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ChevronWP7 unlocking tool pulled in hopes Microsoft decides to play along

Could Microsoft actually embrace Windows Phone 7 hacking much like it’s sort of done with Kinect hacking ? Not very likely, but it seems like the folks behind the ChevronWP7 unlocking tool are at least holding out some hope for that possibility. They’ve apparently had some “good faith” discussions with Microsoft’s Director of Developer Experience for Windows Phone 7, Brandon Watson, and have decided to take the rather drastic step of pulling and ceasing all development on the tool in order to “fast-track” discussions about Microsoft officially embracing homebrew development. Obviously, that may just be wishful thinking, but one thing is clear at least for the moment: it just got a bit harder to hack a Windows Phone 7 device. ChevronWP7 unlocking tool pulled in hopes Microsoft decides to play along originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Samsung cooks up its own NFC module, destined for the Nexus S?

Curious timing, no? Just last month, Google’s own Eric Schmidt revealed that the Nexus S (manufactured by none other than Samsung) would have ” NFC features ,” and he even went on to proclaim that this kind of technology would eventually supplant the tried-and-true credit card. Today, Sammy itself has revealed a new near field communications ( NFC ) chip with embedded flash memory, and we’re told that this guy remains active for mobile payment even without battery power. Of course, we’re still waiting for a confirmed price and release date for the aforesaid smartphone, but could Samsung’s NFC mass production date of Q1 2011 be the clue we’ve been yearning for? Fingers and toes crossed, okay everyone? Continue reading Samsung cooks up its own NFC module, destined for the Nexus S? Samsung cooks up its own NFC module, destined for the Nexus S? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Cowon X7 PMP review

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Cowon X7 PMP review

We figured Cowon’s X7 wouldn’t bother passing through the FCC’s loose fingertips if it weren’t planning on making a stateside debut at some point, and sure enough, the aforesaid media player is gearing up to ship here just two months after its South Korean reveal. Over the years, Cowon has managed to maintain a fairly decent cover in the US of A, but audio purists recognize the brand for its commitment to sound quality over all else. The X7 is a capacious (160GB) player with a fairly large display (4.3-inches) and a world-beating battery good for ten hours of video and up to 103 hours of audio. Yeah, a full long weekend’s worth. As with anything in life, Cowon’s made some sacrifices here as well; you won’t find a WiFi module, but you will spot support for Bluetooth headsets. How’s it all shake out? Join us after the break for our full review. Gallery: Cowon X7 PMP unboxing and hands-on Continue reading Cowon X7 PMP review Cowon X7 PMP review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Verizon LTE plans start at $50/month for 5GB of data

And here we go: Verizon just announced its 4G LTE pricing and full list of coverage areas. Some 38 markets will go live when the switch is flipped on December 5, including Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and LA, and pricing starts at $50/month for 5GB of data, with an $80/month plan for 10GB. Overages run $10 per GB, which isn’t insane, and there’s also supplemental coverage in around 60 airports. Check the full PR after the break. Continue reading Verizon LTE plans start at $50/month for 5GB of data Verizon LTE plans start at $50/month for 5GB of data originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Verizon’s LTE network announcement event live at 12:00 ET!

So as you probably know, today’s the day that Verizon comes clean with all the details on the commercial launch of its LTE network, having scheduled a press conference for noon Eastern Time. We already know many of the details , but we’re crossing our fingers for some juicy extras in the event, namely any hints of information on when we’ll see LTE-enabled handsets in the marketplace like the rumored HTC Mecha and that unnamed LG . Oh… and some solid plan pricing details would be nice, too. Follow the break for our liveblog! Continue reading Verizon’s LTE network announcement event live at 12:00 ET! Verizon’s LTE network announcement event live at 12:00 ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Virgin Media TV powered by TiVo is official, coming soon with 1TB HDD, 3 tuners

Say hello to the new Virgin Media TV powered by TiVo , a device that while “inspired” by the Premiere is much more than just the same old box with new stickers. Set to debut in the UK in mid-December, it packs a 1TB HDD, but trumps TiVo’s previous efforts by promising a third tuner (to be enabled by a software update in 2011), an internal cable modem for downloading without cutting into your existing broadband speed and ties into catch-up TV just in case you forget to DVR something. While the box itself has a slick new design, the traditional peanut remote hasn’t changed and neither have the menus as seen by these screenshots. Interested parties should squirrel away

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Verizon’s LTE details go live: December 5th, 38 markets, 60 airports, and 2 USB modems

Verizon has a press conference lined up in a few minutes to officially drop all these details, but they’ve thrown their official LTE site live already where you can see almost everything you want to know: chiefly, that the initial 38 markets (and 60 airports) will go live this Sunday, December 5th with two USB modems in tow — one from LG and another from Pantech. We’ve already heard all of that in one form or another, but it’s nice to see it spelled out officially on Verizon’s site. The one crucial detail we’re still missing, of course, is plan pricing — so we anxiously await that here in the next few minutes, but in the meantime, feel free to play with Big Red’s LTE coverage locator. Verizon’s LTE details go live: December 5th, 38 markets, 60 airports, and 2 USB modems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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PCD Bigstream iPod / iPhone dongle revealed, looking to one-up AirPlay next month

And now, there’s a name. The iDevice streaming adapter that we spotted a couple of months ago finally has a proper affiliation, with the PCD Bigstream being quasi-revealed today as the run-up to CES continues. Fundamentally, it’s pretty simple — just plug a nub into the 30-pin Dock Connector of your iPod, iPhone or iPad, and then connect the tent-like transceiver to your television. Once connected, users will purportedly be able to beam “Netflix, Direct TV NFL Sunday Ticket To-Go, and iTunes content, among other apps,” directly to their set sans cabling. It’s difficult to tell if PCD has actually landed licensing agreements with these media portals (or if it’s just really, really good at circumventing DRM), but all should be revealed at the 2011 edition of CES next month. The system relies on a 5.8GHz wireless RF link to distribute signals, and as you can tell, it’s entirely more flexible than AirPlay — a protocol that can only stream video from Apple’s own iPod and YouTube applications. Curiously enough, the first version will only support 480p transmissions, though a 1080p model should hit shelves later in 2011. Here’s hoping we’ll get a good look at how exactly it performs in Vegas. PCD Bigstream iPod / iPhone dongle revealed, looking to one-up AirPlay next month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Nielsen: Android makes huge gains in US smartphone marketshare, RIM takes a backseat, Apple leads in desirability

Nielsen ‘s just released a report finding that 29.7 percent of mobile users in the United States now own a smartphone. Of that 29.7 percent (which you can see in the pie chart above), 27.9 percent of them have iPhones, 27.4 percent are BlackBerry users, and 22.7 percent have an Android device. Windows Mobile, Symbian, Linux and Palm are left to divide up the remaining chunk — about 22 percent — of the market. That’s a massive shift from the beginning of the year, when the iPhone boasted 28 percent of the market, BlackBerry had 35 percent, and Windows Mobile about 19 percent. The biggest winner in this story is Android, which has gone from 9 percent of the smartphone-owning market at the beginning of the year , to 22.7 percent of the market today. The story looks a bit different, however, when people are asked about what kind of smartphone they would like to own next. In that case, Apple and Google are the big winners, with 30 percent of ‘likely’ smartphone upgraders’ reporting they’d like an iPhone, while 28 percent said they want an Android device, and only 13 percent reporting that they’re interested in a BlackBerry device. The picture looks very much the same with current smartphone owners, as well. As far as gender goes, the percentages are very similar when asked what smartphone is desired next, except that more men report wanting an Android device, while more women — about 12 percent more — say they simply don’t know what they want next. Hit up the source link for charts on all this knowledge. Continue reading Nielsen: Android makes huge gains in US smartphone marketshare, RIM takes a backseat, Apple leads in desirability Nielsen: Android makes huge gains in US smartphone marketshare, RIM takes a backseat, Apple leads in desirability originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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LMP Bluetooth Keypad escapes all pretense, wants to befriend your Apple Keyboard

We’ve seen Apple Keyboard add-on look-alikes — like Interlink’s Bluetooth Calculator Keyboard , which has shown up for sale in some Apple stores, but has middling reviews due to connection problems — but LMP wouldn’t want its new Bluetooth Keypad to slip through the cracks of subtlety. The device, which just passed through the FCC, comes with a connector that allows you to snap the independently powered and Bluetooth-ed keypad right onto your numeric keypad-less Apple Bluetooth Keyboard. Get it? It’s like they’re one big magical keyboard now! Well, not now in a literal sense, because the LMP Keypad has yet to hit retail, and we don’t have a word on pricing either. But in our dreams… LMP Bluetooth Keypad escapes all pretense, wants to befriend your Apple Keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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