If Raspberry Pi owners wanted to use the device's camera board for nighttime photography, they had to engage in some extremely delicate tinkering, as the unit's IR filter was firmly attached. Until now. The folks at Raspberry Pi took to their blog today to announce the debut of Pi NoIR, an infrar...
http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/18/raspberry-pi-noir-infrared-camera/
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Source: http://gizmodo.com/watch-people-freak-out-when-they-see-ghosts-inside-an-i-1447482764
This prank is such pure evil genius that you can't help but laugh. And feel bad because you'd get freaked out too. Funny man Jack Vale scared the creepy crawly goosebumps out of people by asking strangers to take his picture with his iPhone. Why's that scary? Because Vale had pre-recorded a fake 'ghost' (or zombie) walking through the frame of the camera so people would think they just saw a dead person that wasn't there in real life move across the screen. What the people thought they were seeing in real time was actually a horrifying recording.
Source: http://gizmodo.com/fujifilm-xq1-fujis-new-tiny-cam-packs-tons-of-power-i-1447508427
When Fujifilm announced its beautiful pocket camera, the XF1, last year we were genuinely psyched, which made the camera's disappointing handling even more of a bummer
Source: http://gizmodo.com/what-happens-when-you-drop-a-red-hot-nickel-ball-onto-a-1447577707
Red hot nickel ball of fire meet your toughest opponent yet: aerogel. In fact, aerogel is such an amazing material and excellent insulator that the eternal flame of the nickel ball does absolutely nothing to it. Like, seriously. It affects the aerogel as much as the normal air around it (or in it too?). But hey. We're in the business of seeing destruction and in order to destroy aerogel, the nickel ball brought in reinforcements in the form of an hydrogen and oxygen flame. Everything burns eventually. [Cars and Water]
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/amd-rides-semi-custom-business-back-to-profitability/
We had our doubts when AMD promised to bounce back from its second quarter slump, but the company has held its word, reporting a net income $48 million in its Q3 financial reports. Why the jump? AMD cites growth in its Graphics and Visual Solutions (GVS) division, which is responsible for semi-custom products like the chips bound for the upcoming PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the floundering Wii U. "We achieved 26 percent sequential revenue growth driven by our semi-custom business and remain committed to generating approximately 50 percent of revenue from high-growth markets over the next two years," AMD President and CEO Rory Read stated in the earnings announcement.
Not every portion of AMD's business is flourishing, however -- both its Computing Solutions and GPU segments saw a drop in revenue over the past year, and the company admits that it's shipping fewer notebook chipsets these days. Even so, the numbers bode well for the company, which posted a total revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, alongside an optimistic outlook. After all, the company's Mantle graphics cards are just around the corner.
Filed under: AMD
Via: Market Watch
Source: AMD
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/sharps-chop-syc-prototype/
Generally, your choice of cutting board comes down to two basic options: wood or plastic. While there are plenty of subcategories (Flexible? Bamboo?), you're generally not presented with a list of specs when it comes time to pick a board for chopping up meat or veggies. If a Sharp intern has her way, however, resolution and processor power will become important choices. Chop-Syc is the brainchild of Siobhán Andrews, the winner of a competition to become a paid intern with the company in the UK. Essentially, it's a tablet with a custom software and a scratch-proof surface designed to be used in the kitchen. In addition to functioning as a surface for slicing and dicing, the tablet includes a recipe manager, a scale and a visualizer to help you m easure out (healthy) serving sizes of food, such as pasta.
The tablet itself is embedded in a wooden block to help control spills, and the wireless charging means you shouldn't have to worry about electrocuting yourself with a (very) poorly placed swipe of the blade. For now, Chop-Syc is only a prototype, but Sharp says it may eventually bring the device to market. If we were executives at the company, though, we might just wait to see how Sony's dedicated kitchen tab fares before entering this extraordinarily niche market.
