Considering its adoption of the Windows Phone metro style, its not surprising to hear that Windows 8′s latest leaked build sports a metro-inspired virtual keyboard and traces of code that could bring SMS 3G enabled Windows 8 devices. An App store and feature licensing, however? That’s interesting. Buried in the Windows 8 code, Microsoft enthusiasts have found strings that may hint at a Windows App store , and the ability to activate or deactivate certain OS features through that store. Will this be the end of “Home,” “Pro,” and “Ultimate” editions of Microsoft’s flagship product? We wouldn’t hold our breath . Still, Windows
Continue reading …
We haven’t heard from the folks at IRX Innovations in a while, but if this video is any indication, they haven’t given up on their e-reader dreams just yet. A wily internet video shows the outfit squeezing a modest 6 fps out of an AUO Sipix e-paper panel. Playback is noticeably choppy, but IRX engineers say they can eek an additional 10 fps from the unit by running content through a memory buffer. It’s a far cry from Mirasol’s crazy-smooth 1080p color displays , or even Bookeen’s anti-chromatic offering — but we won’t complain if they can keep it cheap . Besides, Chariots of Fire was born to be seen in slow motion. AUO Sipix e-paper staggers through video at 6 fps, could go as high as 16 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 01:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …We haven’t heard from the folks at IRX Innovations in a while, but if this video is any indication, they haven’t given up on their e-reader dreams just yet. A wily internet video shows the outfit squeezing a modest 6 fps out of an AUO Sipix e-paper panel. Playback is noticeably choppy, but IRX engineers say they can eek an additional 10 fps from the unit by running content through a memory buffer. It’s a far cry from Mirasol’s crazy-smooth 1080p color displays , or even Bookeen’s anti-chromatic offering — but we won’t complain if they can keep it cheap . Besides, Chariots of Fire was born to be seen in slow motion. AUO Sipix e-paper staggers through video at 6 fps, could go as high as 16 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 01:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …TiVo Android and iPhone apps in the works, Season Passes soon at your fingertips
June 19, 2011 No Comment
Sure, it’s technically been possible to manage one’s TiVo via the mobile web for a half-decade now, but earlier methods were neither intuitive nor enthralling. Earlier this year, the company released its iPad app — a diddy that showcases functions like remote control features, ToDo List prioritizing and Season Pass management. After hinting at a number of apps for smaller-screen devices (boasting all manners of operating systems), the latest print edition of CEPro has delivered solid intel that the aforesaid whispers are becoming reality. With Honeycomb slates dropping left, right and center, we’re wondering if the Android build will target tablets first and smartphones later — perhaps even a merged edition once Ice Cream Sandwich crawls from the freezer. Either way, it’ll soon make recording season-long reruns of The Hills even easier for those living within iOS or Android ecosystems, including updates from the places you’re too embarrassed to mention in public. TiVo Android and iPhone apps in the works, Season Passes soon at your fingertips originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Inhabitat’s Week in Green: transparent airplanes, photovoltaic subdivisions and a wind-powered yacht
June 19, 2011 No Comment
Green transportation soared through the skies this week as Inhabitat reported on Airbus’ plans for a transparent airplane , and we showcased a crazy working hover bike capable of flying up to 10,000 feet. We were also excited to see China begin to roll out high-speed rail across Asia and we spotted several out-of-this world Frankenstein vehicles — a Mercedes-Benz bus train in Bolivia and a wind-powered yacht that doubles as an airplane. It was a momentous week for energy news as well, as Italians voted to end the use of nuclear power , and we took a look inside Germany’s Wunderland Kalkar Amusement Park , which is built inside of a decommissioned nuclear plant. Solar power also had its moment in the sun as Enfinity unveiled two gorgeous photovoltaic-laden landscapes in Les M
Continue reading …
It took ‘em longer than anticipated to sell a cool million of these things, but we’re guessing the hardcore among us are in that crowd. The Nintendo 3DS is definitely trying something quite different, and while it’s tough to tell if the Big N has a bona fide hit on its hands, we’re feeling pretty certain that it’ll pop out a second edition in due time . To that end, we’re interested in hearing what existing owners would change if given the power. Would you tweak the displays in any way? Change up the colors? Modify the form factor? Alter the control scheme? We can’t promise you that Luigi’s listening, but feel free to get the ideas flowing in comments below. How would you change Nintendo’s 3DS? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 22:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
