There was a time when RIM owned the smartphone space with its revolutionary push email-equipped BlackBerrys. And there are still plenty of folks who can’t live without a good physical keyboard and BBM. But, despite the company’s $4.9 billion in revenue and $695 million in profits from Q1 2011 , RIM’s stock has tumbled to its lowest price in five years. What’s changed since those heady days when it seemed like there was a Pearl in every pocket? As many of you know, Androids and iPhones have carved out a big chunk of the smartphone market, largely at RIM’s expense. Sure, Blackberry 7 OS is coming and the PlayBook is rolling out to help the company gain ground on Android and iOS, but only time will tell if these latest efforts from Waterloo can stem the rising tide of iPhones and little green bots. RIM shares hit a five-year low: oh, how the mighty have fallen originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Ping iPhone cradle can lower your handicap, but you’re still on your own with the gophers (video)
June 17, 2011 No Comment
Finally, a reason to use your cellphone on the course that won’t earn you icy stares around the old clubhouse. Golfing accessory manufacture Ping this week announced an iPhone / iPod touch cradle that clips onto your putter, using the company’s iPing app to quantify your putting handicap number. The system measures your stroke type, impact angle, and tempo, comparing them against your friends and some pre-entered golfing pros. Al Czervik would be proud. The app itself is free, but the cradle will run you $30 — both will be available online, later this month. It’s certainly cheaper and a lot less bulky than systems we’ve seen , but don’t take it from us — listen to teaching professional Jeff Ritter in the clip below. Continue reading Ping iPhone cradle can lower your handicap, but you’re still on your own with the gophers (video) Ping iPhone cradle can lower your handicap, but you’re still on your own with the gophers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Time Warner Cable internal docs reveal TWCable TV iPad app, DVR upgrades on the way
June 17, 2011 No Comment
Internal documents we’ve received show Time Warner Cable is planning a major update for both its live TV streaming TWCable TV iPad app and many of its set-top boxes. TWCable TV 2.0 is scheduled to arrive on June 28th with new features including a seven day program guide, and the ability to use it as a remote control or to schedule the DVR remotely. Around that same time, its cable headends around the country will deliver the “Florence” update that brings its OpenCable Digital Navigator software to version 4.5 on certain Cisco, Motorola and Samsung set-top boxes. That should bring them up to speed with other platforms it uses, adding the ability to delete recordings in a multiroom setup, a transparent GUI, enhanced Start Over and Look Back features, settings to control aspect ratio, output resolution, pictures size and more. This may yet be the year we get to ditch the cable box , but while we still live with them you can see the full list of upgrades and which boxes will get them in the gallery and after the break. Gallery: Time Warner Cable TWCable TV and Florence ODN update details Continue reading Time Warner Cable internal docs reveal TWCable TV iPad app, DVR upgrades on the way Time Warner Cable internal docs reveal TWCable TV iPad app, DVR upgrades on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Apparently Sprint’s none too concerned about recent complaints from the likes of John Deere and the federal government about LightSquared’s potential interference with GPS signals. A letter obtained by Bloomberg reveals that Sprint has signed a 15-year deal with Falcone and co., agreeing to share network expansion costs in return for a slice of the sweet LTE service. According to the document, “LightSquared and Sprint will jointly develop, deploy and operate LightSquared’s 4G LTE network.” The report comes on the heels of rumors of a $20 billion agreement between the two companies. Unfortunately for both parties, no amount of billion dollar bills will shake impending scrutiny from the FCC. LightSquared and Sprint reportedly sign 15-year LTE agreement originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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There are three things that will guarantee your DIY project some attention: slap it on a Roomba , base it on Arduino , or make it tweet. Do all three and, well, you’ve got a nerdgasm-inducing bit of Make fodder. The creation you see above is a web-controlled tweeting Roomba whipped up by Instructables member matchlighter using a 500 series vacuum bot and the Sparkfun WiFly shield for Arduino. The autonomous cleaner can be triggered from anywhere there’s an internet connection and updates Twitter to keep you abreast of its status (Ahh! Dock sweet dock). While Mr. matchlighter was kind enough provide directions for building your own, a lot of the actual coding is left up to you. (We’re lazy, let us just copy and paste dammit!) If you think you’ve got the programming chops, hit up the source link for instructions and check out the original’s Twitter feed at the more coverage link. Update : The complete code is in step eight of the Instructable. Web-controlled tweeting Roomba is a perfect storm of DIY magic originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Qi-Hardware debuts free, open source wireless solution, not a threat to WiFi
