Apple reportedly acquires video discovery service Matcha.tv

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/13/apple-reportedly-acquires-video-discovery-service-matcha-tv/

It's time to add another entry on our "Apple television rumors" timeline, as reports tonight indicate the company has acquired the team behind the second screen web / iPad app Matcha.tv. VentureBeat initially posted news of the acquisition at a price of between $1 and $1.5 million, which would appear to explain the aggregator's sudden disappearance back in May. If you weren't familiar with it before now, Matcha.tv was one of a number of efforts seeking to enable content discovery from mobile devices. By the time it closed its doors, it included TV listings of what's on cable / satellite, queues for online streaming from services like Netflix and Hulu, personalized recommendations and social network tie-ins. CEO Guy Piekarz told TechCrunch in May that the company has a "plan to provide something better in the future." We'll wait and see if speculation leans towards an IR blaster tie-in for the iPhone similar to the Galaxy S 4 and HTC One, controls for an integrated living room TV experience or something else entirely.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Apple

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Source: VentureBeat, AllThingsD, Matcha.tv

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Samsung unveils first SSDs with 3D V-NAND memory, but only for enterprise

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/13/samsung-unveils-first-ssds-with-3d-v-nand-memory/

Well, that was quick. Samsung said it was producing the world's first 3D vertical NAND memory just a week ago, and it has already started building the first SSDs based on that memory. Unfortunately, they're not meant for the enthusiast crowd: the new 480GB and 960GB drives are instead designed for enterprise-class servers, where V-NAND's blend of high capacity and reliability makes the most sense. Don't be too forlorn, however. Samsung promises that the new memory will eventually reach PC-oriented SSDs, which could bring spacious flash storage to a much wider audience.

Filed under: Storage, Samsung

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Source: Samsung

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Acer Aspire S7 review (2013): the second time's a charm for Acer's flagship Ultrabook

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/13/acer-aspire-s7-392-review/

It wasn't easy writing a conclusion (much less a headline) for our original Acer Aspire S7-391 review. The company's third Ultrabook was near-perfect, with a stunning full HD display, exceptionally fast performance, an extra-light chassis and one of the most sophisticated designs we'd seen on any Acer machine, ever. Even so, the battery could barely last past the four-hour mark -- a poor showing, even compared to other machines on the market. Plus, the fan noise was some of the loudest we'd heard, so you couldn't enjoy that blazing SSD without a good deal of distraction. We ultimately recommended it, but with a sigh. This wasn't the Ultrabook we thought it would be.

Fortunately for us, we no longer have to hem and haw over whether to recommend an exquisite laptop with worst-in-class battery life: Acer recently released an update to the S7, aptly called the S7-392. Available with a 13-inch screen (the 11-inch version has been discontinued), it arrives with Haswell processors, a larger battery and the promise of seven-hour runtime. Additionally, Acer retooled its cooling setup so that the fans supposedly operate much more quietly. Otherwise, it's the same laptop: same keyboard, same thin and light design, same 1080p screen. So can we crown it a winner now?

Gallery: Acer Aspire S7-392 review

Filed under: Laptops, Acer

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Samsung's 55-inch Curved OLED TV ships today for a sufferable $9,000 (eyes-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/13/samsungs-curved-oled-tv-shipping/

Any way you look at it, nine thousand dollars is a heck of a lot to spend on a television. But in the case of Samsung's 55-inch Curved OLED set, it's a fair share less than the $15,000 we heard quoted just last month. Just like LG's equivalent, the Samsung KN55S9C was designed with a curved profile in order to "envelope" viewers -- your viewing experience is improved, in theory, because you're more immersed in the display. The OLED set includes the company's Multi-View feature, which lets two people watch different programming at the same time when using compatible active 3D glasses, and it's compatible with the Evolution Kit Samsung introduced at CES. The 55-inch KN55S9C is on its way to select retailers, and can be yours for the considerable sum of $9,000.

Gallery: Samsung 55-inch curved OLED eyes-on

Update: The set will be available tomorrow (August 14th) on Samsung.com. Additionally, Consumer Reports has already managed to review the TV, giving the Samsung KN55S9C high marks, despite its sky-high price.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

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Chase goes all in on Isis, announces plans for nationwide rollout

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/12/chase-isis-nationwide/

We'd hardly call Isis a juggernaut, but the would-be Google Wallet-slayer is certainly building steam. After convincing American Express to back it in a nationwide rollout, Chase has decided to hop on the expansion train as well. The mobile payment launch partner is clearly quite happy with how pilot programs in Austin, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah went. Soon enough holders of Chase Freedom, Sapphire and Slate cards, along with those special people in possession of a JPMorgan Palladium card will be able to load their accounts into the Isis Mobile Wallet app and tap to pay at retail locations across the nation. Of course, if you're part of the one percent, walking around with your Palladium card, chances are you probably don't wander into to Walgreens to pick up your own Gold Bond Medicated Foot Powder very often anyway.

Filed under: Misc, Mobile

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