Houston will be home to America’s largest car charging network, identity crisis
November 22, 2010 No Comment
Everything is somewhat more gargantuan in Texas, so its only natural that Houston has its eye on having the largest network of electric vehicle chargers in the country. The plan is a privately funded brain-child of power plant operator NRG Energy, which hopes to install 150 charging stations in the 25 mile vicinity of downtown Houston starting in February. Chargers will be placed at common retail locations such as Walgreens and Best Buy, but given that 80 to 90 percent of charging will occur in homes, an $89 all-you-can-juice monthly plan will also include the installation of 240-volt charging systems in residences. NRG doesn’t expect to turn a profit on its $10 million investment for several years, but hopes that taking the proactive step will create a lucrative business in the future as electric vehicle prices (hopefully) hit the skids. The company also wants to build a similar network in Dallas in early 2011, and perhaps San Antonio and Austin in the future as well. Still, while the plans are admirable for the home of big-oil, compared to London’s government-backed 1,300 station plan , NRG’s Houston aspirations still seem positively Rhode Island-sized. Houston will be home to America’s largest car charging network, identity crisis originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Vudu’s 1080p movie streaming to hit Panasonic’s Viera Cast Blu-ray players
November 22, 2010 No Comment
We may very well be in the minority here, but we definitely didn’t peg winter 2010 as the second coming of Vudu . In just the past month or so, the resurgent movie rental outfit has managed to slink its way onto Sharp connected HDTVs , D-Link’s Boxee Box , Sony’s PlayStation 3 and now, Panasonic’s crew of Viera Cast-enabled Blu-ray decks. The DMP-BDT350, DMP-BDT300, DMP-BDT100, DMP-BD85, DMP-BD65 and DMP-B500 will all gain access to Vudu’s 4000+ 1080p movie library starting just two days from today (that’s November 24th, for the calendar-challenged), promising instant streaming on titles that start at just $2 per night. If you’re the proud owner of one of those players, keep an eye out for an impending firmware update… otherwise, well, keep an eye out for those keeping an eye out. Continue reading Vudu’s 1080p movie streaming to hit Panasonic’s Viera Cast Blu-ray players Vudu’s 1080p movie streaming to hit Panasonic’s Viera Cast Blu-ray players originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Verizon’s been talking details on LTE deployment for some time now, but even at CTIA earlier in the year, the carrier insisted that it would be the first half of 2011 before the next-gen network was active in the US of A. Now, it looks as if the engineers have been working triple-time in order to get Long Term Evolution live in the States under Big Red’s branding, as a new VZW commercial (embedded after the break) has affirmed that the first LTE waves will go public here in December 2010. Yeah, next month . Granted, there’s no information beyond the date, but at least we shouldn’t have to ponder long which devices will be first out of the gate. Here’s hoping Santa’s wish list has room for one more thing. Continue reading Verizon launching LTE network in December 2010 (video) Verizon launching LTE network in December 2010 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 09:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Apple’s Find My iPhone / iPad service now free, doesn’t require MobileMe
November 22, 2010 No Comment
We’d been sort of hoping Apple would just make MobileMe a completely free service, but it looks like we’re taking baby steps instead: Find My iPhone / iPad is now free for iPhone 4, the iPad, and the fourth-gen iPod touch running iOS 4.2.1 . As with the paid feature, you’ll be able to locate your device on a map, lock it, display a message, play a sound, or remotely wipe your data from any browser or the updated iOS app , which should presumably go live sometime today along with iOS 4.2.1 itself . Like we said, it’s a baby step, but hey — we never say no to free. Apple’s Find My iPhone / iPad service now free, doesn’t require MobileMe originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Netflix formally launches $7.99 streaming-only plan, bumps unlimited DVD plans by a buck or more
November 22, 2010 No Comment
Well you had to know it was coming: the streaming-only plan Netflix unofficially rolled out last month is now being officially deployed. Thankfully the company opted to go with the lower of the two prices it was toying with, $7.99, which pits it squarely against Hulu Plus . However, the prices for all unlimited plans that include DVDs have jumped by at least one dollar, meaning you’ll now be paying $9.99 for a one DVD at a time plan (though the $4.99, two DVDs a month offer will still give you a penny back from your Lincoln). So, it’s a cheaper option for trailblazers who have abandoned physical media and a dark day for everyone else. Netflix formally launches $7.99 streaming-only plan, bumps unlimited DVD plans by a buck or more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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You’ve