June 17, 2011 No Comment
Qi-Hardware has a bit of an obsession with free, open source, and underpowered. The latest project from this descendent of OpenMoko is a set of license free wireless boards called atben (for the company’s Ben NanoNote ) and atusb for other laptops. The adapters rely on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard which powers 6LoWPAN and ZigBee . Don’t get confused though, this is not a replacement for WiFi — it’s more like long range Bluetooth (and it’s not compatible with either). Ben WPAN, as it’s being called, has a range of about ten meters in “standard” mode while pushing 250Kbps. Turning on the “non-standard” mode boosts throughput to (a still patience-testing) 2Mbps, but cuts the range in half. You can pick up pre-built adapters starting at €29.50 (about $42) for the atben, €41.30 ($59) for the atusb, or €59.00 ($84) for both at Tuxbrain. Don’t expect to just jam one into your Mac however — for now at least, Ben WPAN is a Linux only affair. (How often do you hear that?) Qi-Hardware debuts free, open source wireless solution, not a threat to WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The army of high-speed broadband phones is actively seeking new recruits to join its rapidly-growing force, and the LG Revolution is the latest to graduate from boot camp. We’ve witnessed the emergence of three Verizon LTE handsets in as many months, beginning with the HTC Thunderbolt and the Samsung Droid Charge a few weeks later. As if this wasn’t enough choice to tempt your tastebuds already, the LG Revolution — the entertaining climax to the classic 4G trilogy — was born one full moon after that . With three options, all so close to each other in dimension and features, it’s natural to compare all of ‘em and make the call on which one is the best of the bunch. Is LG’s first crack at Verizon’s LTE network truly a game-changer, as its name suggests? Or does this Revolution fail to even get its feet off the ground? Read on after the break to find out. Gallery: LG Revolution Overview Continue reading LG Revolution review LG Revolution review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Just when you thought it was safe to read other books. Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has launched a cryptic new site, Pottermore.com. Admittedly, as of right now, it just features a logo, the two words “Coming soon” and Rowling’s signature, so there’s not exactly much to work with here. In keeping with the magical
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There’s not really much more than the image above to go on with this one, but what you’re looking at is purported to be the as-yet-unannounced Xperia Duo, which may or may not be Sony Ericsson’s first dual-core phone. As you can see, it bears some resemblance to the Xperia Arc , with what appears to be a large, edge-to-edge display and a UI that’s apparently been tweaked a bit from what we’ve seen previously on SE phones, including a different weather widget and media player controls under the dock. Of course, it is still just a single image, so we’d recommend taking it with the usual grain of salt for the time being. [Thanks, Daniel N] Alleged shot of Sony Ericsson Xperia Duo surfaces originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Keeping track of all accusations flying back and forth in the ongoing patent brouhaha between Apple and Samsung? Then we’re afraid you’ll have to update your scorecards again, as Apple has now amended its complaint with some even stronger language than before, and broadened the scope of the devices involved in the suit. According to Apple, the Droid Charge, Infuse 4G, Nexus S 4G, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy S II and a handful of other Samsung devices are all also infringing on the patents in question, which now total eight in all (two previously included have been thrown out, but three new ones have been added). As for that stronger language, Apple’s now saying that Samsung “has been even bolder” than other competitors in copying its products, and that it’s created “products that blatantly imitate the appearance of Apple’s products to capitalize on Apple’s success.” Hit the source link below for FOSS Patents’ complete breakdown of the amendment. [Thanks, Fayez] Apple expands patent complaint against Samsung to include more devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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