We know you’ve all been losing sleep, wondering what exactly Skype integration on webOS will look like. Well, tonight, you should sleep like a baby, knowing you’ve gotten a solid peak at how the Pre 3 will hande the VoIP service. Similar to Google Voice on Android, you’ll be able to either route all international calls through Skype or force is to ask every time you press that precious dial button. We also know that it will be able to handle video calls and, at least on the O2 network in Germany, both voice and video chat will be available over WiFi and 3G. You’ll also be able to initiate sessions from either contacts or the messaging menu, so there’s no need to fire up a separate app. Now, we just need HP to get this out the door and for Microsoft to work out those reliability kinks . Check out the source link for the full-sized images. webOS Skype integration revealed in screenshots originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Is there anything we can’t learn from drugged up rats? Researchers at Wake Forest University and the University of Southern California used a group of medicated rodents to demonstrate a method by which memory can be restored with the flick of a switch. The rats were outfitted with tiny, rat-sized electrodes and exposed to pharmacological substances, which caused them to forget the connection between pushing a lever and getting water. By turning the electronic switch on, the scientists restored the rats’ memory of the task — turning it off made them forget again. The next step in the process is testing the experiment out on primates and perhaps some day utilizing the research to benefit victims of strokes, Alzheimer’s, or injury-induced memory loss. Scientists restore memory of drugged rats, hope to do the same with people originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 20:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …ICANN to vote on domain name expansion, ele.vation and wolf.pack ready to assualt your browser
June 19, 2011 No Comment
It may be Sunday where you are, but it’s bright-and-early on Monday in Singapore. That’s where a monumental vote is about to go down, with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (or ICANN , for short) set to vote on expansion plans for domain names. If you’ll recall, the organization approved seven additional domains in 2004, with another round from 2004 leading to a separate seven joining the herd . It’s expected to approve something far more substantial this week, however, with a new system enabling just about anything to trail the crux of the domain. In other words, .com may soon be replaced by .Canon (for cameras), .eco (for green sites) or even .programming (for, you know, programming sites ). As you can likely imagine, the options here are pretty well endless, but it’ll cost a wee bit more than $6.95 per year to register one. The application fee alone is clocked in at $185,000, and winners will have to pony up $25,000 annually after that. It’s entirely likely that a new wave of legal spats will crop up with regard to trademarks — we’re guessing lawyers in Mountain View won’t be too fond of Google.phones falling into non-corporate hands — but hey, that’s half the fun from the sidelines. We’ll be keeping an eye out for a final decision, and we’ll be sure to let you know if ICANN fesses up to what it’ll be doing with those stratospheric new fees. ICANN to vote on domain name expansion, ele.vation and wolf.pack ready to assualt your browser originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Receipt Racer makes printing fun, wastes more paper than you ever thought possible (video)
June 19, 2011 No Comment
Sure, you could use your printer to spit out spreadsheets, but how about hooking up a DualShock 3 to play it like a video game? That’s exactly what Joshua Noble and the undef duo did during a workshop related to OFFF last week, and the result is stunning (if not hilarious). The trio coded a game in openFrameworks , titled Receipt Racer , which uses a thermal receipt printer modded with a “light beamer” to display game info and represent a car, a DS3 to control it, and a laptop to connect the devices and run the software. A random track with obstacles gets rapidly printed while a player attempts to navigate it without crashing — sort of like Lane Splitter — or until the paper roll runs out after 164 feet. There’s a tree-loving web browser version and the full details of how it works in the source link below. We scored just over 1,400 1,752 points; let us know how you do in the comments. [Thanks, Jesse] Continue reading Receipt Racer makes printing fun, wastes more paper than you ever thought possible (video) Receipt Racer makes printing fun, wastes more paper than you ever thought possible (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …