Sony makes floating-head telepresence avatars a reality, Sean Connery digs out gun and red speedos
May 16, 2011 No Comment
The real world just got a little more Zardoz thanks to Tobita Hiroaki and his colleagues at Sony Computer Science Laboratory, who’ve built a telepresence blimp that projects the operator’s face across its meter-wide surface. The looming, translucent face can float about like any other blimp; an interior camera allows the user to see where it’s going. The whole thing is ominous in a completely different way from, say, a tiny googly-eyed robot perched on your shoulder , but something about its nearly silent movements still gives us the creeps – and unlike the Anybots QB, it’s not going to pick up your scone from the caf
Continue reading …Samsung Galaxy S II US carrier names revealed: AT&T Attain, Verizon Function, and Sprint Within
May 16, 2011 No Comment
Anticipation, thy name is Galaxy S II . Or is it Galaxy S 2 Attain? Perhaps it’s Galaxy S 2 Function or Within, it all depends on what carrier you prefer, really. You see, the sleuths at Pocketnow have unearthed a silicone case for sale that lists those three names as the particular branding Samsung’s new flagship smartphone will enjoy with AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, respectively. That, combined with earlier trademark filings by Sammy asking for Galaxy Attain, Function and Within registrations would lead us to believe that we are indeed looking at the final product monikers. T-Mobile is notably missing from the list, but we suspect that may be because its variant of the Galaxy S II is materially different in design to the original GSII. The good news for everyone else is that the same silicone case will be interchangeable among AT&T, Verizon and Sprint devices, leaving very little room for those guys to screw things up. Samsung Galaxy S II US carrier names revealed: AT&T Attain, Verizon Function, and Sprint Within originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 06:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Netflix has just gone and scooped up another big content deal for itself. The movie streaming service has tied the knot with Miramax on a multi-year agreement to allow streaming of films from the latter’s extensive library. Pulp Fiction , Good Will Hunting , Kill Bill , and hundreds of others are set to join the Netflix Watch Instantly catalog starting next month. This marks the first time Miramax flicks have been available on a digital subscription service. An agreement between these two companies was last rumored in March , with a five-year term and $100 million price being mooted as the likely parameters for getting it done. Neither outfit would disclose the cost to Netflix, but the benefit to you, dear subscriber, is pretty obvious. Full PR after the break. Continue reading Netflix seals deal to stream Miramax movies, starting in June Netflix seals deal to stream Miramax movies, starting in June originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 05:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Oh, the sweet smells of summer: surf, sunscreen, barbecue, Gingerbread. We’ve known all along that HTC’s Android 2.3-packing smartphone was set for release at the “beginning of the summer,” and thanks to some loud-mouthed Google AdWords , we’ve seen June 8th floated as a possibility. Those who understandably doubt the word of search-based text advertisements, take heart: it’s shaping up to be a big weekend for Sensation 4G leaks. First TmoNews got its hands on a Target placard pricing the snappy dual-core Snapdragon handset at $199.99, for what appears to be a June 12th release, and then the site snagged a shot of internal T-Mobile documentation that confirms the earlier June 8th date. Why the discrepancy? Well, it certainly wouldn’t be unheard of for the carrier to give itself a head start, and surely Target wouldn’t mind timing its own release up with its Sunday circulars. In both cases, it looks like the phone’ll be spending a fair amount of time beneath beach umbrellas. HTC Sensation 4G hitting mid-June for $200? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 03:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Lenovo adds ThinkPad X1 to laptop comparison guide, outs IPS screen, USB 3.0, and optional SSD
May 16, 2011 No Comment
If you’ve somehow not heard of the ThinkPad X1 yet, you join us at a good time. The well leaked laptop has shown up at an X Series comparison site, put together by Lenovo itself, where yet more specs have been made known. The 13.3-inch display is dubbed a SuperBright HD inifinity panel, which to you and us simply means it’s built using IPS technology. There’s also an integrated fingerprint reader, a buttonless touchpad , USB 3.0 connectivity, and a promised 10-hour battery life with a slice battery. Weighing in at 1.36kg (3lbs) and measuring about 16mm (0.625 inches) in thickness, it’s described as Lenovo’s thinnest ThinkPad yet. Last time we heard, we were told to expect it on May 17th, guess those webmasters are getting the show started a little early. One more glamor shot of the X1 can be found after the break. [Thanks, Jesse ] Continue reading Lenovo adds ThinkPad X1 to laptop comparison guide, outs IPS screen, USB 3.0, and optional SSD Lenovo adds ThinkPad X1 to laptop comparison guide, outs IPS screen, USB 3.0, and optional SSD originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 02:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Sony may be busy flipping the PlayStation Network switch back to the “on” position around the globe , but one locale where it won’t be doing so just yet is its homeland of Japan. The Dow Jones newshounds report that the Japanese government refuses to allow Sony to reactivate its ailing network until satisfaction is reached on a couple of outstanding issues. The first is that the company’s promised counter-hacking measures announced on May 1st have not yet been fully enacted — though details of what has or hasn’t been done yet are understandably unavailable — and the second is that Japan wants to see further preventive measures taken to ensure users users’ credit card numbers and other private data won’t be exposed through their use of Sony’s online services again. These sound like rational demands to us, and Sony is already in talks with the authorities to make sure it lives up to their expectations. Continue reading Japan won’t allow Sony to turn PSN back on until it’s assured it’s safe Japan won’t allow Sony to turn PSN back on until it’s assured it’s safe originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 01:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Official: Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab getting Gingerbread update in mid-May