Filed under: Household, Tablets
Via: Pocket Lint
Source: Humans Invent
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/nexus-5-16gb-349-play-store/
We still haven't heard anything official about Google's next Nexus phone, but tonight some people are already seeing the Nexus 5 as an option in the Play Store. Just among our editors, some see the outgoing Nexus 4 while others get the result shown after the break, with a 16GB (from the link in the page, although it doesn't go anywhere) Nexus 5 listed for $349, along with the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. Previous leaks have given us a good look at the outside while a service manual gave up the internal details: 1080p 4.95-inch display, 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU, LTE and storage capacity that tops out at 32GB. These screenshots show the Hangouts app where we'd usually expect our SMS icon to be, which is among the software changes we're expecting when this new device arrives with Android 4.4 KitKat some time in the future -- possibly around October 28th.
Update: It looks like Google has plugged the leaky hole, as the page is showing all of us the Nexus 4 once again. Nothing to see here... for now.
[Thanks, Jacob]
Source: Google Play
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/18/samsung-ativ-book-9-plus-core-i7-256gb-SSD/
If you read our review of Samsung's new flagship Ultrabook, the ATIV Book 9 Plus, you know we mostly adore it: it's exceptionally thin, runs cool and rocks a best-in-class display. Unfortunately for some of the nerds reading Engadget, the laptop launched in the United States with just one configuration option -- a Core i5 model with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. Not good news for people who want bragging rights, or who need more storage, or who just like having choices. Now, at least, you get two options. Samsung just announced it will start selling a Core i7 version in the US, complete with 8GB of memory and a 256GB drive. Those specs bumps aside, this is otherwise the same laptop, with a low-glare, 3,200 x 1,800 screen and an aluminum chassis weighing in at 3.06 pounds. It won't actually be on shelves until early November, but you can pre-order it today for $1,800.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/18/fujifilm-launches-x-e2-and-xq1-cameras/
The refined image processing from Fujifilm's X100s and X20 is at last reaching more affordable cameras: welcome the X-E2 and X-Q1. The X-E2 is a direct upgrade to the X-E1 that brings the company's 16.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS II sensor and EXR Processor II to a mid-tier interchangeable lens design, giving welcome boosts to both the image quality and autofocusing speed. Software upgrades like split image display and 60 fps 1080p video come along with the new hardware, and there's both WiFi photo transfers as well as a much sharper one-megapixel, three-inch preview LCD. The X-E2 will ship in November for $1,000 in body-only form, or $1,400 when paired with an 18-55mm f/2.8-4 zoom lens.
Photographers looking for a more pocketable shooter will want to look at the XQ1. The 12-megapixel compact cam is a spiritual successor to the XF1 that ditches the faux leather look in favor of a plainer, smaller body. It still has a non-removable 25-100mm f/1.8-4.9 lens, but it gets the X-E2's image processing upgrades and WiFi. An improved three-inch, 920,000-pixel LCD is present as well. The XQ1 should arrive later this month for $500. %Gallery-slideshow101222%
Filed under: Cameras
Source: Fujifilm
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/18/archos-dual-sim-titanium-smartphones/
Archos has revealed not one but four budget smartphones with humble specs to join its tablets in the Titanium line, making us want to break into song. The new Android Jelly Bean devices are named after their screen sizes -- models 40, 45, 50 and 53 have displays that measure 4 (800 x 480 resolution), 4.5 (854 x 480), 5 (960 x 540) and 5.3 (854 x 480) inches, respectively. They have dual SIM slots that allow them to support 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM, as well as 900/2100 WCDMA bands, and they connect to the internet via HSDPA+/HSUPA.
On the inside, you'll the find the phones running on 1.3GHz dual-core MTK6572w processors with 512MB of RAM and, sadly, only 4GB of storage that makes their microSD card slots more valuable than ever. While the devices don't boast any fancy add-ons, they at least come with 5-megapixel rear and 0.3-megapixel front cameras. Availability seems up in the air at this point, but the phones' prices will range from €100 ($137) to €160 ($219) when they come out. Those who'd like to know more about the company's new set of quadruplets can head past the break for more info.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google
Source: Archos
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/smart-power-strip/
Seems like everyone's trying to get a piece of the home automation action these days. Question is, however, if pricey catchall systems are really the answer. Smart Power Strip offers a simple, affordable solution, letting you control and monitor appliances in real-time using your smartphone. The power strip has outlets that can be managed individual via your handset both at home and remotely. The strip also features two USB ports for charging -- because it's 2013, after all.
