FL Studio Mobile lands on iOS, more indie rap albums to be produced while commuting
June 22, 2011 No Comment
Dream no longer friends, FL Studio Mobile is here for your iOS device of choice. The iPhone and iPod touch version is being offered for $15, while the more expansive HD edition for the iPad is fetching $20 — but both will see their price climb another $5 after the introductory sale is over. As mentioned you’ll be able to pass project files back and forth between the desktop and mobile apps, though the iDevices lack support (and the muscle power) for VST instruments. It also appears the scope of the sequencer had to be scaled back from 128 tracks to 99, but that should be more than enough to keep you tapping out beats like 9th Wonder while riding the train. Hit up the source links to download the portable production suite and check out the gallery below. Gallery: FL Studio Mobile and FL Studio Mobile HD FL Studio Mobile lands on iOS, more indie rap albums to be produced while commuting originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 07:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Motorola Xooms in Android 3.1 update that activates microSD card support outside the US
June 22, 2011 No Comment
You know that microSD card slot that’s been laying dormant in your Motorola Xoom ? Provided you don’t reside in the US, that’ll be getting activated soon as part of the tablet’s Android 3.1 update, which is starting to roll out now and should have all of Europe covered within the next few weeks. Motorola explicitly identifies this as a firmware update for “non-US” Xooms, so Canadians would be well advised to check their software update utility, though the big question is why didn’t the American 3.1 update include microSD support as well? What tangled web of intrigue lies behind this selective activation? [Thanks, Alan] Motorola Xooms in Android 3.1 update that activates microSD card support outside the US originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Lenovo Ideapad Tablet K1 priced at $500 by OfficeMax, inches closer to release
June 22, 2011 No Comment
The Ideapad Tablet K1 is about as well known an unannounced product as there is right now, having been pictured and listed by a couple of online retailers and passed the requisite tests over at the FCC . What we weren’t quite so sure about was its price, which a tipster now informs us is $499.99, and its launch date, which looks to be fast approaching. The OfficeMax placard we’ve been forwarded promises 32GB of storage, Android 3.0 (with a ” custom-built ” interface on top), 1280 x 800 resolution on a 10.1-inch multitouch screen, a pair of cameras, up to 10 hours of battery life, a weight of 1.6lb (725g), and a thickness of just over half an inch (13.2mm). Not exactly an unorthodox list of specs, but more choice is rarely a bad thing. [Thanks, GorillazKing] Lenovo Ideapad Tablet K1 priced at $500 by OfficeMax, inches closer to release originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Pininfarina’s stunning tree-shaped Antares EV charging station should be more than a prototype
June 22, 2011 No Comment
Despite being first showcased in May, Pininfarina’s Antares has just slipped across our desks — and frankly, it’s a concept too gorgeous for us not to share. The beautiful tree-like structure — comprised of steel and aluminum — supports 20 photovoltaic cells, which the Italians reckon can produce up to 4.6 kilowatts, or just about enough juice to top up two fifty-mile range EVs. That’s the plan anyway; we’ll supposedly know more later this year, but given Pininfarina’s past EV efforts, maybe not . Either way, consider this our formal pre-order request for two — they’d look perfect right outside Engadget HQ. Pininfarina’s stunning tree-shaped Antares EV charging station should be more than a prototype originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Californians will have to look elsewhere to start receiving cash back for buying eco-friendly vehicles, as the California Air Resources Board has just announced that its ever popular rebate program is no more for the time being. CARB, as the board also goes by, launched its Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) in March of 2010 with initial funding of over $11 million to go around — but we knew it wouldn’t last. According to the the CVRP website, the program has issued a little over $7 million worth of rebates thus far, with the rest pending or reserved for the already existing EV-owners. The board hopes to bring the program back within the next fiscal year by charging it up with $17 million worth of rebates. It’ll create more opportunities to get some of these rebates, while simultaneously extending the duration of the CVRP by decreasing the maximum amount to $2,500 (about half of the previous maximum). If you’re doing your math correctly, that equates to more than 6,000 total rebates that’ll be up for grabs — opposed to the 1,400 first-rounders who were awarded the rebates already. With luck and some economical upturns, Californian volt-heads can cruise into 2012 with their non-petrol-deficient wallets a little bit fuller. California’s zero-emissions rebate program ironically runs out of green originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Scientists engineer laser-emitting cells, bring us one step closer to a Laser Cats future
