Thinking about upgrading your iPad or iPhone just to add more storage for videos, photos and music? Kingston hopes to save the day with its Wi-Drive, a WiFi-enabled battery-powered storage device designed exclusively for use with iOS. Several factors make the pocket-sized device a tough sell, however, including its cost ($130 for 16GB, $175 for 32GB), and the fact that this otherwise clever content sharing contraption adds yet another gadget to your already crowded portable mix. We’d probably save up for a new, higher-capacity device before accessorizing our old gadgets, but a compact media server does seem like the perfect companion for a road trip, serving up HD videos and other content simultaneously to multiple devices using the free iOS app. This is strictly a content server — while you can move move content off the drive and later transfer it back, there’s no backup tool included, and Kingston says we shouldn’t expect one in the future, either. Click past the break for our impressions of Kingston’s flash-based server, due to hit stores later this month. Gallery: Kingston Wi-Drive Continue reading Kingston Wi-Drive wireless storage for iOS preview (video) Kingston Wi-Drive wireless storage for iOS preview (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It’s here! We’ve received word that owners of ASUS’ shape-shifting Eee Pad Transformer woke up this morning to find a nice big hunk of an over-the-air Honeycomb 3.1 update awaiting them. We first caught wind of the Android upgrade at Google IO less than a month ago, and just one week later ASUS was boasting of a June rollout on its Italian Facebook page. If you need a quick reminder, 3.1 brings resizable widgets, support for a slew of USB devices, and new Movie and Books apps. Now isn’t that refreshing? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] ASUS Eee Pad Transformer gets Android 3.1 update right on schedule originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …More malware in the Android Market: Google removes 26 deleterious app doppelgangers
June 1, 2011 No Comment
Ideally, we’d do our smartphone software shopping free from the specter of malicious apps masquerading as useful ones. This past weekend, however, 26 apps in the Android Market were discovered to be packing pernicious code called Droid Dream Light. Apparently, the dastardly devs who made the malware took existing apps and modified them to send details (including IMEI and IMSI info) about the infected handset to a remote server upon receiving a call. The code can also download and cue new package installations, but it needs user approval to do so. Google promptly pulled the offending apps, but their appearance serves as another reminder to be careful when downloading software on your smartphone — prudence demands minding your app permissions, lest your little green bot start stealing your personal info. More malware in the Android Market: Google removes 26 deleterious app doppelgangers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …NHK develops ultra high-def camcorder with single 33 megapixel sensor (video)
June 1, 2011 No Comment
As still cameras go, a 33MP sensor is rather insignificant, considering you may already be walking around with 200 megapixels on your shoulder . When it comes to camcorders, however, this is the real deal, especially when each and every one of those 33 million pixels is captured by a single, ultra high-def sensor. NHK’s research arm, which developed the cam, unveiled it at the company’s technology open house in Tokyo. This seems like the perfect imaging device to show off Sharp’s 33MP Super Hi-Vision TV , but that display must have been on duty at another booth. Also, the Sigma DSLR lens was focused on a still life, without any mention of frame rate, so we’re a bit skeptical as to whether this thing is fully functional at this point. Either way, it’s still just a prototype, so you won’t be shooting your home videos in quasi- IMAX resolution just yet. In the mean time, jump past the break for that motionless video demo. Continue reading NHK develops ultra high-def camcorder with single 33 megapixel sensor (video) NHK develops ultra high-def camcorder with single 33 megapixel sensor (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Stanton’s SCS.4DJ Digital DJ Mix Station up for Best Buy pre-order this month, in stores by July
June 1, 2011 No Comment
When technology meets music, interesting things can happen — for better or worse . In the case of Stanton’s standalone SCS.4DJ Digital DJ Mix Station, anyone can try their hand at DJing . Notable hardware features include two weighted slabs with touch sensitivity, a 4.3-inch LCD, four USB ports for hooking up HDDs (two of which are hidden in handy storage slots), and a mic input for spitin’ and spinnin’ . If you’re lacking in pro skills , the unit can automatically sync the tempos of whatever tracks are queued up, or even mix on its own like a player piano for your favorite block rockin’ beats. Lastly, there’s support for WAV, MP3, and AAC files, and any regrettable Lady Gaga and Skrillex fusion fun party mixes you make can be recorded live for transfer off the device. If you’re psyched to start scratching, the SCS will be available for pre-order from Best Buy’s website this month for $500 (pre-packaged skills don’t come cheap), and in retail stores this July. You’ll find the full press release after the break. Continue reading Stanton’s SCS.4DJ Digital DJ Mix Station up for Best Buy pre-order this month, in stores by July Stanton’s SCS.4DJ Digital DJ Mix Station up for Best Buy pre-order this month, in stores by July originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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D9 ‘s rolling right along here in California, and HP’s head honcho is on deck. With the Pre 3 and TouchPad just around the bend ( right ?), we’re hoping to hear some pretty potent stuff surrounding the next iteration of webOS . Of course, we could be in for a solid hour of printer and blade server discussion. Either way, we’ll be making the most of it. Join us after the break as we follow it live, won’t you? Live from D9: HP CEO Leo Apotheker takes the stage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The HomePlug Powerline Alliance already wants to tether your entire household to the Internet, and it may soon extend its reach to your garage, as well. At Computex today, the company announced that Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen have all agreed to support its HomePlug Green PHY (GP) technology as their EV charging interface of choice. The networking specification would allow electric car owners to link their plug-ins to the Smart Grid via the same ports used to charge their batteries, opening up new, Powerline-based possibilities. Once your EV hooks up to the network, it may be able to conduct system checks in real-time, for instance, or provide instant feedback on performance or the condition of your battery. The low power GP spec will also be interoperable with HomePlug’s forthcoming AV2 spec , though it’s still not clear when we can expect to see Germany’s automakers incorporate it into production. Zip past the break for the full PR. Continue reading BMW, Porsche, others announce support for HomePlug’s EV networking spec BMW, Porsche, others announce support for HomePlug’s EV networking spec originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …AMD confirms tablet-friendly Z-series APU, next-gen Trinity APU for bigger devices
June 1, 2011 No Comment
AMD likes to take its time before stepping inside the ring, but it’s turned up at Computex with its gown off and mouthguard in. Its much-leaked Z-series Fusion APU (aka “Desna”) for tablet devices is now official and could well steal some of ARM’s thunder. Whereas ARM chips will get along with the next version of Windows, AMD’s Z-series is already tuned into the here-and-now. Its integrated dual 1Ghz Bobcat chips and Radeon HD 6250 graphics should allow the full Windows 7 experience on a tablet, from USB peripheral compatibility right down to XBOX 360 Media Extender functionality. What’s more, it drinks less than 6W of power so is significantly leaner than the 9W Ontario APU powering Acer’s Iconia W500 Windows 7 tablet. Additionally, AMD claims MSI has already made that leap with its new WindPad 110w (though we can’t be sure if the pre-release device we just handled was carrying a Z-series chip). Meanwhile, AMD left any traces of shyness far behind as it went on to confirm plans for a range of A-series and E-series chips with which it hopes to tackle Intel’s dominance in the laptop and desktop spheres — right up to the level of the Core i7. This includes the leaked high-end quad-core A8 and, more surprisingly, a new Trinity APU. Looking way into the future, AMD intends Trinity to be a successor to the mid-range A-series Llano , which isn’t even out yet but is expected imminently. Unfortunately we have no concrete specs for the Trinity — AMD thought it was sufficient to wave the thing around at the press conference and declare it “2012′s best APU”. Depending on how you look at it, that’s either fighting talk or plain posturing. AMD confirms tablet-friendly Z-series APU, next-gen Trinity APU for bigger devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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If you thought the original Mars graphics card from ASUS was a little bit ridiculous, get ready to see what a lot of ridiculous looks like. The company’s Mars II that was recently teased alongside a fresh new Matrix GTX580 Platinum card, squeezes two GeForce GTX 580 chips on the same board and overclocks them for good measure. In order to achieve such great feats, the card requires no less than three 8-pin auxiliary power connectors and takes up the space of three (2.6, to be precise) PCI slots with its ginormous dual-fan cooler. Heatpipes are also employed to keep the raging fires within in check, and — for situations where all else fails — ASUS has installed a special red button that sends the fan into full speed when depressed. ASUS hasn’t yet finalized how far above the default engine clock speeds the Mars II will reach, but it has a bit of time to figure that out as this extremely limited edition card is coming sometime in July. Buyers in the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific region will have to be quick on their credit card trigger, as only 1,000 Mars IIs will ever be produced. Oh, and if you’re wondering how much power a dual-GTX 580 graphics card might consume, the answer is 600W. All by itself. Gallery: ASUS Mars II eyes-on at Computex 2011 Also making its debut at Computex this week is ASUS’ latest offering for the truly overclock-mad PC gamer: the Matrix GTX580 Platinum. Frankly, it feels barren by comparison to its Martian sibling, coming with just one GTX 580 graphics processor, albeit an overclocked one, and the requirement for only two 8-pin connectors for added power. ASUS has thrown in a pair of physical “plus” and “minus” buttons, which permit voltage alterations on the fly, added the same fan override key as on the Mars II, and included a Safe Mode switch at the back in the event that you get carried away with your tweaking. Mashing that last button will reset all clock speeds, voltages and other settings to their default values, which should hopefully let you boot back up and try again. A final note of merit goes to the LED-infused Matrix logo atop the GTX580 Platinum. It’s not there just for decorative purposes; its color changes in response to the load the GPU is under, so that blue and green will tell you there are no worries and orange and red will indicate you’re cranking it close to its limits. The GTX580 Platinum should start selling worldwide next week, though pricing has yet to be announced. Check it out in closer detail in the gallery below. Gallery: ASUS Matrix GTX580 Platinum eyes-on at Computex 2011 ASUS Mars II and Matrix GTX580 Platinum eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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This year, Tokyo’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation is celebrating its 10th anniversary — a milestone that Mitsubishi is commemorating with a giant OLED globe. Comprised of over 10,000 Diamond Vision OLEDs (each measuring 96 x 96mm), the six-meter ‘Geo-Cosmos’ installation will hang about 18 feet above the museum floor, where it will beam clouds and other satellite images at a resolution of 10 million pixels. It may not be the first curved OLED we’ve seen from Mitsubishi, but it’s the first that could double as a pretty sick disco ball. The globe will be unveiled on June 11th, but you can head past the break for the full PR, as well as an image of the beast while it was under construction. Continue reading Mitsubishi creates giant OLED globe for Tokyo’s museum-goers, cloud gazers Mitsubishi creates giant OLED globe for Tokyo’s museum-goers, cloud gazers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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