You can see all of the Insert Coin semifinalists here.
Filed under: Peripherals
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/motorola-is-just-burning-cash-for-google-2013-10
Google's smartphone company Motorola is just burning cash.
According to Google's earnings report, Motorola lost $248 million last quarter, which is up from $49 million loss when Google first took over the smartphone maker.
In total, Motorola has lost $1 billion since Google officially acquired it. That's in addition to the $12.5 billion Google spent to get Motorola in the first place.
These loses remind us a little bit of Microsoft's online division, which just burns cash.
It's unclear how Motorola is going to fix this problem. The Moto X is a very good phone, but sales seem to be light. To crank up sales, Google will have to invest in marketing, which means more loses. And there's no guarantee that more marketing means more sales.
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Source: http://gizmodo.com/youll-barely-notice-the-worlds-smallest-usb-3-0-flash-1446986913
When it comes to prolonging the life of your laptop, there's no easier upgrade than adding an ultra-compact USB flash drive to expand its storage capacity—particularly if it's got a small SSD on board. And a company called PKparis is now laying claim to the title of 'world's smallest USB 3.0 flash drive' with its new K’1 that more than looks the part.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/a-stable-version-of-ubuntus-mobile-os-is-available-now/
After a long period of developer (and enthusiast) previews, Ubuntu 13.10 for smartphones, as well as desktops, is finally available as a stable release. The gesture-heavy, Linux-based mobile OS still doesn't have an official hardware home -- if you'll remember, Canoncial's Indiegogo bid for the Ubuntu Edge failed to meet its lofty goals -- but there are a couple of devices that can run the OS. Google's Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 are both officially supported, so owners of those handsets with the right know-how can head to the company's site now for instructions to flash the OS. That doesn't mean we won't someday see a dedicated Ubuntu device -- the company's still in talks with OEMs. For now, though, you can at least enjoy the fruits of Canonical's mobile labors while holding fast to the Edge of hope.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Ubuntu (G+), (2)
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/sharp-converts-tv-plant-to-make-smartphone-displays-igzo/
Sharp's IGZO displays make regular appearances at global trade shows, but have been less easy to spot in western devices, hardly ever leaving domestic Japanese market. That could soon change, as the company is ramping up production of smartphone-sized screens, at the cost of TV output. The Wall Street Journal reports that Sharp is expanding production at its Kameyama plant, with the aim of becoming a top player in the not-so-exotic world of handheld screen production, making the sheets that will make its way into multiple phone makers' devices. It might be able to lower manufacturing costs by making hundreds of displays from a single sheet, which would certainly be good news for the company's balance sheet. This increase in output might also mean that devices with Sharp's impressively bright IGZO displays will finally appear outside of Nippon, creating the necessary extra demand and giving us something else to square off against AMOLED and Super LCD 3.
Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Mobile
Source: WSJ
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/acer-iconia-w4-hands-on/
Once Intel shows off an unannounced tablet at one of its press events, the jig is up: the product may as well be official at that point. That's what happened with Acer's Iconia W4 Windows 8.1 tablet, which recently surfaced in public, but wasn't officially announced until today. As the successor to the W3, this is Acer's second 8-inch tablet, and it corrects many of the shortcomings that doomed the original. Chiefly, it steps up to a higher-res 1,280 x 800 display; believe us when we say the difference in pixel density is immediately obvious. What's more, though, Acer also improved the quality of the panel: not only is this an IPS screen, but it's optically bonded, so you should notice less glare, even in harsh conditions. (Take a look at our outdoor hands-on shots if you're skeptical.)
