DirecTV shows off its new HD UI with a website and trailer, still no release date
October 22, 2011 No Comment
That slick, speedy new interface DirecTV recently pushed out to beta testers is officially getting hyped with a new landing page and (unfortunately not embeddable) video trailer. It advertises all the features we’d heard about, including the facelifted HD graphics, “lightning fast” scrolling, visual browsing experience and personalized recommendations. The HD UI is still without a release date however, and while we’d probably put it it ahead of the DirecTiVo on the company’s current priority list, let’s not forget who we’re dealing with here. Hit the source link for the orientation materials, there will be a quiz later. [Thanks, Stuart & cypherstream] DirecTV shows off its new HD UI with a website and trailer, still no release date originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here’s some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of October 17, 2011: The HTC Rezound (codenamed the Vigor) started showing up in Cellebrite systems, just another indicator of its impending arrival — and likely name. [ Droid-Life ] AT&T’s current lineup of Windows Phones, such as the Samsung Focus , LG Quantum and HTC Surround, are now showing up as EOL — End-of-life — likely in preparation for the trio of incoming devices we saw earlier this week. [ WMPowerUser ] Cricket added another ZTE feature phone to its lineup this week, called the Memo (shown above). It’s got a full QWERTY keyboard and is available for $100. [ Cnet ] Google Maps for Android was the beneficiary of yet another update. This time, version 5.11 makes one critical feature change: it offers different-sized maps for phones with different screen resolutions. Thus, if you have a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, you’re not forced to download a map designed for a 4.3-inch qHD display, saving space on your phone in the process. [ MobileBurn ] Vodafone 360, launched in 2009 as a LiMo-based cloud synchronization and backup service, will be officially closed by the end of the year. The carrier stopped developing handsets that took advantage of the plan last year, so it really was a matter of time before this happened. [ Wall Street Journal ] Toshiba Mobile Display announced this week that it’s working on a new type of mobile display optimized for wide-angle viewing. Dubbed the “Soludina,” it’ll be shown off at next week’s FPD International in Japan. [ Nikkei ] Sprint announced a new plan called Wireless CapTel that’s designed for those who are hard of hearing. The service, which can be used on Android devices, allows the caller to view conversations in real time as word-for-word captions on their phone’s screen. [ BusinessWire ] Telus will officially launch the 4G Samsung Galaxy S II X on October 28th, according to its website. [ Unwired View ] Mobile Miscellany: week of October 17, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Remember when T-Mobile CMO Cole Brodman splashed a bucket of cold water on our hot iPhone 4S dreams ? Yeah, well the carrier’s back to clarify its glaring lack of the handset in its lineup, and it appears the choice wasn’t the company’s to make. In a statement released today, SVP of Marketing Andrew Sherrard expressed the operator’s desire to play host to Apple’s latest device , but claims Cupertino’s omission of an AWS-friendly radio is the true culprit. In order for that phone to run competently on T-Mo’s 4G network, those 1700MHz bands would need to be serviced. In its stead, the exec points to other more capable phones currently on offer — namely, those bearing Android — while referring to the 4S’ apparent network issues. Follow past the break for the full quote straight from Magenta’s mouth. Continue reading T-Mobile’s Andrew Sherrard: ‘the iPhone is not the only option’ T-Mobile’s Andrew Sherrard: ‘the iPhone is not the only option’ originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s taken a long time for Nokia’s MeeGo-packing N9 to make its way into our top secret labs (the N9 moniker was first applied to early E7 prototypes), but it’s here in our dirty little hands, at last, and it’s glorious — well, as glorious as a stillborn product can be, anyway. The N9 is the latest and greatest in a long line of quirky, interesting, yet ultimately flawed touchscreen experiments from Nokia that includes the Hildon-sporting 7710 , a series of Maemo -based “internet tablets” ( 770 , N800 , N810 , N900 ) and most recently, the N950 MeeGo handset for developers. What makes the N9 special is that it represents Nokia’s last flagship phone as an independent player. MeeGo is already dead, and future high-end devices from the manufacturer will run Windows Phone and use Microsoft’s services. So, is this the company’s final bittersweet hurray? Did MeeGo ever stand a chance against Android, iOS and Mango ? In its attempt to stay relevant, is Nokia throwing out the baby with the bathwater? Most importantly, how does the N9 fare in today’s merciless dual-core world ? Find out after the break. Gallery: Nokia N9 review Continue reading Nokia N9 review Nokia N9 review originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Galaxy Nexus, HTC Rezound (still) bound for Verizon on November 10th, Droid RAZR bumped to October?
October 22, 2011 No Comment
Three’s the magic number, and the third time is the charm so, this triple confirmation of release date gossip’s got us thinking an Android avalanche is on its Big Red way. We’ve seen November 10th bandied about as the day Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich flagship Galaxy Nexus and HTC’s awkwardly monikered Rezound would hit Verizon’s shelves. Now, this latest leak over on Android Central appears to set that date in stone and give us potential $299 on contract pricing for both handsets. Alas, eager beavers hoping to get their hands on Motorola’s just unveiled Droid RAZR are in luck, as this chart outs an earlier October 27th date for the device. These launch windows could easily slip and slide further into the end of year, so take all this talk with the usual dose of skep. At least we now have the consolation prize of knowing a vanilla Android experience is officially headed back to VZW’s chunk of radio waves. Galaxy Nexus, HTC Rezound (still) bound for Verizon on November 10th, Droid RAZR bumped to October? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Amazon Prime Instant Video expands its library with even more video from PBS
October 22, 2011 No Comment
PBS has been down with Amazon’s Prime Instant Video service since it launched , and now it’s providing even more all-you-can-eat video for streaming under an expanded agreement. Naturally that means lots of episodes of NOVA and Antiques Roadshow , and “for the first time on digital video”, 200 episodes of The French Chef with Julia Child. According to Amazon, that puts its total number of selections over 12,000, more than double the amount of content it launched with. It still has a ways to go to match Netflix , but with a lower yearly price, sweet shipping deal and now the ability to teach you how to make an omelet, Amazon has developed a very compelling alternative. Continue reading Amazon Prime Instant Video expands its library with even more video from PBS Amazon Prime Instant Video expands its library with even more video from PBS originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Rear window LED hack minds bad drivers’ manners, has nothing to do with Hitchcock (video)
October 22, 2011 No Comment
Typically, road rage responses range from a flip of the bird to some gentle highway drag racing. For an enterprising hacker by the name of Gagandeep Singh, however, those on-road hijinks have given way to a more eloquent, albeit LED-lit resolution. Conceived as means of informing errant drivers of their transportation follies, Singh rigged up a 40 x 16 LED matrix display and affixed it to his car’s rear window. Using an AT89C51 micro-controller, hard-coded messages and animations are then fed to the 2cm x 2cm grid, much to the chagrin of reprimanded drivers following close behind. Eventually, this helpful hack’ll hookup with a mobile phone over Bluetooth, delivering real-time updates (and insults?) to the display. Until then, you’ll just have to make due with Singh’s step-by-step DIY at the source. Jump past the break for a scrolling view of this corrective driving tech. Continue reading Rear window LED hack minds bad drivers’ manners, has nothing to do with Hitchcock (video) Rear window LED hack minds bad drivers’ manners, has nothing to do with Hitchcock (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The Acer ground-bot from Mesa Robotics does way more than your average 4,500-pound semi-autonomous mule. In addition to carrying kit and providing that extra bit of ballistic steel-deflecting cover, it also scans for IEDs using ground-penetrating radar and then autonomously switches into “flail” mode when it finds one — digging up and detonating that critter with barely a break in its 6MPH stride. Did we mention it also acts as a landing pad for small drones? No? That’s because the video after the break says it all. Cue obligatory guitars , game controllers and armchair gung-ho . Continue reading Mesa Robotics’ mini-tank is perfectly happy on point (video) Mesa Robotics’ mini-tank is perfectly happy on point (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus WiFi hitting the US November 13th for $400, available in 16GB for now
October 22, 2011 No Comment
Nearly a month after its initial announcement , Samsung’s ready to deliver the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus to the good ol’ US of A just in time for the winter gift-giving season. The WiFi-only device, which packs a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU with 1GB of RAM, Android 3.2, 3MP camera with 720p HD video capture and a 7-inch LCD with 1024 x 600 resolution, will be begging for your credit card as of November 13th at Best Buy, Amazon and other retailers. Are you an early adopter? No prob — you’ll have the opportunity to pre-order yours at “select retailers” this coming Sunday, though no specific outlets were called out by name. The 16GB is the only version arriving so far, but Sammy told us to expect the 32GB flavor later this year or early 2012 (likely for $499, if yesterday’s brief appearance on Amazon is any indicator). No word on partnerships with carriers yet, but we’ll keep you posted on any updates. View the press release in all its glory below. Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus WiFi hitting the US November 13th for $400, available in 16GB for now Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus WiFi hitting the US November 13th for $400, available in 16GB for now originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …BBC’s global iPlayer app adds AirPlay streaming, should just be on Apple TV
October 22, 2011 No Comment
British expats and international fans of BBC television alike can now stream some Gavin & Stacey to their televisions (past season 1 anyway, which is on Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video), as long as they’re properly equipped. The global iPlayer app for iPad has been updated with AirPlay streaming (those in the UK however, have no such luck so far) so once users update to iOS 5 and buy an Apple TV box, they’re in business. Of course, this would all be much simpler if iPlayer were just available on the Apple TV itself (without XBMC or other hacks), but no one asked us, did they? BBC’s global iPlayer app adds AirPlay streaming, should just be on Apple TV originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 02:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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