ASUS is still holding back some of the details on this one, but what it has revealed about its new U36 ultraportable is certainly enough to get us interested. Weighing in at just over three pounds, the laptop is said to pack your choice of a Core i3 or i5 processors, along with NVIDIA Optimus graphics, and a four-cell battery that promises ten hours of battery life — all of which comes wrapped in a 0.75-inch magnesium shell that’s apparently available in your choice of black or silver. Unfortunately, all other details, including the screen size (though 13.3-inch seems likely), remain a bit of a mystery, as does the pricing and launch details. ASUS announces ultraportable U36 laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 04:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Google Editions launching in US before the end of the year, going international in Q1 2011
December 1, 2010 No Comment
Admit it, Google Editions wasn’t exactly your highest priority item among the things promised for a 2010 launch , but, according to Mountain View’s Scott Dougall, the e-bookstore from the world’s favorite search company will indeed make its debut before December’s through. It’s premised as a web-centric, buy-anywhere, read-anywhere platform, one that eschews the proprietary hardware and software model currently championed by the likes of Amazon for a more ubiquitous and accessible one (a humble web browser is all you’ll need, which should make Tim Berners-Lee beam with pride ). Small websites of all creeds, whether they be independent bookstores or book reviewers, will be encouraged to participate by linking their users to Google Editions of whatever scriptures they’re discussing — with an unannounced revenue sharing model keeping them interested. Retail pricing won’t differ, we’re told, from what Amazon and Barnes & Noble currently charge, which begs the question, what’s the downside to Editions ? Google Editions launching in US before the end of the year, going international in Q1 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Well, well, look at what’s been added to a tentative agenda when the FCC meets on December 21st: net neutrality . Here’s how the item reads: Open Internet Order: An Order adopting basic rules of the road to preserve the open Internet as a platform for innovation, investment, competition, and free expression. These rules would protect consumers’ and innovators’ right to know basic information about broadband service, right to send and receive lawful Internet traffic, and right to a level playing field, while providing broadband Internet access providers with the flexibility to reasonably manage their networks. Presumably, a draft order is now circulating amongst attendees, the details of which are of the utmost concern for both consumers and wired / wireless providers alike. According to the AP, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski will outline his net neutrality proposal in a speech on Wednesday, with plans to bring the new rules to a full vote before the end of the year and ahead of the newly elected Republicans taking their seats in the House. FCC addressing net neutrality on December 21st originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Adobe’s ubiquitous Flash Player has a new beta version out today that promises to complete the move to hardware acceleration of video played back using the web software. You’ll no doubt be aware that the current, non-beta Flash already does some offloading of video tasks to the GPU, but the new Stage Video API permits the entire workload to be shifted over, resulting in “just over 0 percent” CPU utilization when playing back 1080p clips. Should you doubt the veracity of Adobe’s bold new claims, the company’s set up some demo vids for you to test this out for yourself after downloading the beta — hit the source link to find out more. Windows, Mac and Linux machines are supported right out of the gate, while Microsoft gets an extra bone thrown its way with Internet Explorer 9 hardware acceleration also being implemented in this latest iteration of Flash. Full PR after the break. Continue reading Adobe Flash Player 10.2 beta arrives, expands hardware acceleration Adobe Flash Player 10.2 beta arrives, expands hardware acceleration originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 02:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …AR.Pursuit augmented reality shooter app for AR.Drone now available on iTunes
December 1, 2010 No Comment
