ThinkPad Tablet shown off with keyboard-laden folio cover, could ship within a month
June 29, 2011 No Comment
Well, lookie here! Seems that ThinkPad Tablet’s getting more real by the hour. For what it’s worth, Lenovo hasn’t exactly done a laudatory job keeping its next major Honeycomb tablet under wraps , but flaunting it in public? Now that’s just asking for it. According to ZTOP , the enterprise-centric Tablet will arrive within three to four weeks boasting Tegra 2 silicon, a 10.1-inch display (1280 x 800) and an optional folio / cover that might just steal the show. According to the report, it’s a leather-wrapped case that contains a full-on keyboard and optical tracking sensor, presumably using a USB connector to make the magic happen. Think Clamcase , but tailored for Lenovo. There’s no mention of a price on that one, but we’re guessing it ain’t gonna be tossed in gratis. Tap the source for one more look, and expect to hear more on the whole kit and kaboodle as July draws closer. ThinkPad Tablet shown off with keyboard-laden folio cover, could ship within a month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 06:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Kaz Hirai to become Sony Computer Entertainment Chairman, leave Andrew House with tough CEO gig
June 29, 2011 No Comment
When you’ve had to deal out as many public apologies as Sony has had to perform over its protracted PSN hacking saga , the typical expectation is that someone somewhere will be getting fired or “reshuffled” into a new post. No firings at PlayStation headquarters, however our old pal Kaz Hirai is getting a new position as Sony Computer Entertainment Chairman, with Andrew House succeeding him in the CEO hot seat. Mr. House was previously Sony’s PlayStation chief in Europe, so he’s simply stepping up to be responsible for the company’s global operations, but Kaz’s new duties are less clearly defined. Both changes will go into effect on September 1st, a day after current Chairman Akira Sato retires, giving both Kaz and Andrew a little time to get accustomed to their new(ish) surroundings before tackling Sony’s massively important PS Vita launch at the tail end of the year. Kaz Hirai to become Sony Computer Entertainment Chairman, leave Andrew House with tough CEO gig originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 04:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s hard to argue with Google’s track record. The company has scored a hit in nearly every space in which it’s dabbled: search, email, ads, office software, etc. There’s always been one glaring exception to this rule, however: social networking. The company hasn’t made much of a dent in a world dominated by Facebook (and, once upon a time, MySpace and Friendster). For Google+, however, the company dove in with both feet, launching a multi-faceted service that brings a lot to the table with features like Circles , Hang Out, and Huddle. Is it enough to end Google’s streak of misteps in the social world? Join us as we take a dive deeper into Google’s latest attempt to find out. Gallery: Google+ hands-on Gallery: Google+ iOS hands-on Continue reading Google+ invite received, we go hands-on Google+ invite received, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Skype gets Congressional approval, will help Representatives stay in touch with the common people
June 29, 2011 No Comment
Look, Capitol Hill is a nice place to be, okay? There are interns eager to please, lobbyists keen to buy you dinner, why would you ever want to leave? Unfortunately for US Congressmen and women, the schleps who elected them insist on getting face time with their supposed representatives, which means a regular schedule of commuting getting in the way of some critically important foot massages and aromatherapy treatments. Never fear, though, Skype has come to the rescue. Microsoft’s latest acquisition has scored a stamp of approval from the House of Representatives, permitting Congresspersons to use it to interact with constituents, attend virtual town hall meetings, and collaborate with other members of the House. All fun-making of lawmakers aside, this strikes us as a step in the right direction and Skype promises that it’s done its homework on keeping communications secure. Let’s hope so. Skype gets Congressional approval, will help Representatives stay in touch with the common people originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Oregon engineers roll out cheaper, less wasteful solar cells with inkjet printer
June 29, 2011 No Comment
