Sunday, October 25, 2009

BlackBerry Storm update landing tomorrow, bringing lots of good stuff (update: now with changelog!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/24/blackberry-storm-update-landing-tomorrow-bringing-lots-of-good/

Hey, you -- yeah you, the BlackBerry Storm owner over there. You listening? Good. That mythical software update we heard about just last week is obviously the real deal, and a screen grab from Verizon's internal systems has shown up to prove it. We're told that it should go live tomorrow (that's October 25th for those in strange, potentially illegitimate time zones) at 6PM. On the whole, it'll make your Storm act a lot more like the forthcoming Storm2, but specifically you can expect a "faster, more accurate and more natural text input experience, word completion, a virtual QWERTY keyboard in portrait view and enhanced sensitivity when editing, copying and pasting." You'll also get the ability to "enable Auto Correction as opposed to Word Completion in landscape view." The full changelog should be coming soon, so hang tight! Oh, and cancel those plans for tomorrow night, okay?

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Update: Check out the full (purported) changelog after the break!

Continue reading BlackBerry Storm update landing tomorrow, bringing lots of good stuff (update: now with changelog!)

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BlackBerry Storm update landing tomorrow, bringing lots of good stuff (update: now with changelog!) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:33 PM

Nokia patent app reveals dreams of pressure-sensitive multitouch interface

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/24/nokia-patent-app-reveals-dreams-of-pressure-sensitive-multitouch/

Nokia's no stranger to the patent application process here in the United States, and while we've certainly seen some strange ones emanating from its R&D labs, this one looks like something that should be implemented on the double. Explained as a "user interface for controlling an electronic device," the multitouch solution would essentially allow you to pinch, zoom and rotate objects as usual, but it would also employ an array of pressure sensors in order to give your motions a sense of severity. If executed properly, one could theoretically envision the use of a strong push to simulate a double tap (for example), or as a means to activate a secondary function that generally requires another button press or the use of a 'Function' key. Hit the read link for all the mumbo jumbo, but be sure to keep your expectations within check. Or not.

[Via UnwiredView]

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Nokia patent app reveals dreams of pressure-sensitive multitouch interface originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:32 PM

Vuzix Wrap 310 video eyewear ships out to virtual big-screen lovers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/25/vuzix-wrap-310-video-eyewear-ships-out-to-virtual-big-screen-lov/

Vuzix's $249.95 Wrap 310 is probably the least hideous / heinous of the video eyewear options on the market today, and while it's still take a few bottles of Jack to get us to rock these with a smile, those who are just high on life can now make a set their own. In case you're forgotten, these things provide a virtual 55-inch screen in front of your eyes, and there's support for iPod / iPhone connections as well as basic sources such as DVD players and the like. And hey, there's also the possibility that these could be used in augmented reality applications in the future, so feel free to considering this some sort of futuristic investment. Just like those Y2K preparedness tapes you bought in '99.

Continue reading Vuzix Wrap 310 video eyewear ships out to virtual big-screen lovers

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Vuzix Wrap 310 video eyewear ships out to virtual big-screen lovers originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:31 PM

T-Mobile officially unveils $99 Even More, $79 Even More Plus plans and equipment installment option

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/25/t-mobile-officially-unveils-99-even-more-79-even-more-plus-pl/

Right on schedule with the whispers, T-Mobile lifted the veil off of its new price plan tier structure, Even More and Even More Plus, and from the looks of it all those leaks were pretty much spot-on. The traditional Even More plan is a two-year commitment and discounted phone, with unlimited individual prices starting at $59 per month and going up to $99 if you want unlimited messaging and text, too. Even More Plus scrapes the device discount but offers unlimited individual prices at $49 for voice / $79 for everything. It looks like the only major differentiator is the subsidized handset, but here's where the numbers don't add up: even with the steep $350 discount on myTouch 3G, factoring in that $20 premium would pay for the phone during the 18th month, leaving six months and $120 of extra payments left that have no obvious justification to us. Additionally the FlexPay / equipment installment plan is now available, letting you break up the cost of your phone into interest-free monthly bills. It seems Even More's subsidized phones are offered over four installments (e.g. $37 per month for the $150 MyTouch 3G) while Even More Plus' is two installments (e.g. $25 per month for the same device at the $500 full price). Our initial takeaway from the price tiers is that T-Mobile is doing what it can to drive its consumers away from the traditional and over to the non-traditional (for US, at least) Even More Plus plan, but hey, we're not gonna argue over a beneficial contract-free plan, even if monthly phone payments keep us paying the company for at least 20 months. So T-Mo, any other Project Dark surprises in the cards? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

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T-Mobile officially unveils $99 Even More, $79 Even More Plus plans and equipment installment option originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:31 PM

Switched On: Making book with ePUB

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/25/switched-on-making-book-with-epub/

Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
The ePUB standard, developed by Adobe, allows consumers to purchase books at a variety of digital stores and use them on a wide range of compatible devices without the manufacturer having to explicitly support them. That may sound a bit like the PlaysForSure initiative that Microsoft tried mounting to challenge the iPod but ultimately shifted away from (at least for MP3 players) in favor of the Zune, but ePUB has a better shot than PlaysForSure did.

First, unlike PlaysForSure, which was playing catch-up to the already dominant iPod, ePUB is appearing relatively early in the market; it need not break anyone's "stranglehold." Second, after attracting the support of Sony, the format achieved a significant coup with the support of Barnes & Noble, which noted last week that it was "excited" to be supporting the format in its forthcoming Nook e-reader.

Continue reading Switched On: Making book with ePUB

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Switched On: Making book with ePUB originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:31 PM

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