Do you really need another reason to lust after the AR.Drone ? Ok, then how about AR.Pursuit , Parrot’s new multiplayer augmented reality game and the first developed for the AR.Drone? It just hit the iTunes App Store for $2.99. Sure, it’s a few days late, but you can use that pent-up angst to pursue and destroy the AR.Drones operated by your family and friends, just as the baby Jesus intended this holiday season. Continue reading AR.Pursuit augmented reality shooter app for AR.Drone now available on iTunes AR.Pursuit augmented reality shooter app for AR.Drone now available on iTunes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Well now Sonos, what’s this? A job opening for a Senior Product Manager to help the company “re-invent home theater sound for the digital age.” More specifically, the position will be responsible for leading “new product creation teams.” Hard to say for sure, but sophisticated wireless audio for home theaters certainly sounds like a safe refuge now that Marantz, Denon, JBL, iHome, B&W, and countless others will soon be competing with Sonos’ whole-home distributed audio solutions just as soon as Apple’s new AirPlay technology can gain traction. Besides, just picture a fully synchronized wireless 7.1 channel surround speaker system that requires just a few minutes to setup and works as robustly as Sonos’ other streaming audio gear. We imagine that it wouldn’t take too many tweaks to Sonos’ existing software and hardware (you can already convert two S5 all-in-one speakers into a more powerful stereo pair ) to pull it off. And anyone who’s ever tried to cleanly wire a home theater for multichannel sound will surely understand why the prospects of going wireless have us more than a little intrigued. Sonos job opening signals entry into wireless home theater audio? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Eizo’s DuraVision LCD does glasses-free 3D at 1080p, is totally bezelriffic
December 1, 2010 No Comment
Looking like something that escaped from the bridge of the U.S.S. Palomino is Eizo ‘s DuraVision FDF2301-3D, a dark, menacing visage containing a 23-inch LCD. It sports a full HD resolution and can display content in 3D, but its real trick is that it can do so without glasses. Yes, deep within that dark and angular exterior is the necessary set of hardware to ensure that two eyes see two separate images, supposedly without any of the weirdness we’ve seen with other glasses-free displays. The penalty is of course its imposing bulk and what will surely be an imposing price. No cost has been set, but indications are that it will cost many thousands of dollars — not that it’ll ever hit retail. Eizo’s DuraVision LCD does glasses-free 3D at 1080p, is totally bezelriffic originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …‘The Collective’ steampunk USB drive is the stocking stuffer Jules Verne always wanted
December 1, 2010 No Comment
Miffed you didn’t buy that $300 8GB steampunk USB drive we shared over the summer? Well, the good news is if you’ve got $395 worth of shillings lying around, Will Rockwell’s 16GB steampunk USB drive christened “The Collective” is yours for the taking. Besides its J.J. Abrams-like name, particularly cool details to highlight include a brass manifold featuring four coolant pipes, a large framed cabochon which acts as a service light, and a faux-gauge made from a domed cover and watch hand. A storage tank serves as a cap for the drive and there’s even a tiny plaque bearing Mr. Rockwell’s engraved John Hancock placed smack dab in the middle. Last but certainly not least, the elaborate thumbdrive ships with a velvet platform and a glass museum case, so that all who visit may bask in its craftsmanship and finally see the rusted version owned by that Victorian-poser down the block as the tetanus carrier it really is. ‘The Collective’ steampunk USB drive is the stocking stuffer Jules Verne always wanted originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 23:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Good news, frequent (and not so frequent) fliers. In addition to offering free Goggle-sponsored WiFi on its long-range flights this holiday season, Delta has announced plans to expand Gogo internet access to many of its regional jets, beginning in January. The company says that it should have this next wave of upgrades done by the end of 2011. This will definitely come as a relief to those of us who will be enjoying hours-long “regional” flights in the new year, either on Delta planes or those of its regional partners (including Shuttle America, Comair, and Atlantic Southeast). The expansion will apply only to aircraft with a first class cabin — you know, the spacious compartment you pass through before being herded into the back with the rest of us schlubs. Delta expands WiFi access to select regional jets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
One of the many gripes about Google TV so far has been the ancient version of Netflix’s Watch Instantly app it shipped with, but Scott Greczkowski from Satellite Guys appears to be the first to receive a new version on his Logitech Revue. Pictured above, it seems to reflect one of the ( many ) versions of the PS3 Netflix app , with queue management and search functions available. Android Central notes that the last update arrived less than a week after the date of the build and this one is marked November 22 so hopefully it should arrive any day now, until then check out the video (embedded after the break) or more pics at the source link. Continue reading Google TV receiving an updated Netflix app? Google TV receiving an updated Netflix app? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …