Comcast Cable Show 2011 demo features 1Gbps cable modem speeds, new Xfinity TV UI
June 16, 2011 No Comment
As promised, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts treated Cable Show 2011 attendees to a quick demo of the company’s latest and greatest tech earlier today. The presentation consisted of the new Xfinity TV platform with all its cloud processing and internet content from Facebook and others , as well as a speed test running on a Comcast cable modem that broke through the 1Gbps speed barrier on the production network. There’s no word on when home users might see such speeds but the company promised to “keep up the pace as the internet continues to evolve” — let’s hope that extends to the increasingly restrictive 250GB bandwidth cap. The demo of new DVR software also went off without a hitch, appearing to run smoothly and showing off a vision of “cloud processing” that speeds up search, personalization and recommendations in the program guide by handling them at the head end instead of on the box itself. We’re still waiting to get our hands on the RF remote and see if the experience is just as smooth ourselves, but for now you can get a taste in the 17 minute video embedded above. Comcast Cable Show 2011 demo features 1Gbps cable modem speeds, new Xfinity TV UI originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Sony Ericsson signs deal with NFC chip maker, gets ready to do the Xperia pay
June 16, 2011 No Comment
If Google ever hopes to lead the mass exodus away from credit card transactions with Google Wallet, a lot more NFC-packing handsets will need to hit the market. Thus far Sony Ericsson hasn’t exactly led the near-field charge, aside Japan’s Xperia Acro , but it looks like that may soon change, thanks to a deal struck between the phone maker and semiconductor producer, NXP, which will bring the company’s PN65 to future Android-based Xperia models. Wave your phone after the break to check out the official announcement. Continue reading Sony Ericsson signs deal with NFC chip maker, gets ready to do the Xperia pay Sony Ericsson signs deal with NFC chip maker, gets ready to do the Xperia pay originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 hits US retailers tomorrow, TouchWiz UX coming in future software upgrade
June 16, 2011 No Comment
Folks in NYC may have been able to get their hands on one a bit early (not to mention those that attended Google I/O ), but everyone else will finally be able to pick up a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 starting tomorrow. As expected, the WiFi-only Honeycomb tablet will run $499 for the 16GB model and $599 for 32GB at your choice of retailers, and Samsung says it will be available through Sprint in “mid-summer” as well (still just WiFi-only). What’s more, Samsung’s also promising to deliver a number of new features in a “future software upgrade,” including the TouchWiz UX that was originally intended to be included on the tablet, and Samsung’s Media Hub, which promises “easier downloads of rented or purchased content” and additional capabilities when the tablet’s connected to a TV via a dock or adapter. Head on past the break for the complete press release and a new promo video that offers a glimpse of some of those upcoming features, and don’t forgot to check out our full review if you’re still undecided. Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 hits US retailers tomorrow, TouchWiz UX coming in future software upgrade Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 hits US retailers tomorrow, TouchWiz UX coming in future software upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Oh Google, you didn’t think you were going to have all the mobile payment fun did you? While you’re beta testing in New York and San Francisco some big names across the pond are looking to dominate the entire UK. Vodafone, Telefonica, and Everything Everywhere (a joint venture between Orange and T-Mobile) are combining forces to create a mobile payment and marketing system that will take on Google Wallet and Offers before they even get off the ground in the British isles. The platform will be open to all comers, including Google, (you know, in case it decides to make Wallet a US only affair) and the companies have pledged to keep customer data out of the hands of third parties. The project is still in the very early stages of development, but the mobile providers aren’t dilly dallying — they expect their efforts to bear NFC fruit before the end of the year. UK mobile companies take aim at Google Wallet, want in on the NFC action originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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A man whose impact on the world is nearly unfathomable died Sunday. Alan L. Haberman, supermarket-executive-turned-barcode-champion, died in Newton Massachusetts from complications of heart and lung disease at the age of 81. While he did not invent those ubiquitous black and white stripes — that honor belongs to Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver — Haberman did lead the campaign to make barcodes the universal standard for electronic product encoding. He chaired the committee responsible for the designation of the zebra-like markings, which in 1973 adopted a barcode designed by George J. Laurer of IBM. In his work at the Uniform Code Council (now known as GS1 US), he pushed for acceptance of multiple standards, including RFID . His obituary can be read in-full at the source link below. Alan Haberman, barcode advocate, dies at 81 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Tilto personal transporter looks like seated Segway, does donuts in Argentine parking lot
June 16, 2011 No Comment
Remember how the Segway revolutionized personal transportation? Neither do we, but this Tilto single-person electric vehicle is really gonna go places. Like, around the parking lot — “manos libres!” Named for the two-step maneuver you’ll use to get going (tilt and go), the battery-powered Tilto can move forward, backwards, and sideways at its top speed of 20km/h (12 mph) without the need for pedals or a steering wheel. You’ll be able to travel 15 km with each charge, but that should give you plenty of time to score a traffic ticket in the UK , or to roll a safe distance away from screaming fans after your next concert in Arizona. Tilto is little more than a “prototipo experimental” at this point, without a release date or any plans for production, but roll past the break to see how it works. Continue reading Tilto personal transporter looks like seated Segway, does donuts in Argentine parking lot Tilto personal transporter looks like seated Segway, does donuts in Argentine parking lot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We got the lowdown last month on the Blackberry Bold 9900: 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, 640 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, and looks that say “it’s business time.” Back then RIM said we could snag a svelte new Bold sometime this summer. Then came word that the handset wouldn’t be available until September . Now, Three UK has put the Bold 9900 up on its “Coming Soon” page and indicated it’s set for an August debut. Whew, we’re glad that’s settled, but there’s one more thing we’d like to know — how much is it going to cost? Blackberry Bold 9900 coming to Three UK in August originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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How many people does it take to change this light bulb? None. On June 18, the oldest-known working light bulb in the world will celebrate the 110th year it has burned bright. The bulb, which hangs idly about in a fire station in Livermore, California, holds the Guinness World Record. (LIST: The Making of Thomas
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Other World Computing may specialize in upgrading aging Macs, but you don’t have to own one to jam one of its new Mercury Electra 6G SSDs in your computer. The high-end SandForce Driven line of NAND drives range in size from 120GB to a far more impressive 480GB and, with the aide of 6Gb/sec SATA 3.0, can sustain write speeds of 523MB/sec and read speeds of 556MB/sec. Of course, this sort performance doesn’t come cheap — the smallest of the trio will set you back $230, while the massive 480GB model weighs in at a wallet-sapping $930. You can pick them up now from OWC if you’ve got a serious need for speed, and plenty of disposable income. Check out the PR after the break. Continue reading OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSDs boast big speeds, price to match OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSDs boast big speeds, price to match originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …California is usually home to the royalty that is movie stars. But the real deal is about to descend upon them and the West Coast may never be the same again. The schedule has been released for the highly anticipated debut trip by a certain pair of newlyweds (apparently, their wedding was shown on TV).
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