Xfinity iPad app getting streaming update ‘in the coming weeks,’ Android app ‘later this year’
January 5, 2011 No Comment
An update for those of you rocking Comcast’s Xfinity TV iPad app, patiently waiting for the availability of streaming On Demand content on Apple’s tablet and the app itself on the billions of upcoming Android-powered tablets. When we first spotted the functionality during November’s Web 2.0 Summit, we were told it was coming either “by the end of the year” or in “a couple of weeks.” A quick glance at our Hunks of Kabletown calendar indicates we missed that goal, but a press blast today says we can expect the capability to “be available on the iPad in the coming weeks and which will enable the viewing of On Demand programming on the iPad.” It’s also adding live news and TV shows to the list of streaming content, so you won’t be limited to archived On Demand programming. But that’s not all! The Big C will “add the same functionality and content to Android powered devices later this year” as well as a less tablet-centric offering at XfinityTV.com right now, so you can change channels sans-remote with just about any device you want. Now, can you get on that Newton app, Comcast? Xfinity iPad app getting streaming update ‘in the coming weeks,’ Android app ‘later this year’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Gloria ? Are you finally with us? It sure looks like it — Samsung has just unveiled its Sliding PC 7 Series slider and it looks to be one crazy Windows 7 tablet / laptop hybrid. Powered by Intel’s 1.66GHz Z670 Oak Trail processor , the 2.2-pound tablet features a 1366 x 768-resolution, 10.1-inch 340-nit touchscreen, 32GB / 64GB SSD options, and 2GB of RAM. Obviously, this guy is running Windows 7 Home Premium at its core, but Samsung has created its own Touch Launcher that includes loads of applications that are “optimized for the touchscreen,” while others will be available through Samsung’s App Manager and Windows Product Scout. We’re not entirely sure what the latter is all about, but we do know that this thing has a USB and HDMI ports, a 4-in-1 card reader, an ambient light sensor, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. Oh, and did we mention they say it will boot in under 20 seconds and will be available with WiMax? Our biggest concern here is obviously battery life, but Samsung is claiming that its six-cell lithium-polymer will last up to nine hours on a charge. Don’t let us down Sammy, for $699 this one sounds mighty good. The Sliding PC 7 Series will be hitting shelves in March, but we’ll be looking to get some hands-on time with this very soon. Full press release after the break. Continue reading Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series announced, coming in March for $699 Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series announced, coming in March for $699 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Texas Instruments ups the wireless power game with industry’s first Qi dev kit
January 5, 2011 No Comment
We have yet to see a flood of Qi -enabled devices at CES , but here’s a little something from Texas Instruments that will hopefully boost the number of products supporting this newfangled wireless charging standard. What we’re looking at is the bqTESLA, the industry’s first Qi-certified wireless power development kit that consists of a single-channel transmitter (presumably the transparent pad with a copper coil underneath), a direct-charge receiver (the black object) and “associated magnetics for applications requiring five watts of power or less” such as cellphones, MP3 players, cameras, etc. Interested techies can pick up one of these toys for $499, or for just $250 throughout CES 2011. Continue reading Texas Instruments ups the wireless power game with industry’s first Qi dev kit Texas Instruments ups the wireless power game with industry’s first Qi dev kit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Click here to view this media John Boehner just took the gavel from Nancy Pelosi….He talked about being transparent. No, it’s not a stand-up comedy act. Earlier, Chris Matthews asked Elijah Cummings if it was within the purview of Darrell Issa’s committee to go after the Justice Department and Eric Holder for not prosecuting the New Black Panthers and ACORN. It’s full frontal Beltway Villager wisdom. How quickly the Villagers forget about Boehner’s transgression in Congress, when he handed out checks for the tobacco industry on the floor of the House. John Boehner admits to giving bribes from Big Tobacco on the House floor…Why does the media consider him credible? Boehner: Mine asked me to give out a half dozen checks quickly before we got to the end of the month and I complied. I did it on the House floor which I regret and I should not have done, it’s not a violation of the House rules, but it’s a practice that’s gone on here for a long time. Q: Were the checks from tobacco companies? Boehner: Ahh, I think if my memory serves me correctly, I think it was a tobacco company, yes. Here’s what he had to say today: Boehner said after taking the speaker’s gavel. “Hard work and tough decisions will be required of the 112th Congress. No longer can we fall short. No longer can we kick the can down the road. The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin carrying out their instructions.” Riiiiigght.
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MIT test shows only 10 percent decrease in EV battery life after 1,500 rapid charges
January 5, 2011 No Comment
Among the plethora of skeptical responses to our ” car of the future ” piece from earlier this week was people debating about what happens to all those batteries after a few-thousand charges. Well, now we can answer that — for some batteries and some charging techniques, anyhow. MIT ‘s Electric Vehicle Team took an A123 battery pack (the same type to be used in the Fisker Karma ) and subjected it to 1,500 discharges and rapid re-charges (ala the CHAdeMO ). The result was a 10% decrease in life over what equates to a couple years worth of refills, which sounds pretty good. That said, not all packs are created equal, your mileage may vary, and whatever other disclaimers you think might apply. MIT test shows only 10 percent decrease in EV battery life after 1,500 rapid charges originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Former justice minister tells Army Radio ‘real punishment’ for ex-president ‘is not to be separated from society but rather to remain on his street.’ Gal-On: A rapist’s place is in prison
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photo: Forest Wander / Creative Commons Back in October, Lloyd wrote a post on how for many people the stars don’t come out anymore , all because of increasing urbanization and light pollution –it included a great image of the differences in star visibility from urban to rural… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Rep. John Boehner was elected speaker of the House Wednesday, sealing newfound Republican power-sharing as the 112th Congress convened and drawing the curtain on the history-making Nancy Pelosi era at the helm. (Jan. 5)
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Wednesday was a big day on Capitol Hill, what with the 112th Congress convening with a Republican at the helm of the House and with the announcement of a significant change in the Obama administration: Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will leave his post in February. Related Entries January 4, 2011 Darrell Issa, Step Away From the Corporations January 3, 2011 ‘The Left Has Nowhere to Go’
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