Visualized: Google opens @Android Twitter, raises Ice Cream Sandwich effigy (video)
October 14, 2011 No Comment
Now that Ice Cream Sandwich is officially coming our way next week , Google’s statue-makers ( Honeycomb , Gingerbread , Froyo ) wasted no time raising an idol in its honor. Video of the ceremony is after the break, helpfully pointed out by the brand new @Android Twitter account. Give ‘em a follow, won’t you? Continue reading Visualized: Google opens @Android Twitter, raises Ice Cream Sandwich effigy (video) Visualized: Google opens @Android Twitter, raises Ice Cream Sandwich effigy (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Microsoft finalizes acquisition of Skype, Tony Bates shares his thoughts (video)
October 14, 2011 No Comment
Well, it’s finally happened — Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype has just been finalized, a little more than five months after it was first announced. Under the $8.5 billion deal, Skype CEO Tony Bates will be named president of the new Skype Division of Microsoft, and will have to report directly to Steve Ballmer. Many Skype employees, meanwhile, will stay onboard at offices around the globe, including at outposts in Estonia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden, the UK, Luxembourg, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the US. In a post on the Official Microsoft Blog today, Bates seemed unsurprisingly enthusiastic about the acquisition, describing it as a marriage of two “disruptive, innovative, software-oriented companies.” The exec was less specific about the role his company would play within Redmond’s new architecture, but assured that Skype would be at the forefront of future communications initiatives across a variety of platforms. “Microsoft is committed to the ubiquity of the Skype experience – communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus,” Bates wrote. “And we’ve only scratched the surface.” Head past the break for Microsoft’s full PR, as well as the video address from Bates. Continue reading Microsoft finalizes acquisition of Skype, Tony Bates shares his thoughts (video) Microsoft finalizes acquisition of Skype, Tony Bates shares his thoughts (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 02:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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After the recent score of creepy robots, it’s great to see a mechanical creature that doesn’t look like it would trample you to death if you insulted its parentage. This is the SimLab SQ1, built by the Korean software company as a testbed for a Government-funded giant version to rival the AlphaDog . After the break you’ll find a little motion picture of the SQ1 comically tottering around. Have your laughs now: it won’t nearly be so funny when it comes for you in the night. Continue reading SimLab SQ1: Korea’s adorably unstable robot dog (video) SimLab SQ1: Korea’s adorably unstable robot dog (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’re very sorry to report that Robert W. Galvin, former chairman and CEO of Motorola , died this week in Chicago at the age of 89. Over the course of his nearly three-decade tenure at the helm, Galvin oversaw Motorola’s transformation from a mid-level radio and walkie talkie manufacturer into one of the world’s leading electronics makers. In the process, he cemented his legacy as one of the industry’s most forward-looking executives. The Marshfield, Wisconsin native first joined the company as a stockroom apprentice in 1940, and would go on to spend his entire career there (save for a tour of duty in World War II). He was named chairman and chief executive in 1959, following the death of his father and company founder Paul Galvin. Under the younger Galvin’s stewardship, Motorola expanded the depth and breadth of its operations, moving into emerging markets and focusing much of its efforts on the burgeoning cellular industry. Galvin spearheaded this transition, which saw Motorola introduce the first commercial cellphone in 1973, and the first cellphone network in the early 1980s. When he first took control, Motorola’s annual sales stood at around $290 million. By the time he retired as chairman in 1990, however, that figure had ballooned to $10.8 billion. Galvin went on to serve on the company’s board of directors until 2001 and, though he may have departed, his impact certainly won’t be forgotten anytime soon. “We will continue to honor Bob Galvin’s legacy here at Motorola Mobility,” said current chairman and CEO Sanjay Jha. “He was committed to innovation, and was responsible for guiding Motorola through the creation of the global cellular telephone industry.” Robert “Bob” Galvin is survived by his wife of 67 years, four children, 13 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Continue reading Robert Galvin, former chairman and CEO of Motorola, dies at age 89 Robert Galvin, former chairman and CEO of Motorola, dies at age 89 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 07:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video)
October 14, 2011 No Comment
Looking for a hands-on 3D controller that won’t require any five-fingered peripherals ? Check out Maide Control — a new app that allows users to manipulate 3D CAD data from the comfort of their iPad displays. Available for $4.99 on iTunes, this app will wirelessly sync an iPad with any compatible 3D program, thereby enabling modelers to mold and view their designs using an array of multitouch gestures. You can also use Maide Control to showcase models on larger displays (say, at a company presentation), or to connect multiple iPads to the same render, in case you’re working on a more collaborative project. For now, the app only supports Google SketchUp and Rhino on Windows only, though the company plans to incorporate other 3D apps and Mac support in the near future. Wiggle past the break to see a pair of demo videos, or hit up the source link below to download the app directly from iTunes. Continue reading Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video) Maide Control iPad app lets you build and view 3D models with your bare, sweaty hands (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The latest product off Samsung’s near-constant conveyor belt, the Galaxy Y , has been spotted loitering around Vodafone UK stores. The ” youth “(translation: entry-level) smartphone arrives with a slightly better spec sheet than the Korean giant’s cheapest Android phone, the Galaxy Mini , although you shouldn’t expect a load of GS II-eque features. The petite handset includes a two megapixel camera, a three-inch touchscreen, an 832MHz CPU, and the typical wireless medley of Bluetooth, 801.11 b/g/n WiFi and GPS — all packed into a 3.5 ounce shell running Google’s Gingerbread OS. Sure, there’s no 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen, but for just