June 22, 2011 No Comment
Lasers have enabled us to transmit data at ridiculously high speeds , kill mosquitoes , and, of course, turn boats into flaming ruins . So what’s next for these photonic wonders? How about lasers made from biological cells? Current lasing media — the materials that amplify light — are usually gas, semiconductors, or crystals doped with rare-earth compounds. But a Harvard Medical team has created a biological lasing medium, using a genetically engineered kidney cell. The cell produced Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), the chemical that makes some jellyfish glow in the dark. The team put the GFP between two mirrors and fired pulses of light into it – and presto, a tiny green laser. There’s little practical application for this research so far, but come on: how soon until we have cats shooting deadly light-beams from their mouths? Scientists engineer laser-emitting cells, bring us one step closer to a Laser Cats future originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Google , Amazon , and Apple have been hogging the headlines when it comes to storing your tunes in the internet ether. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for another musically inclined cloud contender — or at least, that’s how Best Buy sees things. The big blue box has rolled out its aptly (if uncreatively) named Music Cloud service that lets you upload your audio to its servers and stream it wherever you go. You can also save songs locally, plus there are apps for Androids, Blackberrys, and iPhones to manage and play your music. There are two flavors of Music Cloud, Lite and Premium. The former is free, while the latter costs $3.99 a month, though Best Buy hasn’t said what the difference is (other than price) between the two. The catch? It’s currently only capable of grabbing songs from iTunes, so no uploading from file folders. Let’s hope that’s only a temporary problem. Best Buy puts your music in the cloud, goes where others have gone before originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 01:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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For months now, DigiTimes has been fueling rumors of Amazon’s first foray into the LCD tablet market. Today it ratchets up the specificity with sometimes contradictory claims that Quanta Computer will be responsible for assembling the tablet with a supposed TI ( not NVIDIA ) processor and Wintek ( not EIH ) touch panel among its components. According to DigiTimes , Amazon hopes to move some four million units in 2011 alone with plans to launch the new tablet as soon as August. Possible? Sure, likely even . But we’ll wait for Bezos to sing before updating our holiday shopping lists. Amazon tablet with TI processor shipping as early as August? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 01:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Itronix GD2000: a rugged handheld for your skydiving, bullet-dodging, building-scaling lifestyle
June 21, 2011 No Comment
Taking a break from BASE jumping to shop for your next rugged computer ? If you can’t wait for Panasonic’s Android Toughbook slate , consider the just-announced General Dynamics Itronix GD2000. The PR mavens promise this handheld performs like a full-sized notebook, thanks to an Intel Core Solo processor. Weighing in at 2.4 pounds, this beast can run for six hours on a lithium-ion battery; it also boasts a sun-friendly 5.6-inch, 1024 x 600 LED touchscreen. Fully integrated satellite GPS will help you reach your top secret rendezvous point, and WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity will keep your Twitter feed updated along the way. But how rugged is it really , you ask? The case is Ingress Protection (IP) 54 rated, the company answers, meaning your new purchase is protected from dust and splashing water. When you’re ready to build your own – maybe upgrading the standard 64GB SATA drive and adding cellular networking – prices start at $4,900. Continue reading Itronix GD2000: a rugged handheld for your skydiving, bullet-dodging, building-scaling lifestyle Itronix GD2000: a rugged handheld for your skydiving, bullet-dodging, building-scaling lifestyle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything from the VESA folks, so it was a pleasant surprise when the organization hit our inbox with a bit of PR announcing an update to the DisplayPort 1.2 standard. New active cables being introduced will allow video connections to stretch up 100 feet — five times that of the old-school, passive variety — and use thinner gauge wire for more flexible cords. The one kink is that the cables are directional, though, a new logo (above) should help minimize confusion over which end gets jacked into the source and which feeds your TV. Not that we’re complaining about longer, thinner cables but, it sure would be nice if we could cover those 33 meters without making our apartment look like a data center – how’s that wireless DisplayPort coming along? Continue reading DisplayPort 1.2 adds active cable support: brings longer cords, more logos DisplayPort 1.2 adds active cable support: brings longer cords, more logos originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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