Mysterious BlackBerry surfaces on forum, possibly 9900 prototype (update: a limited luxury edition?)
September 11, 2011 No Comment
Whoever got a hold of this device over at MaxPDA seems to think it’s the BlackBerry Bold 9980. We’re more inclined to believe it’s a prototype of the still reasonably fresh 9900 , given that it sports the same battery as well as the same layout for ports, sensors and buttons. But who knows, it could also just be an elaborate KIRF . Whatever it is though, it sure is interesting looking (to put it politely). It’s boxy, sports sharp lines, an out-of-character silver front and a black, textured back plate. Oddest of all though, is the word “proceeding” emblazoned in large letters across the top of the device. We’ve got one more pic after the break but, if that doesn’t quench your thirst, there’s tons more at the source link. Update: We’ve just spoken to the Bejing-based source of this eccentric handset, and it turns out that he’s already sold three of these prototypes for an undisclosed price. Furthermore, the seller claims that this “9980″ will actually be making its way to the market in a limited quantity once it gets the diamond treatment — hopefully something slightly more subtle than Stuart Hughes’ offerings. Continue reading Mysterious BlackBerry surfaces on forum, possibly 9900 prototype (update: a limited luxury edition?) Mysterious BlackBerry surfaces on forum, possibly 9900 prototype (update: a limited luxury edition?) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’re not exactly lacking in ways to interact with a screen from afar, but the folks at Teehan+Lax have now put an augmented reality -enhanced spin on things with their so-called Touch Vision Interface. While the “how” behind it is no doubt complicated (and being kept largely under wraps at the moment), the end result is fairly simple: you just point your smartphone at a screen (or two) and start manipulating it from the point of view provided by the phone’s camera. Of course, it’s all still in the early stages right now, but group sees a wide range of applications for the system — even including large outdoor billboards. Check it out in action in the video after the break. Continue reading Touch Vision Interface employs AR to control screens from afar Touch Vision Interface employs AR to control screens from afar originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Artists hack Sony Ericsson’s Xperia phones to see the unseen universe, use fire as a flash
September 11, 2011 No Comment
For most of us, cellphones are for texting, calling and maybe the occasional tweet, but what happens when you hand them over to some of the world’s most creative minds? Giving hackers, artists and intellectuals free reign to mess with the various Xperia phones , Sony found out just how capable its handsets really are. Using a few tweaks and hacks, artists were able to create an installation that breathes fire when you snap a photo, a remote-controlled boat with GPS and a bike that uses colored lights to spell out secret words only visible when captured on camera. When Sony asked astrophysicist Joshua Peek to give it a go, he took full sky maps and telescope image data to build an app with an up-close view of electromagnetic patterns in the sky. To round out the project, musician Annabel Lindquist composed a song based on the sounds of Paris she recorded with an Arc . Now, if they could just mod one to avoid dropped calls, we’d be all set. Videos of their ingenuity in action after the break. Continue reading Artists hack Sony Ericsson’s Xperia phones to see the unseen universe, use fire as a flash Artists hack Sony Ericsson’s Xperia phones to see the unseen universe, use fire as a flash originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 04:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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After a bit of teasing, Cowon’ s finally ready to show the world the iAudio 10. The skinny new portable media player offers up a three-inch 240 x 400 display, mic-in, TV out, an FM radio, support for a number of different file types, a document viewer and capacities running 4GB to 32GB. That’s all well and good, but what’s really got the company excited is the Color Therapy UI, which lets you switch between a number of background and text colors. At the very least, it’s sure to be a lot cheaper than paying for a shrink. Cowon’s iAudio 10 does “Color Therapy,” won’t charge you per hour originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Vodafone Xone R&D center opens its doors in Silicon Valley, wants to help startups grow
September 10, 2011 No Comment
Verizon’s doing it , so why not Vodafone too? That’s right, folks, the big red telco from abroad has decided to get into the swing of things in Silicon Valley with its new Vodafone Xone R&D center in Redwood City, California. Unlike VZW’s Application Innovation Center just a few miles north in San Francisco, the Xone is focused on identifying startups with potential and putting their ideas on the fast track to proof-of-concept trials. In order to do so, the center provides technical expertise, business advice and access to its lab to ensure that products are compatible with Vodafone’s global 2G, HSPA, and LTE networks. This R&D center is also aligned with Verizon’s facility in Massachusetts , so budding entrepreneurs have access to stateside LTE infrastructure, too. We got a chance to check out the new business incubator ourselves, so read on for more. Gallery: Vodafone Xone