It looks like the push to turn the inkjet printer into the next great manufacturer of solar cells has found another proponent in a team of engineers at Oregon State University. That group of resourceful researchers claims to have created the world’s first ” CIGS solar devices with inkjet printing,” thus giving birth to a new production process that reduces raw material waste by 90 percent. CIGS (an acronym for copper, indium, gallium, and selenium) is a highly absorbent and efficient compound, especially suited to creating thin-film solar cells. The team has used inkjet technology to pump out a CIGS ink with an efficiency of five percent, and a potential efficiency of 12 percent; apparently enough to produce a “commercially viable solar cell.” Unfortunately, the group has yet to announce plans to bring the ink to our desktop printer — so much for that backyard solar farm. Full PR after the break. Continue reading Oregon engineers roll out cheaper, less wasteful solar cells with inkjet printer Oregon engineers roll out cheaper, less wasteful solar cells with inkjet printer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Still hanging on to those sweet site loaders hoping they’d be of use again someday? Perhaps the time has come — for some ads and animations, that is. Google Labs has cooked up Swiffy, which takes an antediluvian SWF file and creates an HTML5 version that will run in most current browsers (Chrome and Safari, for example). The converted file is pretty close in size to the original; however, the company warns that the project is fresh out of the oven, so it won’t convert your entire Flash library just yet. Even still, software that makes existing animations useful without starting from scratch? Sign us up! Check out the source link for the FAQs and some of Swiffy’s handiwork, then test drive this bad boy yourself. Google unveils Swiffy: turns high maintenance Flash animations into HTML5 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 02:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Silver-ink pen freestyles handmade circuitry, paves way for flexible displays
June 28, 2011 No Comment
We’ve never been the type to appreciate luxury pens , but if said pen was packing a silver-based ink solution that left behind a trail of conductivity… well, our pocket-protector would be very much at its disposal. Announced today, this evolution in penmanship tech has two great University of Illinois minds to thank — Professors Jennifer Lewis and Jennifer Bernhard. That’s right, the two Jennifers schemed up a desktop solution that could see flexible displays and disposable devices coming soon to your pocket (or garbage pail). By eschewing pricey inkjet printers for a low-cost hand-crafted approach, the creators hope future multimedia artists and the engineering-inclined will try their hand at innovative uses. We always knew the pen was mightier than the sword, but now it’s just plain Mighty. Silver-ink pen freestyles handmade circuitry, paves way for flexible displays originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We know what you’re thinking — you like the idea of Google Apps , but the Mountain View crew kind of creeps you out. Well, don’t worry, Microsoft has your back. After making its beta debut last year, Office 365 is officially ready to spread its wings and offer its productivity web app wares to the business-minded masses. For $6 per-user, per-month small businesses get access to Microsoft Office Web Apps, Exchange, SharePoint and Lync video conferencing and can take advantage of the suite’s integration with WP7 once Mango lands. Larger, enterprise plans start at $10 per user while adding support for desktop Office products and Lync VoIP solutions as you climb the pricing ladder. Really there’s not much more to say except, check out the full PR after the break. Continue reading Office 365 ditches the beta tag, ready to take on Google Apps Office 365 ditches the beta tag, ready to take on Google Apps originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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He’s jailbroken the iPhone and been sued by Sony over alleged hacks, and now George ” Geohot ” Hotz is grappling with the biggest challenge of his young career: social networking. After about a week’s worth of rumors surrounding his new employment arrangements, Facebook confirmed that it has indeed added the infamous young hacker to its payroll. No word on what Hotz will be doing at the site, but we expect big things, just so long as he doesn’t come within 100 feet of a PS3 . Facebook likes, hires iPhone jailbreaker ‘Geohot’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Here’s a scenario: you’d love to see the latest blockbuster, but aren’t willing to fork out a month’s wages to do so. Cue MoviePass, a startup seeking to make life cheaper (fiscally, not emotionally) for repeat cinema moviegoers. The $50 subscription allows for “unlimited” cinema screenings, provided you’re okay with a few caveats: 3D or IMAX screenings incur a $3 surcharge, and you’ll be limited to one flick per day. Tickets must also be purchased on a partner website, netting you a coupon code that’s exchanged for stubs in-theater. Not the most elegant solution, but the reliance on paper prevents folks from re-watching or double-dipping while inside. If that sounds just a bit too jovial for you, the company’s also considering a chopped-down $30 plan, which would impose a four movie limit each month. It’s launching as a trial this weekend in San Francisco, so if you’ve nothing better to do, give it a go and let us know how it works out. MoviePass wants to be Netflix, but for theaters originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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