Additionally, as rumored, the W4 packs a faster Atom processor -- specifically, one of the chips from Intel's new Bay Trail series. Though we only had a few moments of hands-on time, we noticed some brisk transitions between menus and apps, and programs were quick to launch as well. If ever we pressed the Start button, for instance, the tablet wasted no time in switching back to the Start Menu, or to the desktop. In terms of the exterior hardware, the tablet is slightly lighter (0.91 pounds instead of 1.1) and thinner, too (0.42 inch versus 0.45). Also, whereas the W3 had 2-megapixel cameras on both the front and the rear, the W4 rocks a 5MP main shooter (the front webcam is still 2MP). Rounding out the list, the W4 keeps the same basic ports as the W3 -- namely, micro-USB, micro-HDMI and a microSD slot. And, as before, you can use it with an optional keyboard. Look for it this month, starting at $330 with 32GB of built-in storage and $380 for the 64GB model.%Gallery-slideshow100637%%Gallery-slideshow101241%
Source: http://gizmodo.com/a-salad-spinner-for-cocktails-makes-martinis-stirred-n-1446559162
Concocting the perfect cocktail can take years of practice, but everything in life has a shortcut, and for amateur mixologists it's called the Cocktail Spinner. Imagine smashing a Magic Bullet into a salad spinner at the speed of light. This is what the resulting supernova would leave behind.
Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-camp-stove-collapses-thinner-than-the-bark-used-as-1445820415
When you're heading out into nature with nothing but a backpack, the long hike ahead of you is going to be far more enjoyable if you pack as light and minimally as possible. But that doesn't mean you have to completely rough it. A hot meal at the end of the day can keep a camping trip tolerable, and you'll be hard pressed to feel this collapsible camp stove weighing you down.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/skully-p-1-helmet-packs-a-heads-up-display-rear-facing-camera-a/
Motorcycle helmets are a simple safety measure -- they keep your noggin safe from objects and falls that would otherwise do it harm. But what if your helmet could help prevent you from getting into an accident in the first place? Marcus Weller, founder of Skully, asked just that question, and the answer he came up with is the P-1 helmet. It's a brain bucket that packs a 180-degree FOV rear-facing camera and a micro-controller running a customized version of Android to deliver navigation and video information to a custom-constructed HUD (similar to Google Glass). And, it takes voice commands so that riders can see where they're going or what's behind them, all in hands-free fashion. To provide such functionality, the P-1 has a fin mounted atop the DOT-approved helmet that houses the aforementioned hardware, plus GPS, Bluetooth, an accelerometer, gyro, compass and a rechargeable battery. The plan is for the P-1 to become available for purchase next spring in matte black or gloss white, and it'll be marketed as an ultra-premium helmet (translation: expect it to cost over $1,000).
Skully is currently still in the process of developing apps for the thing, but there will be a handful of finely tuned software available at launch. We can say for sure that means the P-1 will provide wearers with navigation and the ability to view the camera feed, with perhaps an SOS function (should the helmet sense an accident) and other apps to come. The company will be opening up the platform so that third parties can code for it as well. We got to speak with Weller about the process of producing the P-1, so join us after the break for more.%Gallery-slideshow101230%
Filed under: Wearables
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/oregon-scientific-meep-x2-kids-tablet/
After seeing it make an appearance at the FCC offices back in August, we knew it was only a matter of time before Oregon Scientific would begin loading shelves with the MEEP! X2. Today, the company made it official, announcing that its second-gen tablet for kids is now available for purchase. All things considered, the X2 appears to be pretty solid on paper: it features a 7-inch display, front and rear cameras, Android 4.2 (with a custom skin, of course), Bluetooth 4.0, 4GB of internal storage and an undisclosed 1.2GHz, dual-core CPU alongside 1GB of RAM. This spec sheet isn't where the X2 hopes to shine, however; Oregon Scientific is betting on pre-loaded software (such as apps, e-books, games and music), customizable parental controls and its own MEEP! store to lure parents into buying one for their little ones. The X2 is a Toys R Us exclusive, where it's up for grabs now for $150, both online and at brick-and-mortar stores.
Filed under: Tablets
Source: Oregon Scientific
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/lenovo-yoga-2-pro-now-available/
Many Ultrabook fans have pined for Lenovo's Yoga 2 Pro given its blend of a 3,200 x 1,800 display, long battery life and a slim profile. Those people can finally act on their impulses, as Lenovo has quietly started selling the 13-inch folding convertible. For the $1,049 base price, buyers get a silver gray variant with a Haswell-based 1.7GHz Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive. An orange model normally costs $1,399 (currently $1,149), although that also includes a 1.6GHz Core i5, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Be sure to shop around before you pick up the new system, however. Best Buy is currently selling an entry-level Yoga 2 Pro for $1,000, and there's a chance you'll find similar bargains elsewhere.
Via: Liliputing
Source: http://gizmodo.com/switch-hitting-flash-drive-works-on-laptops-and-microus-1446514882
As ubiquitous as Wi-Fi and mobile data have become, there are still times when you'll find yourself completely cut off from any and all wireless networks. And inevitably those will be the times when you need to transfer files between a tablet or a smartphone and your laptop. Bluetooth can work in a pinch, but when time is of the essence, ADATA's new DashDrive flash drive plays nice with both USB and microUSB ports.
Source: http://lifehacker.com/http-www-youtube-com-watch-v-cts1on_uziq-feature-yout-1446268899
Brilliant shopping assistant app
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/lenovo-miix2/
Remember when we reviewed Acer's (sorta crappy) W3 tablet, and assured you it wouldn't be long before we saw more 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablets? Well, with that latest Windows update due out tomorrow, you'd better believe the smaller Windows tablets are about to start pouring in. Now that we've heard from Dell, Lenovo is also getting in the game: it just debuted the Miix2, its first 8-inch Windows 8.1 tab. Like pretty much every other 8-incher that's about to be announced, it runs on one of Intel's new quad-core Bay Trail processors, rocks a 1,200 x 800 display, and comes with Microsoft Office installed. Even the camera specs are on par with other models: you get a 2-megapixel webcam in the front, and a 5MP shooter around back. If you're feeling fancy, you can also buy a cover case and a capacitive stylus. Expect to see it on shelves later this month, with a starting price of $299 -- though if money is no object, there's also going to be a tricked-out version with a full 128 gigs of storage inside.%Gallery-slideshow101191%
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/adidas-smartwatch/
Adidas's head of interactive, Paul Gaudio, has just announced a new Adidas smartwatch at GigaOm's Mobilized conference in San Francisco. He said that it'll have GPS and will not only measure speed and distance but also provide personal training coaching based on your heart rate. This won't only show up on the screen, but if you connect it to Bluetooth headphones, there'll be audio coaching as well. It'll launch on November 1st for $399.
Developing...
Mobile deeplinks open specific pages within apps, and they're about to transform ecommerce. URX is a new deeplink mobile advertising startup that's raised $3.1 million from A-list investors to help ecommerce companies get existing users back in their apps and spending money. URX places ads on oth...
http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/16/urx-ads/
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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/akamai-state-of-the-internet-q2-2013/
The latest Akamai report on the state of the internet is out, and thankfully DDoS attacks have dropped since the last one. What's more, China's reign as the number one perpetrator was cut short by Indonesia, which almost doubled its first-quarter malicious traffic from 21 percent to 38 percent. China's traffic dropped from 34 percent to 33 percent, but combined, the two countries still comprise more than half of observed attack traffic. The US on the other hand, stays in third place even though attack traffic dropped from 8.3 percent to 6.9 percent.