May 15, 2011 No Comment
After encountering a little hitch with its mid-April Gingerbread delivery, Samsung is now ready to boot up Kies for another try. The company has this morning released word that it intends to update its entire Galaxy S family line, starting with models in the UK and Nordic countries from the middle of this month. The rest of the globe, including North America, will follow suit “according to the regional plan.” Also benefiting from a Gingerbread upgrade will be the 7-inch Galaxy Tab, which already got a taste of Android 2.3 in Italy , and the company’s bevy of budget Galaxy devices, the Ace, Gio, Fit and mini . Read the full PR after the break. Continue reading Official: Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab getting Gingerbread update in mid-May Official: Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab getting Gingerbread update in mid-May originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 01:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …NTT DoCoMo’s Fujitsu LOOX F-07C goes official, dual-boots to Windows 7 and Symbian (updated)
May 15, 2011 No Comment
Yes, ’tis quite a shock for a Monday morning, but it turns out the dual-booting Fujitsu LOOX F-07C smartphone is indeed legit. According to NTT DoCoMo’s preliminary spec sheet, this 7.69-ounce landscape slider handles both Symbian and Windows 7 (Home Premium, 32-bit Japanese edition) with its 4-inch 1,024 x 600 LCD, along with a 1.2GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of LPDDR400 RAM, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, 32GB of eMMC disk space, and expandable memory via microSDHC. You’ll also find a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with face detection on the back, coupled by a VGA front-facing camera. Of course, the main concern is how the battery life fares here: we’re told that in “mobile phone mode” you get up to 600 minutes of standby time (the sheet quotes hours, but it’s a mistake) and up to 370 minutes of 3G talk time; whereas in Windows 7 mode you’ll have to make do with just two hours, and then you’re forced into mobile phone mode when the battery level is low. If you’re itching to get yourself an eccentric F-07C, then watch out for its launch in June or July. Full list of specifications and press release after the break. Update: ASCII’s just posted a few real-life shots of this device, and mentions a retail price of around
Continue reading …Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge 91z leaks out: a 21.5-inch all-in-one desktop with optional boot drive
May 15, 2011 No Comment
If you’re looking for a sleek, angular slab of an all-in-one desktop computer , Lenovo may have the machine for you, as we’ve just intercepted plans for this unannounced ThinkCentre Edge 91z, and she’s most definitely a beaut. According to the leaked PDF, Lenovo will full reveal the 21.5-inch, 1080p desktop in just two days and ship it in June, but for now we can tell you that it can be configured with low-power Intel Core i7 processors, discrete ATI graphics and a 80GB mSATA auxiliary SSD — the latter of which Lenovo says can boot in just 20 seconds. You’ll also find HDMI output and VGA input to connect (or use the 91z as) a second screen, a “spill proof” wireless keyboard, VESA mounting options and a built-in carrying handle. Expect prices to range between $700 and $1200 when it hits the market, if these slides are correct. Gallery: Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge 91z leaked docs [Thanks, Andrew] Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge 91z leaks out: a 21.5-inch all-in-one desktop with optional boot drive originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 May 2011 23:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Inhabitat’s Week in Green: floating trains, dead bees, dirt-powered phones and Cornish pasties
May 15, 2011 No Comment
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green. Did you know that the cell phone in your pocket could be causing the collapse of bee colonies? This week Inhabitat reported the alarming news as Swiss researchers confirmed that cell signals confuse bees and are leading to their deaths . We also looked at a Bill Gates-funded plan to power cell phones using dirt , and we spotted a new phone battery that can be charged by yelling at it — much to the chagrin of everyone else on the bus. Alternative transportation got a boost this week as Japanese engineers unveiled a levitating high-speed electric train that flies over the earth, and we shined a light on Berkeley’s new solar-powered Impulse racer, which is gearing up to blaze a trail in the 1,800-mile World Solar Challenge. It was a big week for biofuels as well as Ford and Georgia Tech unveiled plans to create the first hydraulic hybrid U.S. school bus and UK scientists cooked up a plan to power cars with Cornish pasties . In other news, this week a New Jersey Toys “R” Us unveiled plans to build the largest solar roof in the United States, and HyperSolar rolled out a magnifying film that can increase the efficiency of photovoltaic panels by 300%. In green lighting news, we watched Google flip the switch on its brilliant Android-controlled LED bulb , and we announced the Philips and Inhabitat Bright Ideas Lighting Design Competition , which is awarding $1,000 to the designer of the most stunning eco-friendly lamp. Finally, we got excited for the start of summer with a look at the Lapin Kulta Solar Kitchen , which will be serving up sun-cooked meals all across Europe! Inhabitat’s Week in Green: floating trains, dead bees, dirt-powered phones and Cornish pasties originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 May 2011 22:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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