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HP Pre 3 now available for purchase on official European store

Pop quiz: what’s the best way to launch a phone that’s left us waiting with anticipation for seven months ? HP’s answer is to quietly release it on its European store without any pomp or circumstance. We have no idea why the company chose to start selling the Pre 3 , its new flagship phone, without any media buzz; the important thing here, however, is that the SIM-free device is now available for purchase on the Palm Eurostore. The phone can be all yours for

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Space radar captures echoes of Perseid meteor shower (video)

We all know lasers make a “pew pew” sound, but shouldn’t there be a sound effect button for high-speed burning meteors? Well, the US Air Force Space Surveillance Radar in Texas just recorded its own, capturing echoes of the Perseid meteor shower last Friday night. Every year, the Earth orbits directly into a cloud of debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet, which burn up as they fly through the atmosphere at a staggering 133,200 mph. Similar to the sound of a lightsaber slicing through the air, they make some pretty sweet sound effects — perfect for your next auto-tune experiment . Check out the audio with some ISS pics thrown in for good measure after the break. Continue reading Space radar captures echoes of Perseid meteor shower (video) Space radar captures echoes of Perseid meteor shower (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Nano-structured glass creates new type of computer memory

We’ve sure come a long way since frying ants with a magnifying glass. Researchers at the University of Southampton used nano-structures to create millimeter-sized “monolithic glass space-variant polarization converters,” which ultimately changes the way light travels through and is stored in glass. These “whirlpools” of light data can be read like information stored in optical fibers — allowing for “more precise laser material processing, optical manipulation of atom-sized objects, ultra-high resolution imaging and potentially, table-top particle accelerators.” (Does that mean we all get one of these on our desks?) This new five dimensional approach is reusable, twenty times cheaper and more compact compared to old methods of microscopy using a spatial light modulator , making it a win-win. Check out the full PR after the fold. [Thanks, Adam] Continue reading Nano-structured glass creates new type of computer memory Nano-structured glass creates new type of computer memory originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Logitech’s clip-on tablet speaker latches onto your slate for dear life, doubles as a stand

We can swear we feel hints of fall creeping in already, but Logitech just announced a product we would have loved to see at the start of beach season: a speaker bar that clips onto the back of any tablet, effectively turning it into the boombox it wasn’t built to be. We know, we know, that barrel of a speaker looks a tad silly next to the likes of the iPad 2 and Galaxy Tab 10.1, but we’re digging how it doubles as a stand, propping up the slate if, perchance, you’re also down for watching a movie. In our brief hands-on, the speaker felt lighter than it looks in those photos down there, and delivered decently loud sound, too. Like we said, we can see this making for a festive old time at the beach or a picnic, though when we asked a Logitech rep about durability he said we might want to shield the speaker from sand. Because this is a wired product (it charges via USB and lasts up to eight hours on a charge), it commands less than the wireless speaker for iPad that Logitech’s already shilling. Specifically, we’re told it’ll cost $49.99, though as of this writing it hasn’t popped up in the company’s online store, which means those of you unashamed of your Justin Bieber collection will have to just sit tight. Gallery: Logitech Tablet Speaker Logitech’s clip-on tablet speaker latches onto your slate for dear life, doubles as a stand originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Tesla Model S and Roadster play nice on video

Vroooooom …. well, more accurately, shhhhhhh . That’s a Tesla Model S and its sibling the Roadster (looking rather dashing in red, we might add) above, carving corners together as a family. What actual news do we have about these “premium electric vehicles?” None, we just thought this clip (after the break) of the two sleek EVs working their way around a closed desert track was pretty darned cool. The Model S and Roadster have posed for family portraits before, but this is the first time we’ve seen them play nice on video. You know the deal, head on after the break for all the battery-powered, four-wheel madness your little geek heart can handle. [Thanks, nunomaia] Continue reading Tesla Model S and Roadster play nice on video Tesla Model S and Roadster play nice on video originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Tesla Model S and Roadster play nice on video

Vroooooom …. well, more accurately, shhhhhhh . That’s a Tesla Model S and its sibling the Roadster (looking rather dashing in red, we might add) above, carving corners together as a family. What actual news do we have about these “premium electric vehicles?” None, we just thought this clip (after the break) of the two sleek EVs working their way around a closed desert track was pretty darned cool. The Model S and Roadster have posed for family portraits before, but this is the first time we’ve seen them play nice on video. You know the deal, head on after the break for all the battery-powered, four-wheel madness your little geek heart can handle. [Thanks, nunomaia] Continue reading Tesla Model S and Roadster play nice on video Tesla Model S and Roadster play nice on video originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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ADATA’s SH14 hard drive packs a stylish yet rugged punch

Always thought ruggedized storage had to look tough and utilitarian? Think again, because ADATA’s latest looks more like a fashionable disco-futon than the outwardly brawny externals we’re used to. Buried somewhere under all that style is a 2.5-inch, 5400RPM drive that’s IPX4 water-resistant and “military grade shockproof.” It’ll come in red or black and in 500GB, 750GB or 1TB capacities, which’ll set you back €59.90, €71.90 or €92.90, respectively. The chic but virile drives also tote USB 3.0, equating to a relatively speedy 90MB/s transfer rate. No word on pricing for yanks yet, but they’ll probably show up before long at the “select agents and distributors” at the source below. Continue reading ADATA’s SH14 hard drive packs a stylish yet rugged punch ADATA’s SH14 hard drive packs a stylish yet rugged punch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Verizon embraces Google’s Moto Mobility deal, hopes for an end to patent disputes

Android’s always had a best friend forever (or, for the time being) in Verizon. Together, the two companies were able to establish Andy Rubin’s mobile OS as a serious platform competitor, fighting back against the then threat of AT&T’s exclusive iPhone juggernaut with Moto’s Droid . Flash forward to present day and it’s no wonder Big Red’s SVP John Thorne is giving a public-facing, albeit tentative, thumbs up to Google’s Motorola Mobility acquisition . Thorne’s official line on the deal concerns the “stability [it might bring] to the ongoing smartphone patent disputes,” but the executive declined to comment further, citing a lack of known details for the proposed buyout. Certainly, the wireless operator has good reason to keep a close eye on the takeover, as a recent Chitika survey pegs it with a commanding 41 percent share of active Android handsets. So far, only Nokia has come out from behind Microsoft’s shadow , hailing the move as a boon for WP7 and casting shade on Google’s intentions. As for the rest of the industry, it appears they’re all making heavy use of that nifty statement generator. Hit the more coverage link to see what we mean. Verizon embraces Google’s Moto Mobility deal, hopes for an end to patent disputes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Verizon embraces Google’s Moto Mobility deal, hopes for an end to patent disputes

Android’s always had a best friend forever (or, for the time being) in Verizon. Together, the two companies were able to establish Andy Rubin’s mobile OS as a serious platform competitor, fighting back against the then threat of AT&T’s exclusive iPhone juggernaut with Moto’s Droid . Flash forward to present day and it’s no wonder Big Red’s SVP John Thorne is giving a public-facing, albeit tentative, thumbs up to Google’s Motorola Mobility acquisition . Thorne’s official line on the deal concerns the “stability [it might bring] to the ongoing smartphone patent disputes,” but the executive declined to comment further, citing a lack of known details for the proposed buyout. Certainly, the wireless operator has good reason to keep a close eye on the takeover, as a recent Chitika survey pegs it with a commanding 41 percent share of active Android handsets. So far, only Nokia has come out from behind Microsoft’s shadow , hailing the move as a boon for WP7 and casting shade on Google’s intentions. As for the rest of the industry, it appears they’re all making heavy use of that nifty statement generator. Hit the more coverage link to see what we mean. Verizon embraces Google’s Moto Mobility deal, hopes for an end to patent disputes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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George Devol, creator of the first industrial robot arm dies at 99

He may not be a household name like Henry Ford, but it’s arguable that George Devol’s (above, right) work was even more influential in shaping the modern manufacturing landscape. In 1961, roughly seven years after first applying for the patent, his Unimate was put into service in a GE automobile plant. The world’s first programmable, robotic arm was used to lift hot cast metal components out of a mold and stack them — the assembly line has never be the same. Other companies soon followed suit, replacing expensive and fragile humans with mechanical labor. Devol died Thursday night in his home at the age of 99. If you’re interested in getting a peek at his game-changing invention, you can find one at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. [Image credit: The Estate of George C. Devol] George Devol, creator of the first industrial robot arm dies at 99 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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