There is a bright side to the research, though: Global internet speeds rose at a much higher rate since the last report. High broadband (any speed greater than or equal to 10Mbps) adoption rose to 14 percent worldwide quarter over quarter, while average-connection speeds rose to 3.3Mbps from the previous 3.1Mbps. If you've been keeping tabs on mobile device traffic numbers, cellular network traffic was about even between Android Webkit and Apple's Mobile Safari, coming in at just under 38 and 34 percent respectively. In terms of raw traffic across all network types though, Cupertino's ecosystem nearly doubled Google's, at 54 percent compared to 27.6 percent respectively. You're more than welcome to check out the press release and the source for full details, but we recommend putting on a pot of coffee first -- it's a heady read.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Akamai (download)
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/akamai-state-of-the-internet-q2-2013/
The latest Akamai report on the state of the internet is out, and thankfully DDoS attacks have dropped since the last one. What's more, China's reign as the number one perpetrator was cut short by Indonesia, which almost doubled its first-quarter malicious traffic from 21 percent to 38 percent. China's traffic dropped from 34 percent to 33 percent, but combined, the two countries still comprise more than half of observed attack traffic. The US on the other hand, stays in third place even though attack traffic dropped from 8.3 percent to 6.9 percent.
There is a bright side to the research, though: Global internet speeds rose at a much higher rate since the last report. High broadband (any speed greater than or equal to 10Mbps) adoption rose to 14 percent worldwide quarter over quarter, while average-connection speeds rose to 3.3Mbps from the previous 3.1Mbps. If you've been keeping tabs on mobile device traffic numbers, cellular network traffic was about even between Android Webkit and Apple's Mobile Safari, coming in at just under 38 and 34 percent respectively. In terms of raw traffic across all network types though, Cupertino's ecosystem nearly doubled Google's, at 54 percent compared to 27.6 percent respectively. You're more than welcome to check out the press release and the source for full details, but we recommend putting on a pot of coffee first -- it's a heady read.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Akamai (download)
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/15/intel-delays-broadwell-chips-to-early-2014/
We hope you weren't dead set on buying devices using Intel's Broadwell processors, as the company has delayed production of the 14-nanometer CPU line to early 2014. Fixes for early manufacturing defects didn't work as well as expected, CEO Brian Krzanich says, limiting Intel's ability to produce enough functioning chips. The setback shouldn't affect Skylake, Broadwell's successor. Still, it's not good news for a semiconductor firm that's scrounging for good news in an unforgiving PC market.
Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Intel
Source: CNET
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/15/square-cash/
That Square Cash service that was unveiled as invite-only about five months ago? Well, it's officially open to the public. As of now, anyone can send cold hard cash to anyone else just with a regular ol' email address -- well, an address in the US, anyway. To send money, simply send an email to the recipient with "cash@square.com" in the CC field and the dollar amount in the subject line. If you and your recipient are new to the service, you'll both get an email from Square with a link to a secure website where you can enter in your debit card number. After that, those funds will be transferred in one to two business days. Once your debit card account is set up, any subsequent cash transaction will go through automatically. The service is absolutely free to send and receive, though you're limited to sending only $2,500 a week.
Though you only need email to send and receive cash, the folks at Square are also releasing a Cash app for Android and iOS that essentially acts as a shortcut to the service. Once you enter in the dollar amount in the app, it kicks you over to email to complete the process. Brian Grassadonia, Director of Products at Square, told us that Square Cash solves the problem that has historically plagued the status quo when it comes to peer-to-peer payments. "You no longer need to remember to log in to an account to send or receive money," he said, giving examples of friends dealing with a bar bill or parents sending money to their kids in college. "This is so easy and lightweight that any time there's an opportunity to send money, you don't have to think twice -- you just do it." The service is only available for US residents for now, though the company has said it's open to exploring opportunities in other countries in the future. So sorry, moochers, now there's no excuse for you not to pay your pals back ever again.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Square Cash, App Store, Google Play
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/15/verizons-lte-aws-rollout-begins/
The prospect of faster LTE over AWS frequencies has made Verizon lick its chops since late 2011, and now it's finally starting to sate its speed-demon appetite. Big Red has confirmed to PhoneScoop that many of its "major markets" are now being graced with the fresh spectrum (Band 4, if you're curious), which is expected to boost bandwidth, help its infrastructure cope with growth and improve reliability. While the carrier didn't specify which areas are seeing the rollout, several reports indicate that the new frequency has arrived in parts of New York City. In particular, GigaOM reader Milan Milanovic has pulled down 80 Mbps on the new waves while in Midtown Manhattan, with uploads hovering around 15 Mbps. Of course, those speeds are sure to take a dive as more and more folks jump on the bandwagon. Milanovic says fellow network testers have seen Verizon activate AWS in Chicago and Los Angeles, but we've yet to spot speed test results for those areas.
Before you get too excited at the prospect of increased bandwidth, keep in mind that only handsets with the appropriate radios can surf the AWS band. However, Verizon says an update for phones sporting the right hardware, such as the Galaxy S 4, is due in the near future. There's no word on how quickly AWS will spread throughout the wireless telco's domestic empire, but we've reached out for a timeline and will update things here if and when we get one.
[Image credit: Milan Milanovic]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Verizon
Via: Droid Life
Source: GigaOM, HowardForums, PhoneScoop
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/15/sony-vaio-tap-11-review/
It wasn't until I was in a meeting with Sony, getting hands-on with its holiday lineup, that I realized something: the company didn't have a proper Windows 8 tablet. Yep, that's right: for all the experimentation PC makers have been doing around Win 8, one of the biggest names in consumer electronics had never attempted a simple Windows tablet. Even crazier: Sony instead placed its bets on the slider PC, of all things -- a design that presents more than a few ergonomic challenges.
Finally, though, Sony is giving the ol' slate form factor a shot: the company recently announced the Tap 11, a tablet seemingly designed to blow the Surface Pro out of the water. Like Microsoft's tablet, it has a kickstand, USB port, pen-enabled display and a thin keyboard case that attaches to the device magnetically. Unlike Microsoft, however, Sony is throwing in the wireless keyboard at no extra charge -- kind of a big deal considering Ballmer and Co. are selling the Type Cover for an additional $130. Even better, the Tap 11 starts at $800, undercutting the new Surface Pro 2 by $99 (and that's not even counting the keyboard). So, what's the catch?%Gallery-slideshow100615%
In HBO's The Wire, drug dealers rely on cheap "burner" phones, which are used for a short time and then thrown away, to thwart police efforts to record their calls. The idea of a temporary, anonymous phone number has also caught on in the app world as witnessed by investors' recent decisio...
http://gigaom.com/2013/10/14/feds-reportedly-used-phone-database-to-track-burner-use/
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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/15/ibm-watson-medical-diagnosis/
IBM's Watson hasn't been in medical school long, but he already has two jobs. Teaming with the Cleveland Clinic, Big Blue researchers have developed WatsonPaths, a diagnosis and education project, and Watson EMR Assistant, a tool for delving deep into medical records. WatsonPaths is the more ambitious of the two, drawing on question-answering skills acquired from its Jeopardy days to examine medical cases from all angles. It'll gather data from journals, texts and on-the-job training, helping doctors improve differential diagnoses and create better treatments. When first deployed, WatsonPaths will be used as a classroom training tool after physicians have decided what's wrong with a patient, but doctors can already see its real-world potential as a clinician.
Researchers are also taking advantage of Watson's natural language talents to scour medical records with the Watson EMR Assistant project. The goal is to analyze unstructured patient records -- which can easily pass 100MB over a patient's lifetime -- with "a deep semantic understanding of the content." That'll take a lot of the grunt work out of parsing such data, letting physicians more easily see the relationship between clinical concerns, lab results and medications in order to provide better care. Despite all that prowess, Watson will mostly remain a learning tool and research project pending further development at the clinic. If the researchers are thinking primary care, however, they may want to bump its people skills.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/15/lg-g-pad-8-3-coming-to-the-uk/
We first got our paws on LG's 8.3-inch G Pad tablet back at IFA, today it's been confirmed that it'll be coming to the UK and Ireland. Brits who want a slice of the action can expect to pay around £259 for the privilege, while Irish buyers can snap one up starting within the next two weeks. LG reminds us this is only part of the broader global rollout, which will see it land in over 30 total markets by the end of the year. You might have to wait a little while longer, though, if you're done with the whole "flat" thing.
