Boost and Verizon shouldn’t have all the fun, right? The latest kid to do a cannonball into the low-cost prepaid pool is wearing a blue-and-orange swimsuit, as AT&T will be ready to start up $50 unlimited GoPhone plans June 26th. The new prepaid selection sheds $10 off its previous limitless talk and text offering, while tossing in web access for Quick Messaging Phones. In order to be fully competitive in the pay-as-you-go realm, the aforementioned plan will allow the same texting privileges across our borders; you’ll be able to SMS or IM your buddies in Mexico, Canada, and 100 other countries. The unfortunate (albeit unsurprising) part is that heading the smartphone route will come at an additional monthly cost, ranging from $5 to $25. Even though it seems Big Blue is a little tardy for the party, a wireless giant is never late — it arrives exactly when it means to. Full press release after the break. Continue reading AT&T to offer $50 unlimited prepaid plan, ready to ‘GoPhone’ June 26th AT&T to offer $50 unlimited prepaid plan, ready to ‘GoPhone’ June 26th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Dry ice isn’t just great for keeping steaks cold and filling your bathtub with fog, it may also play a major role in producing the miracle metal graphene . Researchers at Northern Illinois University have discovered that burning magnesium in frozen carbon dioxide produces a thin layer of the hyped-to-the-lattices carbon nanostructure. The so-called dry-ice method has several advantages over previous techniques, not the least of which is the ability to pump out the relative of pencil lead on a much larger scale. It also happens to be faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly compared with the lengthy processes involving hazardous chemicals used in most graphene production. It’s pretty great news but, honestly, all we want to know is when the stuff is going to start powering super-fast internet connections — that complete Flying Circus collection isn’t going to download itself. Dry ice makes graphene cheaper, greener, and by the (relative) boatload originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …USB-IF releases extensions to USB video class 1.1, offloading compression is a go
June 21, 2011 No Comment
For those unaware, a USB video class describes a device that’s capable of streaming video — you know, things like webcams , camcorders, TV tuners and even still-image cameras. For the longest time, you needed to rely on your machine to do the grunt work associated with encoding video , but new extensions to the USB video class 1.1 have enabled those very devices to support H.264. In other words, H.264 encoding can now be offloaded to the device itself, and furthermore, the compression provides more bandwidth for additional USB devices. We’re told that the H.264 Payload specification is compatible with drivers based upon the USB-IF’s UVC 1.0 and 1.1 specifications and relies on proper support of the MJPG and/or Stream Based payload format, and if you’re an engineer looking to integrate, the goods you need are stocked away in the source link below. Continue reading USB-IF releases extensions to USB video class 1.1, offloading compression is a go USB-IF releases extensions to USB video class 1.1, offloading compression is a go originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Apple iCloud will hault backups, MobileMe email, when storage limit is reached
June 21, 2011 No Comment
Hey there, future iCloud power user , take a gander at the MobileMe email from MacRumors above — that’s what to expect when you approach the 5GB storage limit. Apparently, automatic backups and your MobileMe account’s email traffic will pause until you delete some files or purchase more space via your iDevice or a computer — for an undisclosed cost. That’s one sliver of info which Apple’s remaining tight-lipped about despite unveiling the mostly free cloud service weeks ago. Also worth noting, as TUAW points out, is that content purchased within the iTunes ecosystem won’t impact your quota. Hey, those app downloads can sure make it easy to fill up a drive , ya know. Apple iCloud will hault backups, MobileMe email, when storage limit is reached originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s been a good long while since Apple unveiled a new Time Capsule , almost two years since the 2TB model rolled out. At the time that was a volume of storage that you couldn’t possibly fill up — even if you ripped your entire Peter Gabriel collection in lossless. Now, nearly 24 months later, you’re out of room for the latest Greatest Hits compilations, never mind Scratch My Back and the subsequent buddy album. Now Apple has your back, releasing an updated Time Capsule offering up to 3TB of storage for all your former Genesis frontman listening needs. Developing… Apple unveils updated Time Capsule, bumps storage to 3TB originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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At last! Just as promised , Apple’s long-awaited Final Cut Pro X is now available on the Mac App Store for just $299.99, meaning keen editors can immediately grab hold of this suite to crack on with some real-time 4K video editing. Of course, this is assuming that you have a 64-bit Mac rig with beastly specs in the first place — check with Apple to make sure that you’re all set to go. Accompanying this major software release are Motion 5 and Compressor 4 kits, both of which will cost you an extra $49.99 each, so make that roughly around $400 for the full monty. Press release after the break, but we guess you folks are already busy trimming clips on that magical Magnetic Timeline, so good luck in next year’s Oscars. Continue reading Apple Final Cut Pro X now available on Mac App Store Apple Final Cut Pro X now available on Mac App Store originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …ClamCase for iPad 2 is a little lighter, suited for picture taking and $149
June 21, 2011 No Comment
Just in case you bought an iPad 2 but really needed a netbook, ClamCase is back with a redesigned version of its case / battery powered Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard combo. This one is a hair thinner and a little lighter than the previous version (reviewed here ), with cutouts for the back camera and speaker grille plus integrated magnets to awaken and sleep your tablet when the case is opened or closed. The keyboard has also reportedly been refreshed for an improved feel, but even though the black version is on sale now for $149 (white ships next month) there’s still a 4-5 week wait for shipping to get a hands-on and find out for yourself. Logitech’s Keyboard Case for iPad 2 is another option for $100, but it will only protect your precious slab on one side — something to consider while you’re checking out specs. Continue reading ClamCase for iPad 2 is a little lighter, suited for picture taking and $149 ClamCase for iPad 2 is a little lighter, suited for picture taking and $149 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 06:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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In the Android realm, Swype has been life-changing for many; of course, reverting back to the messaging ways of old has been a must when jumping ship to WP7 . Now, gesture tracing crosses the aisle, and it’s hopping over to Microsoft’s turf courtesy of Invoke IT’s Sliding Keyboard. With the look of the regular ol’ WP7 keyboard, this set of arm floaties records the user tracing out text, just like ex-Android fans are accustomed to. The company goes a bit further by offering a pair of goggles — in the form of Bing search, text messaging and email options along the bottom of the app. Sure, it’s seeing its fair share of first-revision bugs (word recognition seems a bit poor based on early reviews), but at a cool $1.29 (and a free trial preceding that), it’s a good bit cheaper than a therapy session. Right? Sliding Keyboard: it’s like Swype, but for Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s not much bigger than many of the wall warts currently filling outlets in your power strip, but this reference design from Sigma Designs could be your next cable box. With HomePlug networking, Z-Wave RF remote control technology and the ability to process multiple 1080p streams at once built in, it only needs to be plugged in to the wall (and connected to a TV via HDMI) to get to work. connect to the network and pull in video from the internet, feeds from an IPTV provider like U-Verse (or Comcast eventually ), or multiroom streams from a connected DVR. At its heart is the SMP8670 chip unveiled at CES that’s optimized for XBMC , Adobe AIR and Flash which could make it an ideal extender for someone like TiVo or Boxee, if Sigma can get them to bite on the concept. Until then, all we can show you are a few pics of the bare internals in the gallery and a press release after the break. Gallery: Sigma Ultra-Thin set-top box Continue reading Sigma Design’s ‘ultra thin’ TV box design promises HD in a tiny package Sigma Design’s ‘ultra thin’ TV box design promises HD in a tiny package originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The N9 has arrived. Functional units of Nokia’s long-awaited MeeGo smartphone have finally landed into our eager hands and we’ve got a gallery of images to provide you with below. What we can say from our first experience is that we’re in the presence of a fantastically designed device with a gorgeous AMOLED screen and some highly responsive performance. Hold tight and we’ll have fuller impressions and hands-on video with the Nokia N9 to add in due course. Gallery: Nokia N9 first hands-on Nokia N9 first hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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