Continue reading Vodafone Xone R&D center opens its doors in Silicon Valley, wants to help startups grow Vodafone Xone R&D center opens its doors in Silicon Valley, wants to help startups grow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s only been two months since Spotify made its stateside debut , and it’s already getting in bed with an American staple. No, it hasn’t struck a deal with Beyonce or Britney, but the fine folks at Autoblog are reporting that the streaming music service will make its way into vehicles sporting the Ford SYNC AppLink system “in the near future.” Details are otherwise vague, but we’d be interested to hear how the outfit’s “exclusive automotive advertising partner” feels about the deal. Spotify to lay down beats for Ford originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 16:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Jamie, who just so happens to be in the midst of a new PC build. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com . “I’m new to the whole graphics card thing, and could use a little assistance. I want to be able to play all the newest titles (Crysis 2, for example) on the highest settings, while keeping the price as low as possible. I am building my own PC and have allotted a set amount of money for each item, with a $400 to $500 maximum budget for the GPU. All help will be appreciated!” That isn’t exactly “budget” by any stretch, but it’s still important to get the most for your buck. For those who have sunk a few Benjamins into a new GPU lately, how has your decision worked out for you? Help a fellow gamer out — even if it means giving him an FPS advantage. Ask Engadget: best sub-$400 desktop graphics card on the market? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Transformers: Dark of the Moon Blu-ray due September 30th, 3D version later
September 10, 2011 No Comment
Besides being a lightning rod for the Blu-ray vs. HD DVD wars , the Transformers series also racked up some of the biggest HD sales ever , and now we’ll see if the latest entry, Dark of the Moon , keeps up that trend. Paramount has announced it will be released September 30th in Blu-ray/DVD combo form for $19.99, with a “deluxe” release including Blu-ray 3D expected in “the coming months.” There’s no specifics on any extras included in this release, but it looks like PHE is going the Avatar route and saving those for later. For those anticipating the 3D release , hopefully this doesn’t equal a similar exclusivity period, but until the disc is actually announced we won’t assume anything. If 154 minutes of Michael Bay exploding things sounds like a good idea to you, check after the break for a press release and schedule that Friday off — you have somewhere to be. Continue reading Transformers: Dark of the Moon Blu-ray due September 30th, 3D version later Transformers: Dark of the Moon Blu-ray due September 30th, 3D version later originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Ecko Zip earbuds pump tunes through a functioning zipper, let you drop your fly in public
September 10, 2011 No Comment
We already knew that New Jersey was a hotbed for personal audio innovation, so it certainly came as no surprise when the Garden State’s ECKOUNLTD (Ecko Unlimited, with a hint of Jersey Shore ) hit us up with a slew of new stylz. We’re most curious about the new Zip ‘buds , which replace the traditional cord with a functioning zipper, presumably to keep that ever-so-prevalent tangling issue from crampin’ your style. These in-ear beauts will set you back just 30 beans — or about a half-dozen servings of Ron Ron Juice. Other offerings include the $13 Zone earbuds, $15 Chaos II (that Chaos I was off the hook), the $20 Stomp, $25 Lace (which include a shoelace-inspired cord), and the $40 Chain, which, as you probably guessed, features a beaded dog-tag chain cord. At those prices we wouldn’t expect stellar acoustics, but if you’re rockin’ out to any of these budz, you’re probably most concerned with lookin’ good. And nothing says six-pack like zippers and chains. Continue reading Ecko Zip earbuds pump tunes through a functioning zipper, let you drop your fly in public Ecko Zip earbuds pump tunes through a functioning zipper, let you drop your fly in public originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We can handle the imaginary terror of UFOs and nightmarish, flying mammals. But, robots that can jump like a human and then glide like a colugo? Now you’re just filling Mr. Spielberg with even more sci-fi, end of days fodder . Carnegie Mellon researchers Matthew Woodward and Metin Sitti have crafted a prototype jumping and gliding bot at the university’s NanoRobotics Lab that springs into action using a pair of human knee-like joints. The automated hi-jinks don’t end there either, as the duo’s invention then spreads its legs to catch some air and glide on back to terra firma. The project isn’t just some bit of engineering whimsy; the team plans to adapt this tech for use in “unstructured terrain” — i.e. non-level, wargadget territory. For now, this lord of the leaping gliders can reach comfortable human-sized heights of up to six feet. Give it some time, however, and we’re sure this lil’ android’ll give Superman a bound for his money. Click on past the break for a real world demo. Continue reading Carnegie Mellon robot jumps up, jumps up and glides down (video) Carnegie Mellon robot jumps up, jumps up and glides down (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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