Sony promises global PSN restoration by week’s end, except in some parts of Asia
May 31, 2011 No Comment
It looks like Sony’s long, PSN nightmare is finally coming to an end — almost. Today, the company announced that it will restore PlayStation Network and Qriocity services in the Americas, Europe and most of Asia by week’s end. The only exceptions are Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan, where users will have to await further details before regaining full access. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal , spokeswoman Yuki Kobayashi added that Sony is in the process of finalizing an agreement to protect credit card owners in these three countries, where authorities have taken a particularly cautious approach to the data breach. This means that the company won’t see global restoration by the end of May, as previously hoped, but Kobayashi said the plans were delayed simply because Sony needed more time to fully secure its infrastructure (sound familiar ?). You can read a lengthier explanation in the press release after the break. Continue reading Sony promises global PSN restoration by week’s end, except in some parts of Asia Sony promises global PSN restoration by week’s end, except in some parts of Asia originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 03:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Linus Torvalds releases Linux kernel version 3 to celebrate 20 years of penguin-powered computing
May 31, 2011 No Comment
It’s been nearly twenty years since Linus Torvalds let loose Linux on an unsuspecting world, and yesterday he finally updated the open source OS kernel to version 3.0. This third iteration, currently named 3.0.0-rc1, comes 15 years after 2.0 first hit the web and brings driver support for Microsoft Kinect — a move that should have visions of sugar plum fairies (or maybe just Android avatars ) dancing in hackers’ heads. Also included is code optimized for AMD’s Fusion and Intel’s Ivy and Sandy Bridge silicon, and some updated graphics drivers, too. Despite these tasty new treats, Torvalds is quick to point out that this new release is an evolutionary change and unleashing the big three-oh was all about moving into a third decade of distribution, not about overhauling the OS. There’s still work to be done, as it is a release candidate in need of refinement, but curious coders can grab the latest Linux at the Kernel.org source link below. Linus Torvalds releases Linux kernel version 3 to celebrate 20 years of penguin-powered computing originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 19:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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In the market for a new PS3 but find the portable version a little out of your price / taste range? Then you might consider Sony ‘s just-announced ” Tales of Xillia X Edition,” which bundles everyone’s favorite RPG of unwavering convictions with a 160GB limited-edition console. The rig comes in the standard charcoal black, adorned with metallic red and gold artwork featuring characters from the series. It will also be Japanese-only for now, though Tales die-hards can always have it exported, if you’re willing to go above and beyond the MSRP of
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The image above is not a mockup. What you’re looking at is a screen grab from the Video Game section of Target’s online storefront proudly touting “free shipping” on a $299.99 Xbox 360 250GB console with Kinect bundle. Unfortunately, your pulse-quickened click will be met with the existing $399.99 price tag at checkout. So what’s going on here? Are retailers gearing up for price drops on the 250GB Kinect bundle ahead of E3 or did Target’s arts and charts department just make a mistake? E3 Expo kicks off June 7th, so it won’t be long until we find out either way. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Xbox 360 250GB Kinect bundle dropping to $299.99 ahead of E3? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 01:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Intel’s convertible Keeley Lake concept laptop shows off Cedar Trail, we go hands-on
May 30, 2011 No Comment
Just before Intel’s keynote at Computex , we decided to stop by at the chip maker’s busy booth to see what it has up its sleeves. Luckily, we spotted a couple of Keeley Lake proof-of-concept convertible laptops, which are here to demonstrate what can be achieved using Cedar Trail processors. As you can see, the 12.1-inch screen sits on a swivel hinge, thus allowing users transform this fairly slim laptop into a tablet within seconds. Oh, you can also use the built-in Wireless Display technology to stream some sweet HD action over the air, provided that you have compatible devices. Alas, Intel says there are no commercial plans for this particular device, so hopefully someone will pick up this design. Gallery: Intel’s convertible Keeley Lake concept laptop shows off Cedar Trail, we go hands-on Intel’s convertible Keeley Lake concept laptop shows off Cedar Trail, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 00:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …NTT DoCoMo exhibits on-the-fly speech translation, lets both parties just talk (video)
May 30, 2011 No Comment
The race to smash linguistic barriers with simultaneous speech-to-speech translation is still wide open, and Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo has just joined Google Translate and DARPA on the track. Whereas Google Translate’s Conversation Mode was a turn-based affair when it was demoed back in January, requiring each party to pause awkwardly between exchanges, NTT DoCoMo’s approach seems a lot more natural. It isn’t based on new technology as such, but brings together a range of existing cloud-based services that recognize your words, translate them and then synthesize new speech in the other language — hopefully all before your cross-cultural buddy gets bored and hangs up. As you’ll see in the video after the break, this speed comes with the sacrifice of accuracy and it will need a lot of work after it’s trialled later in the year. But hey, combine NTT DoCoMo’s system with a Telenoid robot or kiss transmission device and you can always underline your meaning physically . Continue reading NTT DoCoMo exhibits on-the-fly speech translation, lets both parties just talk (video) NTT DoCoMo exhibits on-the-fly speech translation, lets both parties just talk (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 22:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Intel took the opportunity at Computex to update the tech-loving world on its processor plans, and it looks like those whispers we heard about low power and an accelerated Atom roadmap were spot on. Executive VP Sean Maloney didn’t divulge specific TDPs but did confirm that we could look forward to reduced power consumption and sleek designs in 2012. The Intel exec declared that new class of PC, dubbed ” Ultrabooks ,” will make up 40-percent of the market by the end of 2012. These machines, powered by the 22nm Ivy Bridge , will be less than 0.8-inches thick and start at under $1,000 — which sounds just like the lines we were fed about CULV chips back in 2009. Maloney also confirmed that, going forward, the Atom line would be getting a die shrink every year, as opposed to every two. The upcoming, 32nm Cedar Trail will usher in the new Moore’s Law-smashing era with promises of a 10 hour battery life and weeks of standby, and will be succeeded by 22nm and 14nm models. Intel even talked up Medfield, it’s Atom variant designed specifically for smartphones and tablets, and showed off more than 10 tablets based on the Oak Trail-flavored Z670 . With AMD merely a fading blip in the company’s rearview mirror it looks like Chipzilla is gunning for all those ARM-touting manufacturers. Check out the full PR after the break. Continue reading Intel reveals skinny Ivy Bridge ‘Ultrabooks,’ Moore’s Law-defying Atoms Intel reveals skinny Ivy Bridge ‘Ultrabooks,’ Moore’s Law-defying Atoms originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Robot Ruby solves Rubik’s Cube in 10.69 seconds, still can’t beat humans (video)
May 30, 2011 No Comment
There are a few robots smart enough to solve a Rubik’s Cube in seconds flat , but a group of students at Swinburne University of Technology think theirs may be the fastest on Earth. Their bot, named Ruby, recently mastered the puzzle in just 10.69 seconds, including the time spent analyzing the cube. To achieve this feat, the device scanned the toy with a webcam before its software processed the images to crank out a solution. According to the university, Ruby’s 10-second mark smashes the current world robot record of 18.2 seconds, unofficially making it the fastest cube-solving machine on the planet. But Ruby still has a long way to go before it catches Feliks Zemdegs — a 16-year-old Australian who solved a Rubik’s Cube in 6.24 seconds and continues to carry the torch for all of humanity. Twist and turn your way past the break for the full PR and a video of Ruby in action, as well as a clip of Zemdegs showing us how the pros do it. Continue reading Robot Ruby solves Rubik’s Cube in 10.69 seconds, still can’t beat humans (video) Robot Ruby solves Rubik’s Cube in 10.69 seconds, still can’t beat humans (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 20:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Have you ever thought to yourself, “my CNC mill is pretty cool, but I really want to make it more awesomer”? Well, first, “awesomer” totally isn’t word, and second, have we got a hack for you! A reader wrote in to the DIY hub Adafruit to show off his CNC being operated by a PS3 Sixaxis controller — mimicking features found on high-end machines that allow you to trigger jobs from a distance and manually control the mill. Best of all, it’s a pretty simple mod that uses a program called QtsixA to map the gamepad as a keyboard and mouse, allowing you to interact with a Linux box running EMC2, which is used for controlling the mill, lathe, plasma torch, or a number of other fun and dangerous tools. Check out the video after the break. Continue reading CNC mill and Sixaxis controller make beautiful DIY music together (video) CNC mill and Sixaxis controller make beautiful DIY music together (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 21:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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A show as packed to the walls will shiny new technology as Computex could surely benefit from a few space saving devices, like, say, this new all-in-one from LG. With the high-end configuration you’ll get a second generation Intel Core i7 processor, AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics, a 750GB hard drive, 8GB of RAM, and a Blu-ray player all packed inside the system’s slender 1.8-inch thick frame. The V300′s multitouch 23-inch Film-type Patterned Retarder (FPR)-enabled display offers up 3D with the aid of polarized glasses. The AIW is set for a Korean launch in July, followed by trips to Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of Asia. No word on if or when it’ll hit desks in the States, but at least you won’t have to find much room on your desk when it does. Continue reading LG V300 does multitouch, 3D, all-in-one LG V300 does multitouch, 3D, all-in-one originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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