Garia, a company that sells a new golf “car” for people who want a high-end, street-legal vehicle to zip around their gated communities, allowed me to take their $21,000 model for a test drive through New York’s Times Square. It was the most fun I’ve had in a golf cart since I used to rig
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We’re still waiting for a version of TiVo’s official remote to come to Android , but now there’s a homebrew option available in the meantime. TiVo Commander is a free open source app that just hit the Android Market based on the community’s research of how TiVo’s app talks to its DVRs. So far the feature list includes a full remote control with keyboard input, ability to browse recorded shows, search for shows/movies/actors, set recordings and see credits or suggestions for similar content to what’s being watched. Of course you’re giving up some of the slick look and convenient options that are still iOS-only but if you just want to get things working on your Motorola / Samsung / HTC / etc. device right now, that ability is just a click of the source link away. [Thanks, @BrennokBob ] Android gets a TiVo Premiere remote app with TiVo Commander originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Yahoo experiment tests six degrees of separation on Facebook, cries out for Kevin Bacon endorsement
August 17, 2011 No Comment
It may not be hard to trace, say, Rhea Perlman back to Kevin Bacon , but what about you? If the age-old theory holds water, we should all be no more than six degrees away from cuttin’ Footloose with Hollywood’s bygone golden boy — or anyone else for that matter. Well, Yahoo’s determined to put any six-degree doubts to rest with its Small World Experiment, and what better way to do so than on Facebook ? Participating users are given a “target person,” and asked to “get a message to this person in as few steps as possible.” They are then prompted to select a single friend to pass the message on to, who will then be prompted to do the same, and so on. The idea is that if each subsequent recipient of the message continues to send it along, it will eventually reach its desired destination. No word yet on whether or not Mr. Bacon has given his blessing, but you can still sign up at the source link to get in on the action. Yahoo experiment tests six degrees of separation on Facebook, cries out for Kevin Bacon endorsement originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Looks like Sammy’s Android 2.3 demi-god is just about ready to touch down on this side of planet Earth. Spotted out in the wilds of Canada once again, the much anticipated Hercules handset — a confirmed Galaxy S II variant — has been captured in not-quite-Mr. Blurrycam form over on MobileSyrup . The device, shown here running on Telus’ network, is rumored to pack a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, 42Mbps HSPA+ radio and a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor — although that Quadrant score could very well indicate an Exynos chip. While we still lack any firm release dates for the phone’s Northern American debut, we’d bet that leaked T-Mobile October launch is a good yardstick for soon. Samsung Hercules gets its Telus on in leaked glamour shots originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Verizon further expands LTE network, says it now covers more than half the US population
August 17, 2011 No Comment
Verizon’s latest LTE network expansion may be a tad small compared to some previous ones — encompassing 15 new markets, plus some additional coverage in ten existing ones — but it was enough to push the carrier over one significant milestone. It now says that the network encompasses some 160 million Americans, or more than half the US population. As Verizon is quick to point out, that’s a feat it managed to accomplish in just eight months. Head on past the break for the press release with the complete list of markets covered. Continue reading Verizon further expands LTE network, says it now covers more than half the US population Verizon further expands LTE network, says it now covers more than half the US population originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Editorial: Google, Microsoft and the incredible shifting mobile landscape
August 17, 2011 No Comment
In two years, we’ll mark the thirtieth anniversary of the first commercially available cellphone — built by Motorola, incidentally. Given this week’s big news from Google, and other big events that we can only presume are yet to come, those two years may also prove to be some of the most interesting yet for the mobile industry. One of the more telling things about Google’s acquisition announcement on Monday was the response from Motorola’s competitors (and Google’s partners). Immediately following the news, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, HTC and LG all came out to praise Google’s commitment to “defending Android,” which presumably also means that they remain committed to using Android. What’s more, as Google itself has made explicitly clear recently, it’s not just defending Android as any company would defend its own product, but defending it against what it’s described as “hostile” and “organized” threat from Apple and Microsoft (and, to a lesser extent, Oracle). That increasingly hostile footing and a further-bolstered Google (assuming the acquisition goes through) also now creates some clearer lines and an entirely new dynamic between the major players in the mobile industry. Google and Microsoft are now taking similar approaches by licensing out their operating system to others while also having a hand in hardware development (by proxy with Nokia in the case of Microsoft). Neither are about to go as completely independent as Apple has, of course, but they both seem to have decided that it’s no longer enough to just focus on software and leave manufacturers entirely to their own devices. That leaves RIM and HP who, like Apple, are each trying to go it alone with their own hardware and mobile operating system — although HP is apparently open to the idea of licensing webOS if it has any takers (an option that seems to be getting less and less likely). The question now is will they succeed by staying out of the fray, or will they be forced to join it and choose sides? Continue reading Editorial: Google, Microsoft and the incredible shifting mobile landscape Editorial: Google, Microsoft and the incredible shifting mobile landscape originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …DirecTV brings NFL Sunday Ticket to Android tablets and the PS3 this fall
August 17, 2011 No Comment
Last year DirecTV started offering NFL Sunday Ticket To-Go access even to those who couldn’t / wouldn’t get their satellite packages , and it’s upping the ante this year by bringing its slate of football games to the PlayStation 3. NFL Sunday Ticket To-Go is still a $50 add-on that adds HD streaming access on PCs and mobile devices, however this year there’s also an app for the Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Android tablets. PS3 owners can get in on the action either by adding the To-Go option or paying a flat $339.95 without DirecTV service. Of course, it’s still interested in enticing people to switch to the dish by offering Sunday Ticket at no additional charge for new subscribers — just ask fairy Deion Sanders after the break. No word on any apps for Boxee, Roku and the rest , but other new additions for the 2011 season (now that the lockout is resolved and it’s actually happening) include a new four channel mix with larger cells for those late afternoon games, and integration with NFL.com Fantasy Football that lets viewers keep up with their scores and players right on the TV. Continue reading DirecTV brings NFL Sunday Ticket to Android tablets and the PS3 this fall DirecTV brings NFL Sunday Ticket to Android tablets and the PS3 this fall originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Had enough of Michele Bachmann? Mute. Can’t stand Donald Trump? Mute. Just want Snooki to go away? Mute. Matt Richardson has launched the Enough Already project, a new invention that allows TVs to automatically mute whenever your least favorite people pop on TV. “I’m getting a sick of hearing about the same people on TV
Continue reading …Amazon Web Services’ GovCloud puts federal data behind remote lock and key
August 17, 2011 No Comment
Uncle Sam’s been making his way into the cloud , spurred on in part by the inherent billion dollar cost efficiencies, and Amazon’s looking to help with the move. The Seattle-based company recently announced the launch of its new AWS GovCloud, a federal government-only region that offers a remote server solution for organizations bound by high-level data constraints. The service makes use of FISMA, FIPS 140-2 compliant end points, SAS-70, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS Level 1 security controls, providing a secure host environment that adheres to stringent “regulatory and compliance requirements,” and restricts physical access to the US-only. NASA’s JPL and the US Recovery and Accountability Transparency Board are just two of the 100-plus government agencies already employing AWS’ remote servers, with more destined to join Washington’s velvet-roped cloud. Jump past the break for Amazon’s official PR spiel. Continue reading Amazon Web Services’ GovCloud puts federal data behind remote lock and key Amazon Web Services’ GovCloud puts federal data behind remote lock and key originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …MetroPCS partners with Rhapsody to offer unlimited music in its rate plans
August 17, 2011 No Comment
Now this is our idea of innovative competition. MetroPCS is partnering with Rhapsody to add another “unlimited” to its all-you-can-eat plan: music. Rather than being charged a monthly subscription charge to receive access to the service’s massive catalog of 12 million tunes, customers will get the same service — that’s playing, streaming, and even downloading tracks — without any additional charge on their monthly plan. So far, the service is only available for the carrier’s Android lineup, so head on over to the Market to download the app. Before you begin downloading music left and right, however, you’ll want to sign up for the feature online or over the phone. As other companies are taking away or throttling unlimited plans, it’s refreshing to see one that’s actually adding services to theirs. Full press release after the break. Continue reading MetroPCS partners with Rhapsody to offer unlimited music in its rate plans MetroPCS partners with Rhapsody to offer unlimited music in its rate plans originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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