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“Although no specific information is available,” says Plextor in its own statement, “word has it that Plextor is serious about the limited edition status” of its latest M2P SSD. In other detective work, they’ve discovered that the drive comes in 128GB and 256GB variants that cost $240 and $440 respectively and should be available towards the end of the month. Both models handle 6GB/s SATA III, are powered by the “server grade” Marvell 88SS9174 controller chip and deliver up to 500MB/s reads and 440MB/s writes. Engadget suspects the full PR is right after the break. Continue reading Plextor outs limited edition M2P SSD in weirdest press release ever Plextor outs limited edition M2P SSD in weirdest press release ever originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s no secret that the market for Android tablets is crowded – and getting more so every day. Just ask Samsung , Acer , HTC , Huawei , Lenovo , Pandigital and, oh yes, Verticool . We could keep going, but you get the point: it’s a big market out there, one with wildly varying prices and features. And just recently a little company called Amazon made its move in a big way with the Kindle Fire , an Android-powered $199 portal to its corner of the cloud. The world’s largest online retailer clearly thinks competing on price is a way to stand out from the pack. Velocity Micro, maker of the 8-inch Cruz T408, wholeheartedly agrees. It’s coming to market with a $199 slate, hoping to capture some attention of its own. Can it succeed? Read on to find out. Gallery: Velocity Micro Cruz T408 review Continue reading Velocity Micro Cruz T408 review Velocity Micro Cruz T408 review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Things are happening in the air around us: our tabazine is beaming its way to iPads around the globe, iThings are being shuffled to and from various parts of the stratosphere, and there was a frightening dearth of airborne activity in the BlackBerry-based community. Tangible inventions have also made their usual marks on the week in tech news: newly-minted iOS 5 guru Dante Cesa joins Tim and Brian this to bring it all down to earth and straight to your ears in this, the 260th episode of the Engadget Podcast. Hosts: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater Guest: Dante Cesa Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: I Can’t Go For That 00:01:30 – Engadget Distro is ready for download! 00:03:45 – Photoshop contest: send us your best / most terrifying Frankengadget 00:05:00 – iOS 5 review 00:13:30 – iCloud opens to the masses, iOS 5 lurks near 00:23:45 – BlackBerry services offline for some in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Again. (update: RIM confirms India, South America, too) 00:25:13 – BlackBerry outage spreads to US and Canada, continues in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, South America (update: RIM confirms) 00:26:00 – Mike Lazaridis apologizes for BlackBerry outage: ‘We’ve let many of you down’ (video) (Update: full services restored) 00:38:40 – Motorola Atrix 2 hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video) 00:41:18 – Archos 80 G9 review 00:46:11 – T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II review 00:52:15 – HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio review 00:56:51 – ASUS Zenbook UX21 and UX31 headed to the US October 12, starting at $999 00:59:02 – Samsung crashes iPhone 4S block party, lures Aussies with $2 Galaxy S IIs 00:59:29 – Dennis Ritchie, pioneer of C programming language and Unix, reported dead at age 70 01:00:12 – Listener questions Hear the podcast Subscribe to the podcast [ iTunes ] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [ RSS MP3 ] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [ RSS AAC ] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [ Zune ] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) Contact the podcast Send your questions to @tim_stevens . Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005) E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com Twitter: @bheater , @timstevens Filed under: Podcasts Engadget Podcast 260 – 10.14.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Huawei blocked from first responder network contract, US cites ‘national security concerns’
October 14, 2011 No Comment
The inability to win US government approval isn’t exactly an unfamiliar issue for Huawei , which by now must be conditioned not to expect a nod from major US telecom companies. But now, The Daily Beast reports that the U.S. Commerce Department has made it very clear that the Chinese company won’t have a role in building the country’s new dedicated first responder wireless network. A spokesman wasn’t shy about the reason, either, explaining that Huawei “will not be taking part in the building of America’s interoperable wireless emergency network for first responders due to U.S. government national security concerns.” And what about those national security concerns? Well, Huawei president Ren Zhengfei’s former role as a People’s Liberation Army technologist may have something to do with it, considering it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suspect that he still has some fairly close ties to Chinese government officials . We haven’t heard a peep from the feds regarding Huawei’s invitation for US officials to investigate the company earlier this year, but it’s safe to assume that the investigation either didn’t go very well, or more likely that it hasn’t happened at all. We imagine that whole corporate espionage debacle probably didn’t help the company, either. Huawei blocked from first responder network contract, US cites ‘national security concerns’ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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