Source: LG Blog
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/14/castar-kickstarter-launch/
When Jeri Ellsworth and Rick Johnson were let go from Valve back in February, they didn't want to give up on the top-secret augmented reality project they had worked so hard on during their time as employees. So they obtained permission to carry on with it, formed a company called Technical Illusions, and went to work to create what they would eventually call castAR. Months later, at Maker Faire 2013, they revealed the projected augmented-reality system to the world. Comprising a pair of active shutter glasses, a couple of micro projectors, a camera module and a retroreflective surface studded with infrared LEDs, castAR certainly made an impressive debut. Yet, it was still just an early prototype weighed down by heavy glass elements and solid circuit boards.
Today, however, the team is finally ready to reveal the final product in its official Kickstarter launch. Not only is the design much lighter than what we saw in May, but it now has a very intriguing clip-on attachment that can essentially transform the castAR glasses into either true AR glasses that provide augmented reality without the retroreflective surface, or full virtual reality eyewear if you want a completely immersive experience like with the Oculus Rift. This essentially turns castAR into a three-in-one headset, and all in a relatively slim package. As castAR claims on its Kickstarter page, "you will have no need for any other head mounted display." Join us after the break for a rundown of the campaign, some insights from Ellsworth and Johnson and a preview of the device itself.
Filed under: Gaming
Source: Kickstarter
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/14/imagination-details-warrior-p5600-cpu-core/
After teasing us this summer, Imagination is ready to provide full details of its first Warrior CPU core. Its new P5600 design centers on the MIPS Series5 architecture, which brings performance upgrades like 128-bit SIMD (single instruction, multiple data) code support, hardware virtualization and numerous low-level optimizations. The design reportedly manages brisk 32-bit performance in a considerably smaller footprint than rivals -- a P5600 occupies about 30 percent less space than a "comparable" Exynos 5 Octa, Imagination says. It may be a long while before we see that speed in a smartphone, however. The company will start licensing the core this quarter, but customers still have to build processors and ship finished devices.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile
Source: Imagination Technologies
Source: http://gizmodo.com/htc-one-max-shiny-aluminum-5-9-inch-screen-and-a-fing-1444746133
HTC’s zapped its flagship One design with its embiggening rays, and scaled the One Max up to gigantic proportions. At 5.9-inches, it’s in that scary land where it’s either a really large phone, or a phablet. We’re not quite sure HTC knows what it is either.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/13/lg-g-flex-revealed/
LG has admitted that "bendable and unbreakable" smartphone displays are already in production, and we've heard plenty of rumors about a device known as the G Flex which features the new tech. Engadget has come across a trio of renders of the upcoming device, and we have learned from our sources that it will be coming out sometime next month -- pricing and availability (as well as hard specs) are as of yet unknown, however. As you can see in the images (above and below), the G Flex offers a curved display, but LG's version approaches it at a literally different angle from the Galaxy Round that was announced last week: instead of it curving from left to right, the G Flex goes orthogonally from top to bottom. We'll update you with more information and images as we get closer to the device's launch.
Update: Our sources have confirmed to us that the G Flex will indeed have a 6-inch display, as rumored previously.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, LG
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/13/lg-g-flex-revealed/?ncid=rss_truncated
LG has admitted that "bendable and unbreakable" smartphone displays are already in production, and we've heard plenty of rumors about a device known as the G Flex which features the new tech. Engadget has come across a trio of renders of the upcoming device, and we have learned from our sources that ...
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/14/htc-launches-one-max/?ncid=rss_truncated
The bigger the phone, the harder it is to hide. After a slew of detailed leaks, HTC is finally ready to announce the HTC One Max: an enlarged version of the original One that boosts the size of the 1080p LCD panel up to 5.9 inches while attempting to keep the One's classy aluminum look and feel. ...
ASUS AiO PCs have run the gamut from pretty versatile, like the dual-boot Transformer AiO, to pretty functional like the articulating ET2300. But pretty, period? Perhaps not so much -- at least not until a video of the above ET2321 popped up on the company's official YouTube channel. The ...