waited a long while for this day to come, but here it finally is. Apple is today rolling out iOS 4.2 to iPads and qualifying iPhones (3G, 3GS and 4) and iPod touches (second, third and fourth generation) across the globe, delivering the long-awaited multitasking and app folder enhancements to a tablet that was already supposed to be magical and revolutionary. To see whether this new update — replete with Game Center, AirPlay and AirPrint additions — really helps the iPad step up to doubleplusgood territory, check out our full review ; everyone else, hit up your nearest iTunes 10.1 -equipped computer to get your update on. Continue reading iOS 4.2 available today, brings the iPad into the multitasking era iOS 4.2 available today, brings the iPad into the multitasking era originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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If you’re an iPad owner, you’ve probably been on pins and needles lately. That’s because back in September, Apple announced that a full-scale update to the tablet’s OS would be coming in the form of iOS 4.2 , bringing a slew of new features to the device. Included in that laundry list is proper iOS 4-style multitasking, folders, major mail improvements, Game Center integration, and Safari enhancements (like find-in-page text searches). Besides those features, the company has been touting two other big changes that could cause a major shift in the way you use your iPad — namely, AirPrint and AirPlay. Both additions leverage your WiFi network, certain connected printers, and the new Apple TV in an attempt to make the company’s slate less like a distraction and more like the center of your digital life. When the update was originally announced, we took you on a walkthrough of the early developer beta. Though 4.2 will roll out to the iPhone and iPod touch, we wanted to focus on the iPad version, as it represents a major change for the platform. We’ve had a chance to spend time with the final version of the OS (which is actually 4.2.1 now), and put it through its paces. We’ve updated our original guide and given the finished product a critical once over, so read on for our full review! Gallery: iOS 4.2 for iPad Continue reading iOS 4.2 review (for iPad) iOS 4.2 review (for iPad) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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TiVo Premiere users won’t have to be jealous of Comcast’s Xfinity TV remote for very long — soon enough, they’ll have an DVR-scheduling, content-searching, program-pushing iPad app of their own. Called the TiVo Premiere App, it’ll feature a full touchscreen TV programming guide, playback controls, and the ability to search Netflix and Amazon on Demand for shows when it arrives “in the coming weeks.” There’s also basic social network sharing via Facebook and Twitter, and if that “Livingroom TiVo” drop-down menu is any indication, the ability to control multiple TiVo boxes from a single tablet. Also, the search box and remote icons in the upper-right hand corner that suggests that TiVo’s integrated the iPad keyboard and some virtual buttons too, so maybe you’ll be able to exercise control over the entire experience without diving into your couch (or your pocketbook) for a TiVo Slide Remote . One can only hope. No word on smartphone versions, though. PR and another shot of the interface right after the break. Continue reading TiVo Premiere UI gets a shot in the arm with iPad remote control TiVo Premiere UI gets a shot in the arm with iPad remote control originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Orange and T-Mobile set to offer 3G iPad on contract in UK, £200 price rumored
November 22, 2010 No Comment
Orange has just dropped a rather enigmatic note in our inbox letting us know that it plans to offer Apple’s 3G iPad on “one of [its] great new plans” in the UK, resulting in what the company promises will be “more affordable prices.” Current rumors making the rounds place that expenditure at the
Continue reading …Kingston unveils HyperX Max 3.0, a SuperSpeed SSD for your pocket, we tear it down (video)
November 22, 2010 No Comment
USB 3.0 and SSDs , they were just made for each other, don’t you think? Kingston certainly seems to agree, as it’s now rolled out its first SuperSpeed portable solid state drive, giving it the catchy title of HyperX Max 3.0. It fits within the dimensions of a conventional 2.5-inch hard drive, but differs in being able to pump 195MB of data per second when reading or 160MBps when writing. Although pricing and availability details aren’t yet available, we can expect 64GB, 128GB and 256GB varieties to crop up some time soonish. Until then, can we interest you in some unboxing and teardown action, courtesy of our brethren over at Engadget Spanish? You’ll find it on video just past the break. Continue reading Kingston unveils HyperX Max 3.0, a SuperSpeed SSD for your pocket, we tear it down (video) Kingston unveils HyperX Max 3.0, a SuperSpeed SSD for your pocket, we tear it down (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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