Microsoft announces new $10 Zune Music Pass, expands service to Canada
September 29, 2011 No Comment
It may not enjoy quite the same level of buzz that the likes of Spotify , Rdio and MOG have been basking in lately, but Microsoft’s Zune service is still kicking, and the company’s now working to make it a bit more appealing and more widely available. For folks in the US, the big change today is a new $10 per month Zune Music Pass, which is identical to the existing $15 service with the notable exception that you no longer get to keep ten free MP3s each month (that $15 option remains available to existing subscribers, though). Elsewhere, Microsoft has also now finally brought the Zune Marketplace and Zune Pass to Canada — it opens up on October 3rd, with the Zune Pass running the same $10/month (or $100 for a year of service). [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Microsoft announces new $10 Zune Music Pass, expands service to Canada originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Australian carrier Telstra has revealed this 4.5-inch colossus from HTC, and the above picture from CNET shows it’s likely to arrive under its Holiday moniker. This is the first LTE smartphone announced for Australia, while something similarly tall, dark and Android recently arrived in Korea as the HTC Raider 4G . CNET reports specs that tally with that other model: the big screen is qHD and the power comes from a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU coupled with 1GB of RAM. Like the Raider, the Holiday appears to be running Sense 3.0, not the refreshed 3.5 iteration that debuted on the Rhyme , and it looks primed to be one of the first handsets to launch on AT&T’s brand new 4G network. So, expect to hear more from Ma Bell on this ” titanic ” rival soon. HTC Holiday spotted sunning itself on Australian shores originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …iPhone 5 cases and realistic unibody dummy show off incredible slimness
September 29, 2011 No Comment
While we’re only five days away from finding out the true appearance of the next-generation iPhone , our good friends over at BENM.AT went ahead and crafted their very own unibody dummy using CAD drawings, CNC tools and a block of aluminum — seriously, that’s how they roll! Granted, this work’s only based on various data and rumor gathered across the web, but it’s still a pretty convincing presentation — the ultra slim teardrop design and elongated home button from previous reports are taken into account, and the mute switch has been relocated from the top left to the top right. BENM.AT told us that this dummy fits nicely into the supposed iPhone 5 cases that they obtained. Speaking of which, we also found some of these cases too — read on to find out what they’re like. Gallery: “iPhone 5″ cases hands-on Continue reading iPhone 5 cases and realistic unibody dummy show off incredible slimness iPhone 5 cases and realistic unibody dummy show off incredible slimness originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Remember that XPS 14z Dell teased at IFA? Yeah, well, it’s coming soon. As in, “the coming weeks” soon. The company just confirmed it’s on the cusp of shipping here in the states, and while the outfit stopped short of giving a starting price, it’s good and ready to talk specs. As we reported last month, it has the same industrial design as its big brother, the XPS 15z , and we’re told it, too, measures less than an inch thick (0.9 inches, to be precise). With the 14-incher, though, you’ll enjoy LG’s Shuriken display, which means we have one narrow bezel to look forward to. Look for it with a Core i5-2430M or Core i7-2640M CPU, NVIDIA Optimus graphics, a slot-loading optical drive, USB 3.0 and a starting weight of 4.36 pounds (that’s 4.12 pounds if you upgrade to an SSD). You heard the company — we’ll get the full spill in a few weeks — but for now, skip past the break for another sneak peak. Continue reading Dell confirms XPS 14z will go on sale in the US in the ‘coming weeks’ Dell confirms XPS 14z will go on sale in the US in the ‘coming weeks’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Microsoft reportedly adding video from Comcast, Verizon, HBO Go and others to Xbox Live
September 29, 2011 No Comment
Microsoft announced new integration with live TV as a part of the Xbox 360′s fall update during E3 earlier this year, but didn’t name any US pay-TV partners at the time. Now, anonymous rumors recently posted on Digiday suggested the folks at Redmond were looking to work with Verizon and Comcast, followed by Bloomberg hearing similar talk from its own “people with knowledge of the situation.” Today’s rumors finger Verizon (which showed off live TV on a variety of devices at CES ), Comcast, HBO, Crackle, Bravo, Syfy and UK service Lovefilm as likely partners. Missing from the list is AT&T’s U-verse, which already offers an Xbox 360 tie-in and distributes its IPTV on the Mediaroom platform, just like some of the international partners previously announced. If these services launch it will be interesting to see how the integration works and if it’s VOD like the existing Xfinity TV and Flex View mobile apps, or if providers cross the IPTV bridge with in-home devices like the Televation / AnyPlay box. Microsoft reportedly adding video from Comcast, Verizon, HBO Go and others to Xbox Live originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Welcome to IRL , an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. It’s been a hectic week, what with Amazon trotting out a little something you may have been expecting (along with a few things you weren’t). We won’t lie: some of us now know what we’re getting our friends and family for the holidays, but gadgets we may or may not be purchasing doesn’t cut the mustard for IRL, now does it? Until we pull the trigger, we’ll keep on talking up and dressing down the stuff we’re already using. This week, Jose from Engadget Spanish takes his newly minted NEX-C3 on vacation, Dana outgrows her Forerunner 110 and Darren shows you just how your hands-on video sausages get made. Continue reading IRL: Sony NEX-C3, Garmin Forerunner 110 and the Elgato Turbo.264 HD IRL: Sony NEX-C3, Garmin Forerunner 110 and the Elgato Turbo.264 HD originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
We know that Apple won’t be unveiling its next superphone for a few more days, but we may have a tasty tidbit about the iPhone 5 ahead of schedule. So the story goes, China Unicom’s Deputy Director Huang Wenlian was making a presentation at Macworld Asia, and stated that the new iPhone would utilize the company’s HSPA+ 21Mbps network. Now, we aren’t saying it’s a sure thing, but it appears that Tim Cook could deliver a handset with thrice the data speeds of its predecessor next week. Fingers crossed, ya’ll. iPhone 5 to have 21Mbps HSPA+ data? China Unicom says so originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Softbank takes Dell Streak Pro 101DL by the hand, plans January 2012 coming out party (video)
September 29, 2011 No Comment
Dell Streak Pro 101DL. Just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? Clumsy naming aside, this power-laden handset’s just been officially outed by Japanese carrier Softbank , where’ll it bow sometime next January . So, what sort of mobile media tour de force can you look forward to early next year? Try a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED Plus display vividly showcasing a skinned version of the now ubiquitous Android 2.3, all running atop a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 processor. There’s also the usual array of WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and dual cameras on board (1.3 megapixel front-facing / 8 megapixel rear), with planned support for 1seg, and Dell’s SyncUp cloud storage in the works. Of course, the phone delivers up to 14Mbps down via the network’s WCDMA 2100MHz frequency, but you globe-trotting folk can always take advantage of the included quad-band GSM / WCDMA radios. As with all things pre-released, certain specs can still change before the ringing in of our new year. Let’s just keep our toes crossed that one of those potential alterations is a frozen mobile OS dessert . Get a gander of the coming soo n gadget in the videos after the break. [Thanks, Babak] Continue reading Softbank takes Dell Streak Pro 101DL by the hand, plans January 2012 coming out party (video) Softbank takes Dell Streak Pro 101DL by the hand, plans January 2012 coming out party (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
When Lenovo announced a pair of Android tablets this summer, we didn’t even pretend it was the IdeaPad K1 we were most jazzed about. Sure, it was exciting to see Lenovo enter the Android tablet market on any terms, but it was the ThinkPad Tablet that set our curious minds rolling. There was the design, for one — an obvious homage to those black, red-nubbed laptops with the same name. It has personality, one that’s inextricably tied to Lenovo’s laptop know-how. It offers a full-sized USB port, an SD slot, 1080p output, a 3G SIM and a slew of accessories that includes a dock, pen and keyboard folio case. It’s the kind of tablet we don’t review all that often: one that might actually make for some painless productivity on the road. As you can imagine, we’ve been waiting months to learn more, and if your tweets, comments and emails are any indication, so have you. Well, wait no more, friends. We’ve been spending almost a week with one and have oh-so much to say. So what are you waiting for? Meet us past the break, won’t you? Gallery: Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet review Continue reading Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet review Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Verizon was the first carrier to come to Samsung’s defense in the company’s patent dispute with Apple, but it’s not the last. As Reuters reports today, T-Mobile has now also sided with Samsung in the lawsuit, stating in a court filing that a sales ban on certain Samsung products would “unnecessarily harm” the carrier and its customers, and that, “at this late date, T-Mobile could not find comparable replacement products for the 2011 holiday season.” The carrier also noted that its ads also “prominently feature” some of the Samsung products in question, and that those investments ” cannot be recouped easily.” As for the case itself, the next big date is an October 13th hearing on the injunction request. T-Mobile joins Verizon to support Samsung in Apple patent lawsuit originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …