Samsung releases ‘GPS Restore’ app for Captivate and other Galaxy S models
November 30, 2010 No Comment
Seems Samsung still hasn’t solved the GPS woes on many of its Galaxy S models to the satisfaction of every user — complaints of inordinately long (or impossible) lock times continue to trickle into our inbox to this very day. To that end, folks might be interested in the news that Samsung Mobile is tweeting about a “GPS Restore Application” that it’s thrown together for wiping the GPS subsystem and making it factory-fresh. Now, we’ll be the first to admit — we don’t quite understand how “restoring” a screwed-up GPS to its original screwed-up state is doing any good, but we’ll leave it to Sammy’s confusing verbiage: “During online surveillance, there is an abundance of GPS tweaks that impair GPS performance. Often times, no backup is performed to restore values prior to modifications. Samsung has released an application that restores GPS settings to recommended factory defaults for optinum [sic] performance.” Right, then. It’s only compatible with the Captivate and Vibrant at the moment — no word on others like the Epic 4G , Mesmerize , or Fascinate , but folks on AT&T and T-Mobile should be able to nab it from the Market. Samsung releases ‘GPS Restore’ app for Captivate and other Galaxy S models originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …FCC looking into Comcast / Netflix blocking threat, Level 3 responds as analysts chime in
November 30, 2010 No Comment
News that Comcast had threatened to block internet backbone Level 3 , which is one of the companies delivering Watch Instantly streams, sent shockwaves through the industry yesterday. Net neutrality advocates geared up for battle, Comcast insisted it was only enforcing the same arrangements other networks abide by while Roger Ebert and the rest of us fretted over Netflix access. Today, Level 3 issued a response to Comcast, claiming it is “distracting from the fundamental issue” which is free use of all content on the internet for its customers. Meanwhile, Multichannel News points out industry analysts say Level 3′s claims of traffic discrimination “appear unfounded” while VideoNuze editor Will Richmond supposes Level 3 may have “bid too aggressively for the Netflix business and is now trying to recover.” Most damaging to Level 3′s argument are its own words from a dispute where it sought financial compensation from Cogent for using too much of its network’s bandwidth: “For example, Cogent was sending far more traffic to the Level 3 network than Level 3 was sending to Cogent’s network. It is important to keep in mind that traffic received by Level 3 in a peering relationship must be moved across Level 3′s network at considerable expense. Simply put, this means that, without paying, Cogent was using far more of Level 3′s network, far more of the time, than the reverse. Following our review, we decided that it was unfair for us to be subsidizing Cogent’s business.” Beyond analyst opinions and posturing the question of whether or not Comcast has the power to set pricing for access to its network, creating the toll road Level 3 is accusing it of being, is still at issue. That will certainly come into play at the FCC, where chairman Julius Genachowski mentioned at today’s meeting that the agency is looking into Level 3′s claims at the same time it continues to review the joining of Comcast and NBC. As far as your Netflix streams? Safe for now, though the company isn’t commenting, Level 3 isn’t the only provider it relies on for access and how any deal it might reach with Comcast could affect the service is still unclear. FCC looking into Comcast / Netflix blocking threat, Level 3 responds as analysts chime in originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We saw the briefest whisper of an indication a couple months ago, but now Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci has come out and said it: Acer’s working on Windows Phone 7. In an interview with Ina Fried, Gianfranco touched briefly on the company’s plans for Microsoft’s new OS, after an ill-fated stint with Windows Mobile not so long ago. Naturally, the addition of Windows Phone 7 won’t be coming at the expense of Acer’s newfound love of Android , but Lanci oddly says he sees for WP7 “the same opportunity you can see on Android in terms of customization.” We don’t know what sort of customization he could be referring to, but we’re trembling in anticipation. So, let’s just tally them up: MeeGo , Chrome OS , Windows Phone 7, Android, and, of course, Windows itself… pretty nice collection you’ve got for yourself, Acer. What’s next, BeOS? Acer confirms plans for Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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When Dell first demoed the Inspiron Duo and its vertically rotating screen on stage at IDF in September , our mouths nearly hit the floor. It looked like a plain old netbook until its 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen did a magical backflip and folded down over its keyboard to morph into a tablet. It was like nothing we’d ever seen before. And we actually figured it would be the sort of system that would stay locked up in Dell’s labs, but when its specs were revealed — a dual-core Atom N550 processor, 2GB of RAM, and Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator — it became evident that the netbook / tablet hybrid was the real deal. Running Windows 7 Home Premium and Dell’s new Stage interface, the $550 netvertible has the potential to successfully straddle both the netbook and tablet world. It also has a real shot at being the perfect device for those wavering between buying a netbook and a tablet. Indeed, the Duo is filled to the brim with potential, but what’s the thing really like to use? We’ve spent the last few days with the Duo (and its Duo Audio Station) to find out, so hit the break for the official Engadget review! Editor’s note: The review unit Dell sent us was a hardware production unit, but we were told the software was about 95 percent done. We will update this review with our impressions of the final unit when we receive it. Gallery: Dell Inspiron Duo review Continue reading Dell Inspiron Duo review Dell Inspiron Duo review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Remember The Fingerist , the guitar headstock-themed speaker and case for your iPhone or iPod touch? You know, the one with the shoulder strap for public (and private) performances with all of your favorite music making apps? Well, it seems that it’s finally available in the states. Indeed, there has been so little fanfare behind this announcement that the company responsible, Evenno, hasn’t even acknowledged it on its site. But don’t worry: we found this bad boy for $150 on Amazon. And if that’s not enough, iLounge has done a series of hands-on photos (see the More Coverage link, below). Or, if you’re like us, you can skip the thing altogether and groove to Rick Wakeman after the break. We do have one more thing to say about the Fingerist, however: at least it’s not endorsed by this guy . Continue reading The Fingerist turns your iPhone into an iKeytar, available now The Fingerist turns your iPhone into an iKeytar, available now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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In an interesting move for a major console launch, Panasonic is reaching outside of the fold and looking to some select US consumers to test out its upcoming Jungle gaming handheld . No details on the testing program were given, and it’s not much in the way of news, but it’s the most we’ve heard out of Panasonic since it announced the online gaming-centric handheld in October — we still don’t know when the Jungle will land or how much it will cost. At least Panasonic isn’t short on self-assessment: “We know other companies out there have traditional hand- held gaming covered… We’re doing something very different.” You can’t argue with that, we’ll just have to wait and see if Panasonic can pull it off. Panasonic welcoming crash test consumers to the handheld gaming Jungle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Despite the more recent releases of the Curve 8500 series and the Curve 3G , RIM has never really offered up a true successor to the venerable Curve 8900 — a device some would argue remains the prettiest that Waterloo has ever manufactured. Indeed, with the QVGA display and meager cam on the 3G, there’s a pretty magnificent gap between it and the business-class Bold 9700 / 9780… so we’re pretty excited to see a new model called the Curve 8980 get FCC approval. Oh, and what’s more, the filing’s now got access to a user’s manual and external shots where you can definitely picture this as being a proper optical pad-equipped follow-on to the 8900 of old, complete with a 3.2 megapixel cam with flash and — if we had to guess — a high-res display adopted either from the 9780 or the 8900. No word on a release, but here’s the kicker: as far as we can tell from the filing, it’s EDGE-only just like the device it replaces, which is pretty inexcusable for a device that’d presumably be released in 2011. Add 3G, though, and they’ve got a desperately-needed new model to slot in underneath the Bold. BlackBerry Curve 8980 shows up in FCC, offers some glam shots originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Infinity I-Kitchen sports Linux-based touch screen computer, kitchen sink still not included
November 30, 2010 No Comment
We’ve seen ridiculous fridge concepts from Electrolux before and covered Linux running on all types of gadgets , so it’s only natural that the OS has found its way into an icebox developed by Electrolux’s Brazilian subsidiary in partnership with ProFusion Embedded Systems. Dubbed the Infinity I-Kitchen, it sports a Linux-based 800 x 480 touchscreen computer built around a 400Mhz Freescale i.MX25 SoC — which itself is based on 400MHz ARM926EJ-S core and already used in some automotive systems. The touch UI was developed by the open source organization Enlightenment Foundation Libraries and allows users to control a variety of fridge functions like internal temperature in addition to running apps for notes, calendars, contacts, photos, and recipes. All of the particular open source code modifications developed for the fridge have also been shared back with the community in Tux-approved fashion and will soon be posted to Electrolux’s site too. Unfortunately, there’s no mention however of features like internet connectivity (WiFi or otherwise), USB ports, or SD Card slots being on the appliance. Likewise, details on pricing or availability are also unknown, so your iPhone can hold off on making those the jealousy-fueled fat jokes for now. Infinity I-Kitchen sports Linux-based touch screen computer, kitchen sink still not included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Virgin officially announces Project magazine for iPad (and other tablets soon)
November 30, 2010 No Comment
We’re here at Virgin’s press event for Project magazine, which Sir Richard Branson just called the “first all-digital magazine.” It’s launching on iPad first, but we snuck a peak at the app last night and noticed a line about Android tablet support coming soon. Branson says the content will change constantly — and there’ll even be comments. Virgin officially announces Project magazine for iPad (and other tablets soon) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Office Depot welcomes 10-inch ViewSonic G Tablet into the fold, slaps $399 sticker on it
November 30, 2010 No Comment
If your tablet wishlist includes things like Tegra 2 , Android 2.2, and 1080p video playback, you might want to drop by your nearest Office Depot some time soonish. ViewSonic’s G Tablet has just been made available for purchase at the store’s many outlets across the US and is also supposed to be up for grabs at its online portal. We say “supposed” because we can’t find it anywhere on officedepot.com, but that’s probably just a temporary issue. The main point is that $399 will buy you a seat on the Froyo tablet bandwagon, a very glossy 10-inch seat with 1024 x 600 resolution. Skip past the break for the full PR. Continue reading Office Depot welcomes 10-inch ViewSonic G Tablet into the fold, slaps $399 sticker on it Office Depot welcomes 10-inch ViewSonic G Tablet into the fold, slaps $399 sticker on it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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