parade with the Focus, and was quick to follow up with devices like the Focus S. It's been unusually conservative with Windows Phone 8, however: the ATIV S ($100 on contract through Bell Canada) is the last of the big three flagships to arrive in 2012, following weeks after the HTC Windows Phone 8X and Nokia Lumia 920 went on sale. Some would argue that Samsung has been especially conservative with the ATIV S, given that it shares the same 4.8-inch screen, Snapdragon S4 processor, cameras and overarching design traits with Sammy's other flagship phone, the Galaxy S III. There's a real worry that someone visiting the carrier store will see both devices and pick the Galaxy simply through name recognition alone.

And yet, they're not entirely cut from the same cloth: there's a design twist or two, a larger battery and, of course, a switch to an entirely different ecosystem. Some will want the phone to try Windows Phone's simpler, at-a-glance interface concept; others are shopping solely inside of Microsoft's universe and want to know if expandable storage and Samsung's custom app suite fend off rivals. We already have lots to like, but there are a few punctures in the AT! IV S' fa ux-metal armor that will keep it from being the handset for everyone, even if they do prefer Windows Phone. Read on and you'll see why.

Gallery: Samsung ATIV S review

Continue reading Samsung ATIV S review: the Galaxy S III, repackaged for Windows Phone 8

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

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W3C completes HTML5 definition, starts interoperability testing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/18/w3c-completes-html5-definition/

Long heralded as the darling of the open web, the standards for HTML5 haven't actually been finalized by the W3C -- it was just recently that the international consortium pledged to get it done by 2014. So it's good to hear the group just hit a significant milestone on the road to that goal by publishing the full definition for the spec this Tuesday. With that accomplished, the next step is interoperability and performance testing to make sure HTML5 plays nice with any and all browsers, servers and other web tools. The W3C hopes that this will bring "broad HTML 5 interoperability" by 2014, which fits right in to the organization's philosophy of bringing the entirety of the web -- however divisive -- together.

Filed under: Internet

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Via: The Inquirer

Source: W3C

NEC intros 15.6-inch LaVie X Ultrabook in Japan, claims it's the 'world's thinnest'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/19/nec-lavie-x-ultrabook-in-japan/

Following the announcement of its somewhat flexible LaVie Y in Japan, NEC's now introducing us to a new, much sleeker member of the company's Windows 8 lineup. At first glance, you may quickly notice that the novel LaVie X clearly takes a design cue from another NEC affiliate, the Lavie Z, but does sport a relatively larger 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 IPS display, a more powerful Core i7-3517U CPU which clocks in at 1.9GHz, 4GB RAM and a 256GB SSD -- all while being wrapped in a slim 12.8mm package. The LaVie X is expected to hit Rising Sun shelves starting December 27th, with NEC slapping a cool 175,000 Yen (around $2,100) price tag on this slim, Windows 8-loaded Ultrabook.

Filed under: Laptops

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Via: AkihabaraNews

Source: NEC

Credit Card Skimmers Aren't Just at ATMs Anymore

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5969373/credit-card-skimmers-arent-just-at-atms-anymore

It used to be that you only had to be paranoid about credit card skimmers when using an ATM. But times have changed, and the bad guys have gotten so sophisticated that they've now created realistic but fake point of sale terminals that even print an authentic looking receipt while they're collecting your credit card number and PIN.

Discovered and exposed by Brian Krebs over on KrebsonSecurity, the new skimmers can either be set to issue a receipt, or report back a connection error message which most consumers wouldn't think twice about. And even though the skimmers can run as much as $3,000, it wouldn't take long for someone to easily make that money back if they had access to even a handful of credit cards. [KrebsonSecurity via BoingBoing]

Beats By Dre Headphones Are Going in Helmets Now

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5969436/beats-by-dre-headphones-are-going-in-helmets-now

POC and Beats By Dre are going to make your next ski trip better and safer with a new line of Receptor BUG Helmets that have headphones built in.

They're pretty standard as far as these kinds of helmets go—the headphones are built into the neckroll for a comfortable fit, and there's a mic and remote on the cord, so you can take calls, change songs, and adjust the volume. It comes in white or black and runs from XS-XXL for the perfect fit. And if you already have a POC helmet and don't want to pay the full $330 for a new head protector, you can just buy the neckroll for $180.

I have a helmet with built-in headphones, and it's one of my favorite pieces of gear to take to the mountains. The new Receptor BUG/Beats helmest will be available in January. Good timing, because it's so important to protect your brain when you're skiing or snowboarding, and tunes always make your ride more fun. [POC via GearPatrol]

Google Music gains scan and match feature in the US

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/18/google-music-gains-scan-and-match-feature-in-the-us/

It wasn't very long ago that Google Music landed in Europe -- to the delight of local music lovers, we're sure. On its trip across the pond, the service gained a unique new feature called scan and match, wherein Google scans your local music library and makes the songs it matches instantly available in the cloud -- no upload required. Until now the feature, which is similar to iTunes Match, was only available in Europe, but it's coming to the US starting today. From now on, any US Google Play users who upload their music collection will benefit from this new feature. Over time, the company will also upgrade users with existing cloud libraries. It's a free service and it's automatic -- you're unlikely to notice that it's even happening. The upside is that entire collections will be uploaded faster. We're not aware of any downsides yet -- matched songs will be available for streaming at 320Kbps like regular Google Play purchases, while re-downloaded music will be available at or close to the bitrate of the original file.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google

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Source: Google Play (Google+)

NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor details leaked: 4-plus-1 cores, 28nm, six times the power of Tegra 3

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/18/nvidia-tegra-4-processor-leak-4-plus-1-quad-core-28nm/

NVIDIA's next superhero-themed mobile chipset has possibly made an early appearance in a leaked side in China, and it looks like it wants to go toe-to-toe with the latest processors from Samsung and Qualcomm. The Tegra 4 (codenamed Wayne) will apparently offer the same power-efficient 28nm process found on its Snapdragon rival and according to the slide from Chip Hell, there's a dizzying 72-core graphics setup. That's six times as many GPU cores as Tegra 3 -- the processor found in the Nexus 7, for example -- and the increase is claimed to result in six times the overall visual performance. Those graphics cores will be able to feed displays of up to 2,560 x 1600, with 1080p output at 120Hz, while the leak also mentions 4K -- if only in passing. There's no increase in CPU cores this time, with the same 4-plus-1 setup , but we are seeing its move to ARM's latest design, the Cortex-A15. Tegra 4 will apparently also catch up with USB 3.0, being NVIDIA's first mobile chip to do so, alongside dual-channel DDR3L memory. We've reached out to chipmaker and we'll let you know when we hear more, but it's highly likely we'll be welcoming this next-generation processor early next year -- say, at a certain mobile trade show.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, NVIDIA

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Via: Mobile Geeks

Source: Chip Hell

HTCâs Next Android Flagship to Pack a 1.7GHz Quad-Core Processor and 1080p Screen?

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5969336/htcs-next-android-flagship-to-pack-a-17ghz-quad+core-processor-and-1080p-screen

Some leaked tech specs supposedly tell us what to expect from HTC's flagship Android model for 2013, with the phone maker apparently set to launch a 4.7-inch model with a 1080p display.

The phone, which is currently known under the codename HTC M7, features an enormous 468PPI image density output thanks to the display numbers, which ought to see our beloved old flip clock bursting out of the screen clearer than ever.

Elsewhere, the M7 is said to contain a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor alongside 2GB of RAM, the required chips to make it compatible with 4G networks, and version 5.0 of HTC's popular Sense user interface stuck over the top of Android 4.2.

There should also be a 13-Megapixel camera inside it, plus a 2-MP front facing secondary cam for looking at your own face with and a 2,300mAh battery to give it a decent desk life. Stick it on the next phone list. And if those numbers are all correct, it ought be close to the top. [Unwired View]

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WSJ: Apple, Foursquare in talks to share local data

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/17/wsj-apple-foursquare-in-talks-to-share-local-data/

The battle over localized data continues to heat up, and according to rumor's Apple's next weapon against Google, Nokia and the rest could be a partnership with Foursquare. Last week TechCrunch noted a check-in tweeted by Apple SVP Eddy Cue, coincidentally at the same time Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley happened to be in the San Francisco area. Now, the Wall Street Journal has followed up with its always-helpful "people familiar with the talks" who indicate that yes, the two are in early discussions about sharing data.

Currently, iOS features deep ties with Yelp, but Apple could swap in Foursquare and its check-in supported database, giving both a leg up on the competition. At the same time, Foursquare's iOS app received an update today, shifting location details like phone number and hours to the top, and bringing bigger photos and info after users have checked in somewhere. Of course, we'll have to wait for an official announcement to see what, if anything may arise from the talks, but with Google's Maps app off to a quick start on the App Store, the folks in Cupertino may not want to wait very long.

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Apple

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Source: TechCrunch, Wall Street Journal

Trustonic: a way for mobile apps to benefit from ARM's hardware-level security

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/18/trustonic-mobile-security/

This here narrative begins back in April, when ARM, Giesecke & Devrient and Gemalto teamed up and gave themselves precisely nine months in which to find the perfect brand name for their newly merged mobile security platform. Today, we're looking at the fruits of their efforts: Trustonic; a word which snappily captures the essence of what's at stake (trust-onic) and which you may soon encounter in connection with your next-gen smartphone, Mastercard payment app or 20th Century Fox DRM'd media.

What does Trustonic do, exactly? Pretty much what Mobicore already does in the Galaxy S III, or what Trusted Foundation does inside a Tegra-powered tablet: it allows certain pieces of software to tap into hardware-level encryption and authentication, courtesy of the TrustZone silicon that many ARM chips already contain, thereby removing many of the risks associated with malware and other intrusions within the mobile OS. As far as we understand it, the key difference with Trustonic is that it won't require direct input from OEMs like Samsung and NVIDIA, but will instead be more readily accessible to any banking, payment or DRM service that is willin! g to pay for a key. In return, the service would get enhanced security and faster logins for its users, who'd only need to enter a short, locally-verified PIN rather than wading through cloud-based steps to prove their identity. Indeed, perhaps that's where the tonic comes into it.

Continue reading Trustonic: a way for mobile apps to benefit from ARM's hardware-level security

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile

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Samsung Galaxy Grand announced: single and dual-SIM versions, multi-window apps, not-so-spectacular 5-inch WVGA screen

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/18/samsung-galaxy-grand-dual-core-wvga-5inch/

After getting a glimpse in an FCC filing (and some certification via China) the Galaxy Grand has now appeared in earnest, with a 5-inch 800 x 480 WVGA display that betrays that glamorous naming. It'll arrive running Android 4.1.2, while the dual-core (unspecified) 1.2GHz apparently enough to handle running two apps on screen with Samsung's Multi Window mode, seen on the flagship Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II. There's an 8-megapixel camera on the back, while a 2-megapixel sensor on the front will offer 720p video for calls. Inside there's a 2,100mAh battery, alongside 8GB of built-in memory and a microSD slot for expansion up to 64GB. Likely due to the bigger screen, the familiar looking Galaxy Grand carries 30g more weight than the Galaxy S III, while connectivity is provided by HSPA+ (up to 21Mbps down, 5.76 up) on 850 / 1900 / 2100 bands, alongside Bluetooth, DLNA and WiFi. Despite those familiar bands, Samsung hasn't revealed where we can expect to see the phone appear for sale, although the appearance of a dual-SIM version suggests appearances in Asia. We plan to catch the Galaxy Grand somewhere within the madness of CES -- and you can expect that we'll test it out then.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

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Source: Samsung

AMD Radeon HD 8000M-series GPUs revealed, coming to a laptop near you in Q1 2013

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/17/amd-radeon-hd-8000m-series/

Had you been cruising these pages in the early hours of this morning, you'd know that the very first laptop to contain AMD's next generation of discrete graphics chips was quietly put up for sale over in Germany. The chipmaker has now confirmed that this machine -- the Asus Vivobook U38DT -- is indeed shipping, with a Trinity APU and hitherto unknown Radeon HD 8555M GPU on board. At the same, it's made a few promises about what the new discrete graphics components are capable of. These claims include the typically confusing graph above, which at first glance may appear to show an 8000M-series chip trebling the performance of NVIDIA's Geforce 650M (of 15-inch Retina MBP fame), but which actually suggests a 20-70 percent lead over the six-month-old competitor -- and with no information about power consumption to help us make a proper judgment. There are some straightforward factual details too, thank goodness, and you'll find them right after the break.

Gallery: AMD Radeon HD 8000M-series slide deck

Continue reading AMD Radeon HD 8000M-series GPUs revealed, coming to a laptop near you in Q1 2013

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops, AMD

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