Fring update approved for iPhone, does video calling with front cam over 3G

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/fring-update-approved-for-iphone-does-video-calling-with-front/

We weren't exactly sure whether Apple was going to approve third-party video calling apps using the front camera on the iPhone 4, but good news: the answer is "yes." Fring just slid in a new version of its longstanding iPhone app today featuring support for video calling, which is pretty awesome in and of itself -- but the real news is that it works just fine over 3G, as you can see in our quick test above between Chicago and London. This opens the door for services that could have potentially broader implications than FaceTime itself, since Apple's service is limited to WiFi and currently only works between iPhone 4s. Just make sure you're wearing clothes when you call, alright?

Fring update approved for iPhone, does video calling with front cam over 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uplink Audio Strap System offers solar power for runners on the run

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/uplink-audio-strap-system-offers-solar-power-for-runners-on-the/

Designer Adam Hammerman's concept -- the Uplink Audio Strap System -- is for all you sports enthusiasts that want to listen to tunes while running but don't want to be bothered with headphones. It can connect with a variety of different mobile devices, and boasts four ultrasound speakers, meaning that you can hear the music but nobody else can, so you're not disturbing the peace! For outdoorsy types, of course, it would be a much safer system for things like running, since you would still be able to hear the street noise around you, and the device would also have flexible solar panels which charge the speakers on the go. It's just a concept for now, but one we'd like to see in reality.

Uplink Audio Strap System offers solar power for runners on the run originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iOS 4 adds direct access to iTunes library, iPhone DJ apps about to get crazy

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/ios-4-adds-direct-access-to-itunes-library-iphone-dj-apps-about/

Although there's been no shortage of iPhone DJ apps in the past few years, they've remained fairly niche, since Apple didn't allow devs official access to the iPod music library -- mobile DJs needed to upload a second separate music library per app, and that's no fun at all. Looks like that's about to change, though: one of the 1500 new APIs in iOS 4 provides direct access to the iPod library, meaning music apps of all kinds can play your tracks in any wacky way they want -- including, yes, scratching them. The first app to support the new API in the store is Flare Scratch, which is a relatively simple scratch app -- we just gave it a shot and yes, it does indeed load tracks from the iPod library and let you scratch 'em. There's a bit of a wait when loading up a new track, though, so it's not totally fluid to use in anything but a hey-this-is-fun context, but we're betting we'll see more serious DJ apps hit with smoother transitions soon enough -- and we can't wait to see what devs do once iOS 4 hits the iPad and they've got more room to work with. Video after the break.

Continue reading iOS 4 adds direct access to iTunes library, iPhone DJ apps about to get crazy

iOS 4 adds direct access to iTunes library, iPhone DJ apps about to get crazy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Create Digital Music  |  Flare Scratch (iTunes), Flare Scratch site  | Email this | Comments

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Flash Player investing in a 3D future, plans coming in October

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/flash-player-investing-in-a-3d-future-plans-coming-in-october/

Man, Adobe is really teasing up Flash and 3D. Straight from the mouth (or, rather, keyboard) of product manager Thibault Imbert: "What kind of [3D] API? True textured z-buffered triangles ? GPU acceleration? Even better? What I can say is forget what you have seen before, it is going to be big." Big talk in regards to a session at the company's upcoming MAX 2010 conference entitled (aptly enough) "Flash Player 3D Future." According to the description and some added details care of Imbert, expect discussion and demos of a renderer coming in a future version of Flash Player. We'd love to give you something more concrete, but looks like that might be awhile -- the talk isn't until October 27th.

Flash Player investing in a 3D future, plans coming in October originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solar Impulse returns from 24 hour test flight 26 hours later

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/solar-impulse-returns-from-24-hour-test-flight-26-hours-later/

Rest easy, fans of solar-powered aeronautics. Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse has safely returned after 26 hours in the air -- powered by nothing but the sun. The four-engine aircraft, which features 12,000 solar cells arranged on its wingspan, reached a height of almost 29,000 feet before touching down at Payerne Airport near Berne, Switzerland today. The next step? The team is going back to the woodshed, with the hope of developing a plane that will circumnavigate the globe by 2013.

Solar Impulse returns from 24 hour test flight 26 hours later originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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